The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-10-12

vacate, and rulnors were rife in both Chicago and Washington that the building was to be converted into: l, An Army hospital; 3. an office build- ing for Federal bureaus moved from Washington; 3. home for service mems wives; 1. Q technical college.
 The one ignored possibility was that the huge structure might be re- converted into a hotel. Furnishing 5000 rooms plus innumerable loung- es and restaurants in the face of shortages and priorities seemed an impossible task.
 But the experts hadn't figured on Arnold Kirkeby.
 DEVELOPED HOTEL CHAIN
 Kirkeby, who astonished the hotel world early in September by offer ing $5,58l 900, is somewhat of le- gendary figure around Chicago. He started his career as clerk in La Sale street investment house in 1913 immediately after graduating from high school. Two years later he had accumulated enough mony to opn lhis own own investment firm, which he continued to operate, very suc- cessfully, until 1884. At this point he took over the management of a good-sized residential hotel in Chi cago, and soon added others, includ- ing the Drake and Blackstone, two of the citys finest hotels.
 Today, at 42, as president and gen. eral manager of the Kirkeby chain of hotels, he Is one of the largest, and certainly the youngest, hotel fi- nanciers in the country. In addition to It's holdings here, the Kirkeby chain operates hotel in New York, in Florida and in Havana, Cuba, Names of the other businessmen as- sociated in the enterprises are, as yet, a closely guarded secret.
 Even apart from his financial deal- ings. Kirkeby has been the center of eXtravagant, bizarre stories. Society columns in Chicago newspapers back In 1928 and 1929 carried lush descrip- tions of his palatial estate in Tampa, Fla, of his marriage to Consuela Gu esta, wealthy heiress and belle of Tampa; of his regular trips in a private plane between Chicago and Tampa. Kirkeby's plane made the first nonstop flight between Chicago and Tampa.
 How is Kirkeby going to overcome the problems of priorities, help short ages, and the scarcity of food and liquor?
 He now has a crew of purchasing agents canVassing the country. Among other things. they are seek ing: l20,000 separate items of furni- ture. 3,850 box springs and mattress es, l50,000 pieces of silverware, 300,- 900 pieces of china and 5000 gold chairs for the grand ballroom.
 When completely furnished the hotel uses 6l miles of '27-inch car- peting. This was not removed by the Army, but after l3 months of contact with 10000 pairs of G. I. boots, a good deal of 1t will have to be replaced.
 Next to box springs, mattresses and silverware, the purchasing crew is having the most difficulty track Ing down kitchen equipment. For tunately, some of the old equipment was saved and used by the Army; and a few of the dining rooms could be opened immediately with equip lnent on hand. Present plans call for the opening of ten ball rooms, five restaurants, three bars and one night club.
 WILL SWAP" SILVER
 It is impossible, today, to get the heavy, monogrmaed silverware such as was used by the hotel prior to It's sale, or the special glassware, ern- bossed with a huge "S." The pur- chasing crew hopes, however, to trade some of its new, unmonogrammed priority treasures with persons who are still holding the old Stevens pieces purchased at the auction.
 In order to operate on its pre-war luxury basis, the hotel will need be- tween 1,200 and 1,50O employees. So far, this has been no problem Im- pelled, apparently, by the glamour of working in such an establishment, at least 300 people a day have been ap- plying for jobs.
 A great proportion of these are housewives. But many of them will be used, even if 1t is necessary to open a training school, and to work them in relays, a few days a week. Such a school already is planned to train the 73 operators required for the largest private switchboard in the world.
 There is a noticeable lack of ap- plicants for work in the kitchens, and as floor maids. When the time comes to hire this type of help, Kirkeby thinks he can lure enough of them with personnal program of lunch rooms, recreation rooms, bowling alleys. disqualification, group insurance and perhaps day nursery at which mothers can leave their small children while they work. He also is toying with the idea of in- troducing the good neighbor policy to his hotel chain. by exchanging Stevens employees with those at the { Hotel Necional in Havana for 0O- day periods.
 For food, Kirkeby doesn't see why the Stevens shouldn't make out as well as the other hotels in town; and for liquor. which is still unrationed in Illinois. he always can fall back on the eSO0,O00 supply which the Drake had the foresight to store away against drought.
 KIrkeby and his staff have little time left, and several problems yet 10 solve. But there are few who doubt but that he las knob will Do polished. the last carpet laid, by the aau1n af November