The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1876-02-05

Hillen street, Baltimore, was used for the
first time on Sunday last. Large crowds of
people visited the locality during tho day, and
the event was signalized by displaying from
the flagstaff on the depot handsome burgee
inscribed ia large letters with the words
9 Western Maryland Railroad, The follow.
lug description of the buildings aud improve
ments we take from the Baltimore AmiricaA
Of Saturday.
On the 10th Of August, 1879, contract was
made with James Fahey 4 Co. to take down
the buildings aud grade the surface of the
large lot secured for the Company, on Exc
ter and Hillen streets, by the sltillfnl manage.
ment of Mr.. Jean. On the 18th of September
that work was sufficiently forward to allow
the Messrs. Adams, who had contracted for
the building, TO commence work. In four
months (nearly all winter, fifty or sixty
houses have been removed, eight or nine
thousand yards of earth moved, the station
buildings, covering nearly 300 feet BY 100 f.,
been PIT on one lot, and an engine house and
turntable on another, while the connecting
tracks have been laid, and the whole place
brought into use.
The station consists Of very substantial
brick building, fronting 30 feet, and having
its principal entrance on Hllen street. II
contains ON the first floor, besides the vesti-
bule of two large entrances, waiting room
35x25, which has three large openings to the
principal platform. This waiting room is
provided in very liberal manner with all the
necessary accessories. 1t has n ticket office,
a news room, restaurant room, ladies and
gentlemen's private rooms, and baggage de.
partment which has also access to the west
platform. Besides these spaces, there is a
| large room on the corner of the streets to be
used AS one of the road offices, private en-
trance for the offices and large accommoda-
| tons for freight offices for the train master
and telegraph.
The second floor is reached by wide stair
near the Exeter street entrance. 1t is divid.
ed by wide corridor from which are entered
the Board room, rooms of the General Man.
ager, of the Secretary, Auditor, General
Ticket Agent, Engineers department and
private rooms for coat rooms and closets.
| The loft over this story is not used for bust
! ness purposes.
The building is faced all around with press.
ed brick, relieved with band courses and other
ornamental work Of Berea stone, and while
1t is quiet in style it is in excellent taste, and
fits perfectly to its uses.
The track house in the rear of the office
building covers 220 feet by 100 feet. It has
two principal platforms and three tracks on
VIZ "Noh oihN lbi RaocfHEIAsf anu WV AIhthS
and wide platforms, extending on the east all
along Exeter street, for freight. These plat.
forms are so arranged that while they are of
| convenient height on the track side, they are
SO near the pavement of Exeter street that
the drays can back up on them. This station
Will afford most acceptable relief to the
growing business of the road. One of its most
important adjuncts is the engine house, which
has been built on a small triangular lot facing
on Buren, street, about one square TO the north,
or in the rear OF the station. This is a large,
square brick building, quite ornamental, and
yet, as the station, simple and railroad like
1t will contain four engines, and some shop
room for work. The engine tracks and pits
are built in the NEST perfect manner, and are
provided with some unusual conveniences for
heavy work, suggested by railroad man of
large experience from one of the great North.
ern roads. The turntable for this house is
one built in Sellers best style, lifty.four feet
diameter, working perfectly on most sub.
stantial foundation, which is capped BY n
granite stone, SIX feet square and nearly two
feet thick. The stand.pip for supplying wa.
ter TO the engines on the track is IA very com
plete affair, and handsome feature in the
yard. Part Of the ground will be used for
coal storage and side tracks for cars. From
Monument street to the office building has
been LAID perfect network of splendid tracks
and swtches-all heavy steel rails thirty feet
long, laid on white oak ties, few Of which are
under one foot in width, and are placed on a
foot OF clean, dry gravel The street paving
has been SO well replaced around the steel
bars that they can hardly be felt in driving
over them. This work, which is remarkable
for the ease and beauty of lines, was all done
under the close personal supervision of the
Master OF the Road, Mr.. Quinn.
The Western Maryland Railroad, which
showed life so soon as it fell into the hands
OF the present general manager, Mr.. Hood,
has been steadily gaining business and favor
under his direction, while almost all other
roads have lost heavily. 1t owes this great
convenience to the liberal business tact OF our
eX-Mayor and his Finance Commissioners,
who aided the road to put up these buildings.
lhe careful management of the committee
appointed for this purpose by the road, Mr.
Hood, Mr.. Reman and Mr.. Hipsey, has sue
eeeded in obtaining such great advantages for
less outlay OF money than any similar works
cost in our city.
The whole Of the station lot will be cover.
ed for about thirty thousand dollars, and the
large engine house, with superior room and
conyenlences, costs less per stall than the lar.
ger houses, built near and in the city, and
which divided the heavy cost of the turn table
amongst twenty-four, and sometimes forty,
stalls instead OF four.
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