The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-10-21
A NEW UNION DEPOT.

A NEW UNION DEPOT.
We present in another article some
of the plans with which the committee
appointed to consider the enlargement
Of the present union depot have been
laboring, and some methods of solv-
ing the problem. There are many good
and urgent reasons why something
must be done in the premises without
undue delay. Not only is the present
structure unequal to the demands made
upon it, but it is actually falling into
a condition where something has to
be done. It will presently be badly
out of repair, and the union depot COM
pany cannot, in justice to the public
and itself, any longer postpone the
work that devolves upon it.
There are two propositions which
have been considered, one of which
contemplates certain additions to and
improvements in the existing structure,
and the other would provide for an
entirely new and modern building. If
the former be adopted, the changes
made must be very extensive. We have
shown elsewhere what it will be nee
essary to do in order to make the de
pot at all commensurate to the de-
mands upon it. The entire space in
front now occupied by the shed where
hacks and carriages stop should be
placed under cover and used for a
g,
enable the room now used for that
purpose to be added to the baggage
room, and relieve the pressure upon
that crowded and uncomfortable place.
By transposing some of the interior ar
engagements, it would be possible in
this way to accommodate the public
temporarily.
At the same time that this was done,
however, the foundations would have
to be broadened and strengthened, and
a material change made in the struc-
ture of the train shed. AS this was
built, there is a hip in the roof, with
a space of lattice work between the
upper and lower portions. Against
this the wind drives the smoke from
city chimneys and the smoke of loco
motives standing on the riverside all
of which pours through the lattices,
is caught under the central roof and
drops in einders and SCOT, or curls
downward in dusky spirals to annoy
the travelling public. The discomforts
of the train shed could be modified or
altogether removed by raising the outer
wall, so that the roof would consist of
a straight and regular incline to the
central line of it's summit on which
great ventilators could be placed.
Through these the outside air, rush
ing up the roof surface would pass
freely, while out of them would issue
the smoke from the engines waiting
inside. Good ventilation and absence
of dust and dirt would be secured, and
public comfort vastly Increased. Be
sides this, the entrance way and the
upper floor of the union depot should
be elevated some distance above it's
present level. The building was put
There is a steep pitch down Sibley
from Third, and water and mud
gather easily about it. If the main
floor of the corridor and waiting rooms
were raised at the front entrance to
a level with the window sill, say about
three feet in all, above the present
site, and this entrance way carried out
to the street and sidewalk, it would
| immensely improve the appearance of
the building and add to general con-
! venience. The exit to the train shed
might be left practically as it is now,
and the incline of the floor would be
so slight as not to be noticeable.
| 1t will be seen that the number and
extent Of these improvements is so
considerable that they would cost a.
large sum of money and would leave
| st. Paul and the union depot company.
after they were finished, with nothing
but a patched-up concern. It might
accommodate travel at a pinch for sew
eral years, but it would not be salts
factory to the people of ST. Paul who
| travel, or to the railroad companies
themselves. It has been found every
where a good investment to put up a
| thoroughly modern depot building Of
steel, brick and stone, adapted to pub
lie requirements and designed to last
for many years to come. In all prob
ability it would cost only a moderate
| amount more to do this than to make
all the changes required to trans
form the present building into one
| adequate to our needs. We believe
that it would be the truest economy,
as it certainly would be the most sat
isfactory to our people, if the plans
favored by a large number Of the rail-
roads concerned, Of tearing down the
old structure and giving st. Paul a
new union depot altogether, were to be
carried out. Public sentiment is I'M
questionably unanimous on this point,
and we hope that this view, which is
! dictated by strong common sense and
business considerations, as well as by