The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-06-30
TuE VANDERBILT DEPOT.
The Largest Railway and Passenger
CarayanSary in Tie World.
Twelve Acres Of Iron and Two Acres of GLASS
in the Building.
One Thousand Niles Of Railroad Gen.
tring in Ferruginous Palace.

New York has been for quarter OF century
without decent railroad depot to accommodate
the millions of travellers who pass through the me-
ropolis annually. and THIS neglect OF the comfort OF
The public by railway companies has for many years
been commented upon oy the HERALD in no meas
ured terms Constant dripping VIII wear away a
stone and even the hearts OF railway directors, Of
fcials ana stockholders must gradually soften 70
the cry OF Disguised public.
And any New Yorker who Will take the trouble TO
nay visit to the new Union depot at Forty-second
street and Fourth avenue which is designed for the
use OF the New York ana Harlem, the New York
Central embracing the Hudson River Railroad di-
vislon) and the New York and New Haven Rail-
roads, cannot help as he stands under the vast and
magnificent rool-wnich looks ike armament in
isen-thInking that At last, we have arailwaydepot
for the accommodation Of passengers that Is
equalled the world In point OF size, soidity and
elegance.
This vast building covers nearly four acres within
its walls and would mold all the people who attended
the Fort Sumter meetings IN 1851 they were packed
The Of the roof, the intricate gors eous-
ness OF the richly worked truss work, the brilliant
effect of the of glass set in the iron sashes
of the root, and the thousand other details CON-
bined which puts the structure level, for vast
and grandeur, with any o World cathedral.
In this depot which is five feet longer and many
feet wider than the Great Midland depot in London
the most perfect system yet seen In America VIII be
perfected under the charge of depot master who
will have charge OF all the detail OF passenger trans
portation and all terminus work. Every Improvement
that the human mind could suggest and that could
be procured the lavish outlay OF money, has been
made available IN the new Union Depot.
And 10 whom are New Workers indebted for this
gigantic building, with all It's advantages for travel
and transmission from one place TO anOtheri TIE
passer by at the corner OF Fifteenth street and Fifth
avenue may occasionally observe tall 1ne look
ing old gentleman with norid, handsome face and
white hair and whlskers in evening dress and
ing a white choker smoking a cigar as he looks out
on the passers by from the front windows OF the
Manhattan CLUB. He has passed the years allotted
10 man. but he Is as vigorous most men OF twenty
Ave. Driving through Harlem lane you may see
this same digniied Old gentleman behind the fastest
trotter that money buy, which he has driven all
the way from his stable. in Fourth street. at full
speed, without ever taking the cigar out OF his
mouth on the road
This Is Cornelius Van 1erbilt, the Railroad King
a greater maa than Hudson, over seventy years or
age, and who 1t IL SAID, has million for every year
oi his long and successful life. To HIM do we owe the
construction and completion OF this most magnlf-
cent railway oepot, ami TO his son. William II. VAN
derbit does the credit OF supervising and carrying
ont the great work belong-a work which incud-
ing the value OF the real estate which the building
stands, Is estimated at some three millions OF |
i ii order that the readers Of the HERALD might |
obtain all the information desirable IN regard to the
Dew Union Depot reporter oil this Journal was |
despatched 10 the new elihce ia Fory.second !
Sp Of e s eoo Re tsa
lower floor OF the north end Of the building, IN |
which the assistant architect held hts levees. |
here the reporter found number OF young men
with pencils in their hands trying to make each
other believe inai~ they were hard at work over
number Of drawings and parchment plans The
HERALD reporter stood stIii - be stared at efcc. I
tuay for moment. and finally. aier all the Young
TO approach simple minded Of the party, TO
whom he thus addressed himself -.~'ss
HERALD REPoRTEB-I wish TO ina some person \
who VIII be kind enough TO give me, II possible,
detailed description OF the depot for publication
SIAPLEMISDED YeUTH.-I don't know any one
here do II. Mr.. Shook is not in and will not be
here for some hours; BESIDES DON'T think he
10 be bothered about the matter at all He mas SO
many things TO attend TO.
HERALD REPoRrER-"The HERALD does not con.
descend TO bother any one. II only seeks the news,
and II does not get 1t from one person 1t must get
il from another.n
<~SIMplE- MINDED YoUTH-"He Is too old to care for
anything OF the kind now.n =.
sEo9sg-SlArLE MINDED YOUTH ,"You know how
II Is yourseii.t 49, srS ~,---,.-
Here the HERALD reporter left the place and paid
VISIT to- better source oi information Mr.. J. C.
<Buckhoui, the architect OF the depot and engineer
who IS also the superintendent Of the New York and
Harlem Railroad and whose office is at the corner
OF Fourth avenue and Twenty-sixth street. The re-
porter found Mr.. Buckhout gentleman with |
broad, high forehead, black wavy nair and good |
business force In his ONCE Mr.. Buckhout was very
Cautious, but very courteous 10 the reporter |
when Is more than be said for most raw way OH.
GERS and their subordiuates.
After some preliminary remarks the HERALD Com
missioner began as follows
"What are the dimensions Of the new depot sir ~ |
Is oe5 feet In length, 40 Ieet width ana 100
feet from the centre OF the roof 10 the ground floor
The depot is the largest In the world, Tor the Great
Midland In London Is FIVE Ieet less In length and Is
not nearly as many feet In width.v
AT what time will it be open 10 the publcr'
"Ihe Central and Hudson River offices will be |
moved IN next week about Wednesday. The Harlem |
n N hnn
nrst OF August"
What Is the ground area OF the buidings'
'Neariy five acres. IL covers the from Forty
second street TO Forty fifth street. and from Fourth
avenue to new avenue intervening between the |
depot and Madison avenue. which Will be used by |
panIes-'
"H0w many apartments will there be In the |
depotfn
ali OF which Will be handsomely fitted up and heated
by steam, with gas and water. Each OF the rooms |
VIII contain from tblrtyive TO ll2 feet OF vertical
tube heating radiators The offices Will be ftted up
with black walnut, oak ana ash woodwork and up |
h0islereo furniture. The depot will contain ladies'
and gentemen's restaurants and dining rooms, in |
which food OF the best quality VIII be served In
style az good as at Deimonico's. The moor below |
the sidewalk will have number OF stores, which |
Will be rented out with rst class barber shops and
hairdressing saloons. bathrooms, bar and lunch |
rooms restaurants Tor ladies. toilets for ladies and
gentlemen, and every accommodation for the thou |
sands OF people who get OF trains while waiting for
Transmission TO other roads, or while waiting 70 |
ieaVe Tue city by any or our three roads. We Will
also have large waiting aud drawing rooms, /
ntteo mp In the best fashion. The New York and |
New Haven Railroad Company will have their ofices |
on the forty-sec0nd street or south front Of the !
building. The New YORK aud Harlem Company viii |
nave thelr onlces on the west side OF the building, |
fronting on the new street. which Will be sixty feet
In width. These last offices will extend 200 feet |
norh from forty-second street. and 495 feet OF the
north end OF the building will be devoted TO the |
Offices OF the New York Central Railroad ana the |
HUDSON River division Of the central Road Part |
Of this end will be used q baggage department |
for the Central Railroad"
"What arrangements win you have In regard 10 |
the management OF passengers ana freight by your
force OF employesW
'There wi be depot master, who viii have |
charge OF the entire depot and the employees |
Of the company In the building All baggage |
Will be under his supervision. The tenants viii |
also be under his charge. Everything In the depot
will be under perfect a system as that which |