The morning call., 1894-03-31
ANOTHER EDIFIcE NEEDED.
All the Departments Poorly
Adapted to Work.
TALK OF A DOWNTOWN SITE.
The Question of Proper Structure
Being Earnestly Discussed
by the Officials.


ing at the corner of Fourth and Townsend
streets will be at some not far dist Mt day
turned over either to the bats and rats
or to some other purpose than that to
which il is at present devoted.
There has long been feeling among the
head officials of the Southern Pacific road
that their present quarters is, in more
than one particular, a detTiment to the
best interests of the road. Located as 1t
is, away out of the business center of the
city, with no means of access. except the
tedious horSecars. merchants and others
who have business with the road avoid it
as much as possible, and transact matters
of Importance through the medium of the
telephone or by messenger service.
1t is unnecessary to point out how un-
satisfactory this method of doing business
is to both the business man and the official
with whom he is in communication. But
there are still other reasons why a change
TO a more central and far more desirable
location would prove beneficial. One of
the principal officials, in speaking of the
matter yesterday. had this to say:
mot only from a business point of view,
but in social way we are particularly cut
off from the outside world as we are at
present situated. and l need not point out
to you the necessity and benefit of being
in immediate touch with events which are
constantly occurring and which are called
to our attention frequently hours after
the general public has become familiar
with them.
Il am satisfied that no other railroad
corporation in this country at least is so
unsatisfactory situated as regards its
general offices as the Southern Pacific. |
mean no other company which is on a par
with or approaches il In Importance. Not
only this but many of the great railroad
corporations of the United States show an
inclination to even improve upon their
quarters, which are now far superior to
ours
Look at the splendid structure Just
erected by the Pennsylvania road in Phil
adelphia, for instance. Its location could
not be improved upon. and as for the
building itself it is not only a source of
pride to the citizens but contains every in-
provement, every device calculated to
facilitats travel. afford the patrons of the
road comfort and give the management
full scope for the rapid and satisfactory
transaction of its business.
80 it is ali over the country. In Chi
cago the various railroads entering there
are provided with splendid structures for
their accommodation, and in Boston. New
York, st. Louis. Cincinnati and other cities
the same state OF affairs exists.
Suppose we had building located
somewhere down on Sansome street, for
instance. If such was erected you may be
sure it will be a structure worthy of the
road and a credit to the city. for the South
ern Pacific, l may trnthfully say, usually
does its work of Improvement in a manner
that admits of no criticism. Such a build
ing would be in keeping with the import
anee of the road which owned it, and, fur
thermore, such Improvements are not ty
any means in the nature of poor invest
ments. Buildings of that character which
are constructed nowadays are built upon
plans which contemplate permanency and
architectural beauty. and are considered
valuable acquisitions intrinsicaly."
The subject of a new building for the
Southern Pacific came up at certain
dinner given one evening this week by
central figure in the roads MANAGEMENT to
a select circle of his friends. The matter
was discussed at length, it is said, and no
word of criticism upon the project was
uttered by any of those present who eX-
pressed an opinion.
Among those present was Mr. Corthell,
the present chief engineer of the Tehuan-
tepec road across the isthmus. He was
also the chief engineer OF the Nickel Plate
and West Shore roads in the East ana was
Eads' right-hand man in the construction
of the big bridge over the Mississippi
River at ST. Louis.
Mr.. Corthell is a gentleman who is
familiar with many of the large railroad
buildings OF the country. and it is under
stood that he was able 10 offer some very
timely suggestions as TO what such a struc-
ture would cost, his estimates, of course,
being given simply in an approximate way.
There are many Objectionable features
about the old building" said second off,
cial yesterday, land the changes that are
being constantly made in the exterior are
inadequate to supply the demands for
room. Take the freight auditors depart
ment for instance. Several hundred en-
ployes are cooped up in the room assigned
for the transaction of the immense work
done there and the facilities are painfully
inadequate to the requirements.
with the promise of each year and the
VI DuSlUc5S uOU6 Llo
work of the various departments propor-
tlonately increases. When the old build.
ing was CONSTRUCTED Its designers did not
build wiser than they knew. This fact is
now realized and the attempts TO give en-
larged facilities to some of the depart
ments lately and the difficulty of so doing
has more than ever demonstrated the ne
cesslty OF change in quarters or radical
enlargement of those at present occupied"
1he Southern Pacific Company for a
number OF years had its general offices on
California street, near Kearny, but in the
fall OF 1874, or about that time, the present
building was completed and the headouar.
ters OF the big corporation removed there
TO. ln the course of time the growing
need Tor more room necessitated the addI-
tlon or story to the original structure
this work being completed about five years
ago.
Within the past few months a number of
changes have been made upon the interior
Third Vice-PTesident Stubbs found mis-
Office room of insufficient proportions a
few weeks ago, and an enlargement was
made to meet his requirements. The
large section OF the third floor occupied nv
the law department has also undergone
expansion within a few weeks. and other
departments which are equally as bad off