The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-11-12
THE new HOTEL .
North American Here Held Up
by War Boards.
Expects To Soon Receive Per-
init. To Proceed.

L
quarters at Omaha, advised the board.
whose approval was necessary. that
the excavation at Topeka was nearly
completed and that the company de-
sired to go ahead with the work, an
nouncing that it lis under contract
and bond to erect the hotel at Ninth
and Kansas avenue, representing an
investment of over 100000"
At the same time the president as
sured the board that, while it would
not interfere in any way with labor
and material necessary for the war, 1t
hoped the board could see it's way to
grant the permit in view of the large
amount of money already invested and
held up and the necessity and demand
for the hotel.
The priority board is part of. the
Kansas council of defense, whose ap-
prevail Is necessary before any sort of
building construction may proceed:
this notwithstanding the fact that the
North American Hotel company had
the government permit to go ahead.
The president now writes the secre-
tary of the council of defense a fine
letter in which he says:
But with factory whistles blowing
and crowds on the street wildly cheer
ing the news of prospective peace.
there is nothing we may not hope for
and it is more than probable that
| within very short time you will again
! write US. but this time to say that the
ban bag been lifted"
Today Secretary Mohler received the
| following telegram from H. J. Waters,
president of the Council of Defense,
and Geo. H. Hodges, who are in Wash
| ington:
New regulations agreed to-, open
the road for practically all improve
ments Kansas will have occasion to
make. Notify everyone interested"
Assistant Architect Morrison Is ex-
pected to be in Topeka in a few days
Chief Architect F. W. Fitzpatrick
writes:
received from across the water, / feel
| sure the company's request to go
ahead will soon be granted. 1t was
really no surprise to me that with
war conditions paramount your coun--
Gil failed to approve the permit re-
quested.
| my earnest belief is that things will
now quickly readiust themselves.
1T is hoped that within a very
short time we will be able to replace
that wooden, fence around the exca-
walton at Ninth and Kansas avenue
with a structure of steel and marble
and brick and stone
| Work at Ottawa Proceeds.
| While the priority board refused
| the North American permission to go
ahead with the Topeka hotel in Octo
sion to finish the hotel at Ottawa,
which was nearly completed.
In regard to this. The Ottawa Her
| aid few days ago printed the fol-
lowing:
LIT is to be speed up" from now
on, as fast as we can get material
| and men, said J. J. Morrison, super
| intendent of construction of the
American hotel, this morning.
"A few weeks ago the company ap-
piled to the local council of defense
for permission to purchase material
for the purpose OF completing the
| building and the application was ap-
proved by Chairman B. F. Bowers and
in turn by the state council of defense
and the national council at Washing
ton. o.
material on hand sufficient to keep a
small number of men at work and 1t
is now the intention of the company
to greatly increase the work within
the next thirty days. No trouble. Mr..
Morrison'sdid today, is expected in Sc
curing material unless it shall be
plumbers goods. The purchasing
agent of the company is now busy
buying the furniture for the house"
President Exley's Affidavit.
North American Hotel Company.
General Office. 100 Bee Building,
Omaha, Neb.
| d.
E. w. Exley. being first duly sworn,
upon oath deposes and says:
That he is president of the North
American Hotel company, a corpora
ton, with principal offices at Omaha,
Neb.. and doing business in the state
of Nebraska and several adjoining
; states, Wyoming, Kansas. Missouri.
| Iowa and Illinois.
That this company is under contract
and bond to erect a hotel building al
, Topeka, to be known as the North
American hotel. 1t will be of metro
politan class. The site is at the cor
, ner of Ninth street and Kansas ave-
nue.. The building is to contain lis
rooms and. equipment and all. will
represent an investment of over $780,
: 10000.
the plans are made for the building
] and such material has been ordered
(tho, OF course, none can be delivered
without a priority permit) and we
: planned pushing the work as fast as
!, possible, consistent with government
/ rules, and, naturally without in any
t way interfering with WAR WORK
either in the employment Of men OF
a the use of material that might b.
5 needed for such WAR WOK.
The citizens of Topeka deemed the
Q hotel a very great necessity, an aid t.
the welfare of the community. New
= hotels generally are considered by tn,
, government authorities as non-essen
a tial, but we hope that in view of thei
: being such inadequate hotel accommo
I dations in Topeka you can make al
exception of this building and will
q | forward the necessary recommends
= ton to the state council of defens
n that 1t in turn will request of tn
t priority commissioners that this b.
+ deemed necessary structure for tn
proper housing of Topeka's citizen
and travellers.
: NORTH AMERICAN HOTEL COM
e PANY,
T By its President.
"a Signed) E. w. EXLEY.
, (Seal.)
O Subscribed in my presence an,
& sworn to before me this 4th day O
October, 1918
(Signed) FLORENCE I, NASH.
4 Notary Public.