The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1896-12-11
OrlAHA TRAINS USE THE NEW
TRACK.
The New Union Depot Thrown Open
to the Public Sunday-DenSe
Crowds Witness the Arrival of the
East and West Bound Passenger
Trains Chicago s Northwestern
Trains will use the Depot in Week
or rwo-Joint Agent Johnson
Statement.
Statement.

the platform and grounds of the new
Omaha depot Sunday when the
first train pulled up to the depot, and
half as many were on hand to see the
afternoon train come in. A moment
before the first passenger train hove
in sight in the Chicago & North
western yards, the bell in the Main
street watch tower sounded and the
automatic gates closed down, shutting
teams off from the track. Then, at
precisely l:23 p. M, the train came
around the curve and stopped at the
depot. Conductor Messer smiled as
he saw the crowd assembled, and the
through passengers in the train looked
out in establishment at the crowd.
A score of Mankatoites who had gone
to Kasota to come in on the train got
off and were welcomed by their &C
quaintances with the same warmth as
though they had come back after a
months absence.
Everybody was delighted with the
change and none were backward in
showing it. Before the train came.
the crowd surged through the south
waiting room, the only one open to the
public at present. Many walked over
the entire yards during the afternoon.
The new passenger depot is not yet
completed. The north waiting room
will hardly be done before the end of
the week, while the new seats are
not yet in. The second story will not
be ready for occupancy for two or
three weeks.
Agent c. E. Johnson, of the Chicago
& Northwestern road, received notice
Saturday afternoon of his appoint
ment as joint passenger agent at the
new union depot, and entered upon
his duties this morning. Auditor
James Verne, OF Sioux City, checked
up Agent Bradley yesterday afternoon,
and he turned the passenger business
over to the joint agent.
EJoint Agent Johnson has appointed
his son. o. 1. Johnson, day ticket
clerk, and S. A. Walrath of the G. &
N. w. depot will continue as night
clerk. One of these will be on duty
at all times.
Agent Bradley will hereafter have
charge of the freight business on the
Omaha road and his office will be at
the freight depot. Agent Johnson
will continue to attend to the freight
interests of the G. & N. w. road.
The position of joint agent takes
with it the commissions on the sale
of tickets over other roads.
The Chicago & Northwestern pas
senger trains will run into the new
passenger depot as soon as the second
waiting room is completed, which
will probably be next week. Agent
johnson states that after this change
takes place, the old @. &. n. w.
depot will continue to be used as a
freight depot. His office will be in
what is now the gents waiting room,
and the office of the cashier and
operator will be where the ladies
waiting room now is. An archway
will be cut between the two rooms.
The present Office will be added to
the freight room, and the floor pro-
badly raised to level with the other.
The. interior will also be otherwise
remodeled.
An endeavor will soon be made to
make Mankato an eating station for
one or more of the trains. With The
Saulpaugh across the track, the faci-
lities will be very complete for this.
Until Saturday, it was generally
thought that Agent Bradley was to
receive the appointments of joint agent
and his friends were much disap-
pointed at the outcome. 1t is rumor-
ed that the appointment of Mr.. John
son came from high @. & N. w. sour
ces, and his friends are extending
congratulations. Both agents are
first class officials, and either would
| fill the position to the entire satisfac-
ion of the public.
While Mr.. Johnsons appointment
gives satisfaction, it was general
surprise, inasmuch as it was thought
that an Omaha road man would get
| the position. This belief came from
the fact that the Omaha road con-
ecived and carried through the i'm
provement, the depot is on the
through line of the Omaha road, and
contains the Omaha dispatchers' Of
| fee. Mankato is at the end of stub
line of the Northwestern road. 1t is
limited that the appointment of the
joint agent came no less as surprise
to the Oman officials than to the citi-
zens generally. 1t is looked upon by
those who are interested in railroad
matters as very clever move on the
part of the Northwestern officials in
adding to their Jurisdiction so desir-