Harrisburg telegraph. (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, September 15, 1916, Page 11, Image 11

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    MOVEMENT FOR HOTEL IS
SUCCESSFULL YLA UNCHED
[Continued From First Page]
plished. Having on my trip passed
through Wijkes-Barre, Scranton and
Binghamton and seeing the fine hotels
in those cities I am really sad to think
that we should lack In one essential
and be so superior in others. Let us
not permit Harrisburg to be the city
that will be avoided by the traveler. A
fine hotel with the Capitol building,
parks and good streets, and all our
other improvements will make Harris
burg what it should be—the State cen
ter from which to radiate and a good
place to stop over. If my subscrip
tion of $50,000 must be increased to
make this undertaking a success, I
will certainly strain a point to accom
plish results."
Mr. Tracy concluded with the sin
cere wish that upon his return to Har
risburg he might learn that the new
hotel was assured. He even suggested
as a campaign slogan, this:
"Hotel!—hotel!—hotel!
I yell!—I yell!—I yell!
Harrisburg:—Harrisburg! Harris
burg!"
Another gratifying message came
from the head of Dives, Pomeroy &
Stewart at Reading In this telegram:
"Put us down for new hotel for
520,000 and we wish you big success."
Mr. Wallower wired this reply:
"Splendid. Thanks for your hearty
response and co-operation."
An Interesting Symposium
During the after-dinner speech
making there were congratulations for
everybody who had made possible the
success of the hotel proposition and
throughout the talks was a vein of
optimism indicating still greater
things to come. Mr. Wallower told
how as the canvass proceeded he was
more and more enouraged to set the
goal to be reached still higher and
higher and he had not been disap
pointed. He said there was nothing
too good for Harrisburg and dwelt
upon the possibilities of developing
the automobfte traffic Through this
section.
President Bowman said that he had
never dreamed that he would have
the honor of acting as president of
the Chamber of Commerce in the year
when the hotel would at last be an
accomplished fact.
Mr. Gilbert spoke of his own con
stant and keen Interest in the hotel i
movement and related some incidents
of former crusades. He said his'
pleasure in the success of the move
ment was too great to be expressed In
words.
Mr. Hildrup related how he and
his associates in the big company with
which he is identified were inspired by
the great need to go In so heavily as
subscribers. He declared that he and
his associates .wanted the city of Har
risburg to enjoy part of the prosperity
which had come to their own com
pany.
Mr. Herman, president of the Plan
ning Commission, predicted that the
Commonwealth would do the right
thing in conforming the streets about
the Capitol grounds and thus give the
hotel a fine setting. He depreciated
the way in which many "thrifty" Har
risburgers invested in "blue sky" In
vestments out of town instead of
helping along the needed Harrisburg
undertakings.
Exx-Senator Fox told of his ex
perience while a member of the
Legislature where there was a ten
dency shown to avoid Harrisburg on
account of the hotel situation. While
Mr. Fox was speaking the heavy elec
tric storm doused the lights, but the
enthusiasm couldn't be dampened and
the congratulatory stream poured on.
Mr. Stackpole thought It was an
occasion for jubilation; that Harris
burg had again manifested its public
spirit and that the city would always
come to the front when the right ap- j
peal was made. He suggested that the
businessmen of Harrisburg had done■
the most admirable thing that had!
been achieved during recent years.
Congressman Krelder commended
the personnel of the board of direc- ;
tors just announced and expressed the ■
utmost confidence in their ability to,
successfully plan and operate a hotel. |
He aroused much enthusiasm by pre- !
dieting that there were enough patrons !
of a hotel now passing Harrisburg
by to fill the proposed new hotel ana '
without taking a patron from the ex
isting hostelrles. He thought the j
building of a new hotel would in
spire the owners of the others to Im
prove them and thus all would partici
pate in the increased hotel business i
He mentioned several specific in- 1
stances of cities smaller than Harris- j
"Pep" Ginger
and Ambition for
"Run Down" Men
Weak, Nervous Women
I A medicine that helps the weak,
nervous, half-sick, nerve-starved men
and women, can be bought of any live
druggist by asking for three grain
Cadomene Tablets in sealed tubes at
one dollar per tube, or six tubes for
five dollars—a full treatment.
BEFORE TAXING
I You have headaches, backaches,
shattered nerves. Your ambition is
gone, extremities cold or numb, heart
Gutters, kidneys inactive, vitality low,
confidence gone, life seems hopeless.
Despondency attacks you your
■friends desert you, you're not interest
ing, energetic, full of life and vitality.
AtTER TAKING
Your health improves, aches are
Vanished; ambition returns; blood cir
culates freely, powerfully; nervousness
disappears, heart becomes normal, or
ganic troubles corrected, vitality re
newed, confidence restored and life be- !
■comes brighter, your friends find you
pf interest, admire your strength, your
magnetism; which is another word
for smiles and joy.
All this comes because your nerves,
Hood and vital organs feel the benefi
cent medicines in three grain Cado
anene Tablets.
YOUR SYMPTOMS tell you that
you need a powerful, vitalizing tonic
.to regain all that you have lost. Try
Si
j C^uCcmefiCr-1
I
, - They are guaranteed to help you or
money refunded by the Blackburn
Products Co., Dayton, Ohio. The
''Best thing in the world" for "run
down" men or weak, nervous women.
Price Cl.oo at all druggists. Six tubes
for $5.00 is full treatment.
Use Telegraph Want Ads
FRIDAY EVENING,
burg which possessed at least two first- j
class hotels. He was glad he said,
to be associated with his Harrisburg j
friends in the undertaking.
Mr. McCaleb, predicted that many!
tourists would stop over In Harris-1
burg upon the completion of the new ;
hotel. He said It was the natural I
traffic center of Pennsylvania and In |
his Judgment thousands of travelers!
would avail themselves of the ten-day
stop-over privilege granted Harris
burg sometime ago.
Others spoke in similar veins and
the party broke up in mutual expres
sions of great satisfaction over what
: had been done.
Bowman Delighted
President Bowman of the Chamber'
of Commerce, who with ex-presidents
1 Henderson Gilbert and E. J. Stack-:
pole were associated with Mr. Wall- i
1 ower in the preliminary canvass re- j
suiting in last night's final move, said
| to-day that he was more than dellght-
I ed with the glorious conclusion of the
I preliminary campaign. "I believe we
have taken another long stop forward I
in the development of Harrisburg.'
, This hotel will mean more than any of
us can possibly estimate In placing the
city more largely than ever upon the
map."
Mr. Wall ower Led Campaign
In every great movement some
leader is developed who inspires those
with whom he is associated by his
energy, his vision and his unswerving
purpose to achieve that wTilch he has
set out to do.
The new hotel campaign brought to
1 the front one who has been identified
with every important public improve
ment crusade in the recent history of
' Harrisburg. E. Z. Wallower was one
lof the little group of men who con
ceived and made possible the initial
1 movement for a Greater Harrisburg
]in the winter of 1901. He was on the
fighting line in every subsequent cam
paign for the things which have
! transformed this city into one of the
most modern of American com-
I munities. He it was also who led the
I forces in the construction of the new
I home of the Young Women's Chris
tian Association and who labored to
establish the Masonic Temple. His
successful business career has been
punctuated with consistent and per
sistent efforts to place Harrisburg
squarely in its proper relation to the
1 Commonwealth.
Under the circumstances it was
natural that he should be chosen to
lead in the final charge for a new
hotel that would meet the require
ments of a growing city and the
Capital of the State. Last February
he was resting in Florida when J. Wil
liam Bowman, president of the Cham
ber of Commerce, replying to a letter
from E. J. Stackpole, editor-in-chief
of the Telegraph, who was at another
point in Florida, suggested that the
Moses who might lead the hotel boost
ers to success was not far away and
that it was a good time to induce him
to take the colors. A few days later Mr.
Wallower, E. S. Herman, president of
the City Planning Commission and Mr.
Stackpole held a conference in Florida
and the subject was thoroughly dis
cussed, Mr. Wallower promising to
give the matter his earnest con
sideration. He advised as a pre
liminary that an option be secured on
several prospective locations so that
no time would be lost in the mat
ter if it was decided to go ahead.
Later In the year a committee con
sisting of Henderson Gilbert and
E. J. Stackpole, two ex-presidents of
the Chamber of Commerce and Mr.
McColgin, secretary of that body went
to Philadelphia and had an interview
with ex-Attorney General Hampton
L. Carson, counsel for me Weightman
estate, owners of the old Opera House
property at Third and Walnut streets.
As a result of this interview an option
was secured on the property at the
figure of $230,000, and it was later
agreed by the committee unanimously
that this was the proper location for
the hotel.
With important private interests de
manding his attention Mr. Wallower
was compelled to make several ex
tended trips to the distant West, but
all the time he was mulling over in
his mind plans and details of the
movement which has come to practical
fruition. Those who have been as
sociated with him realize what a tower
of strength he has been and have
found him the Ideal man to head so
important an enterprise. He has given
his best thought to the working out
of a financial schema that has had
the approval of the best business
minds In the city. By reason of these
facts It Is little wonder that the leader
of the movement and the gentlemen
associated with him have been the
recipients of so many congratulations
to-day. But "E. Z." modestly assures
everybody who gives him credit that
what has already been accomplished
has been achieved largely through the
cordial support and co-operation of
those who induced him to take com
mand of the campaign.
Mr. Wallower is still a young man
in the sense that years have no effect
upon his vitality, his energy or his
vision. He sees clearly the Harrisburg
of the future and believes that the new
Harrisburg hotel is the cap sheaf of
the great transformation work that
has been going on in this city for the
last fifteen years.
Previous Efforts
Any history of the movement which
has now culminated in the organiza
tion of a hotel company that will pro
vide a modern structure with all the
up-to-date appointments, must include
many previous efforts to bring about
what has now been practically accom
plished. Some years ago the old
Board of Trade appointed a special
committee which gave much con
sideration to the question and at one
time it appeared certain that a replica
of the Bellevue-Stratford at Philadel
phia would be erected here. This
movement was the outcome of a pro
position of a Philadelphia syndicate.
At that time Henderson Gilbert, one
of the men responsible for the present
success, called a meeting of prominent
citizens at the Country Club of Harris
burg where the whole situation was
thoroughly discussed. At that meet
ing over SIOO,OOO was subscribed as an
evidence of good faith upon the part
of the Harrlsburg people. Omitting
the details it need only be said that
the syndicate failed to convince in
vestors of the practical nature of its
proposition and much to the regret of
those who had given a great deal of
time and effort to developing the plan
it was abandoned.
At another time promoters of a
combination of hotels came to Harris
burg and were much impressed with
the opening here for such an enter
prise. After many conferences with
some of the men who have been Inter
ested In most of the movements for
the last ten years, options were se
cured upon the Commonwealth Hotel
and other sites, but again the
proposition fell Into Innocuous desue
tude, the outside promoters having
some disagreements among themselves
resulting in another disappointment.
In fact, a book could be written of
the various persons who have been
Interested in the hotel situation here.
It has been recognized for years that
H&rrlsburg's one great need was a new
large and thoroughly modern hotel.
The owner of one of the popular hotels
In the Berkshlres came here several
years ago and was so Impressed that
he endeavored to put the matter Into
final shape by offering to take the
management and furnish the building
•*—
I "The Live Store" "Always Reliable"
I The Hat Question
I This is hat time and you should I
I be deeply concerned about where you I "
are going to buy your Fall Hat. There's an advantage ft \ A
| in buying it at "DOUTRICHS." \ \
I When it comes to the hat question we
I know of nothing that requires so much care in choos- StlfC thing toddV
ing and we believe we can assist you greatly. will be the last day for Straw
For here's an entire NEW stock— TR Y "DOUTRICHS" I
every sensible and correct shape is ready for the first 18 ve °P en ® a 1
bis dav's sellinir i new Hat Department and say,
Dig days selling. it>g a dandy , ooking pJace _
AA 4EL AA You'll be surprised at the vast
N • VFV/ 9 q>O.UU number of Hats they have to
lrl CCLzL nn choose from and busy too—a
dllU lot of young fellows there who j
I know just what you want. |
I The New Fall Fashions in— § |
KUPPENHEIMER CLOTHES
Are Ready For Your Inspection and Satisfaction
New Models are here showing This is a store that never com
the genius of designs. New fabrics await promises with inferiority—a store of certain
worsteds, serges and cassimeres—advanced * lon a s * ore that seeks the best, finds the 1
styles for men who relish a place in the fore- best and sells the best at prices any man can
front of fashion. well afford to pay. .
Here in these clothes you will find the quality
for which this store is famous Clothes cut to fractional exact
' ness—We bring perfection in good clothes within the reach of
any man.
I S2O s2s s3O
I New Sweater Stocks Are Ready For Men, Women and Children
I " i^
—■HHBM—M
at his own expense, but the Interest
was not then sufficient to bring about
a successful proposition.
Every president of the important
central trade body of the city has
urged the hotel matter year after
year, but it was not until this sum
mer that what looked almost like a
hopeless situation was cleared through
the energy and initiative of those who
got behind Mr. Wallower's leadership.
Outline of the Plan
In submitting the matter to the sub
scribers last night Mr. Wallower said
it was not necessary to discuss the
need of the hotel—that was self-evi
dent; that for many years the city had
been hoping that outside interests
would do for us that which it is now
apparent we must undertake for our
selves. He said that he had always
believed that the citizens of Harris
burg when the proposition was pre
sented in the right way would come to
the front, and he had not been dis
appointed. He believed that with
proper management, which could be
practically assured, the hotel would be
a signal success. It had passed beyond
the stage of pro bono publico; It was
now a business as well as a civic
matter.
Regarding the site, Mr. "Wallower
suggested that the new hotel at Third
and Walnut streets will command a
fine view of the Capitol Park and the
river and the surrounding country;
that it will be in the very heart of the
activities of the city, across the street
from the Federal building and within
a stone's throw of the railroad stations
—all these considerations being im
portant to such an enterprise.
He also dwelt upon the ,dvaijtaea l
HAKRISBCRG TELEGRAPH
of a great railroad center and the fact
that Harrisburg is pre-eminently a
convention city. He also emphasized
the fact that the activities of the
Commonwealth, the biennial sessions
of the Legislature, the frequent dele
gations which appear before the State
commissions and boards here, the
greatly increasing automobile travel,
the opening of the William Penn High
way through Harrisburg. the tact that
this city is on a feeder to the Lincoln
Highway and near Gettysburg— all
these and other factors were referred
to a* assuring the 6uccess of the local
proposition.
Further developing the matter, he
suggested the need of a hotel about
twelve stories high with not less than
300 rooms, with baths and provision
for the personal comfort of the guests
and with rooms $1.50 a day upward.
These things, of course, he said, were
for the consideration and decision of
the directors.
He was especially earnest in discuss
ing the financial plan and declared
that every effort had been made to
work out such a scheme as will abso
lutely safeguard the investment of
every stockholder, however small. An
offer of a guaranteed 6 per cent, return
on the investment had already been
made by a reliable party. Whether
the hotel should be managed under
lease or by direction of the company
was also a matter for the directors to
determine. To carry out the project
to absolute success, he suggested,
would involve from $900,000 to
$1,000,000, depending upon the num
ber of room*, furnishing, etc.
Perhaps the most Interesting state
ment by, Mr, Wallower was that the.
new hotel would be erected and man
aged without a bar and liquor would
bo eliminated. Ho believed that the
public had reached that stage of con
viction on the subject where the dis
pensing of liquors is no longer neces
sary to the successful conduct of a
hotel. As an offset to any possible loss
on this score, however, he stated that
the estimated rentals of the stores and
privileges on the Third street side
would approximate $20,000 per annum.
It is understood that the subscrip
tions to the hotel stock will cover a
period of fifteen months, beginning
with the first of January. 1917.
The Bzlreme Need
It may not be generally known how
seriously the inadequate hotel facili
ties of Harrisburg have affected the
city during recent years. It is a mat
ter of common knowledge that while
this is still an important convention
city, scores of large gatherings have
passed us by owing to the fact that we
had not sufficient hotel room. One of
the arguments for the alleged "branch
capltol" in Philadelphia has been the
absence of a modern hotel to accom
modate those who come here to do
business at the Capitol from time to
time. 'While Harrisburg has been pro
gressing in every other direction, the
visitors who have come here in in
creasing numbers have gone away dis
appointed because of the hotel de
ficiency. With all our splendid civic
development and the many things
which have given Harrisburg promi
nence throughout the country there
was always this fly In the ointment —
the criticism on account of the hotel
which we had not. Business men.
SEPTEMBER 15, 1916
traveling men, transient visitors, tour
ists, hotel managers elsewhere, all
these have recognized the need, and
while Harrisburg has continued to
shine brightly in the galaxy of pro
gressive municipalities It has suffered
tremendously through our failure to
provide a hotel in keeping with the
city's progress.
Mr. Wallower and other members
of the committee have been in corre
spondence with former citizens of Har
risburg in an effort to Interest them in
the new hotel project and it Is In
teresting to note that In every case
these have expressed great satisfaction'
and pleasure over the prospect that
the one thing which has hindered the
advancement of the city to a still
higher place in the good opinion of
all was about to be secured. Congress
man A. S. Krelder, although not a resi
dent of Harrisburg, was proud to sub
scribe $20,000 to the proposition be
cause he felt that as & representative
of this district at Washington he
should do what he could to overcome
a drawback to the Capital City. There
were many kAnd things said to-day of
the Congressman for his public spirit
and the breadth of his vision under
the circumstances.
All Most Help
Now that the proposition Is squarely
before the people. It Is expected that
all who rrally desire to show their In
terest In the matter will promptly add
CASTORIA For Infants and Children. arth
JHB Kind You Him Alwajs Bought <. s*.
their subscriptions to the capital stoclc.
There will be but one class of stock.
It is the intention of those who are
leading in the movement to place all
who invest in this enterprise upon the
samo footing whether they have one
share or more. It is a matter of such
vital Interest to the entire community
that it is held every citizen should
have pride in being represented in
some way, even If It be through the
ownership of but one share of stock.
The old Opera House site, which Is
immediately available, has a frontage
of 105 feet on Walnut street, 180 feet
on Third street and a further exten
sion of 80 by 43 feet on Strawberry
avenue, embracing 17,090 square feet.
It Is believed the, purchase of this
property has been a good business
stroke. Under the tentative plans of
the Board of Public Grounds and
Buildings all the streets surrounding
the State property will be widened
when the final redesigning of the Capi
tol grounds shall be undertaken. It is
proposed to place the sidewalks on
Walnut, Third and North streets along
the top of the terrace on these three
sides of the park, which will admit ot
the widening of the highways so as to
conform to the dignity and beauty of
the State property. The Weightman
estate, of Philadelphia, has been the
owner of the Opera House corner since
a short time after fire destroyed that
place of amusement.
11