The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-01-15
RAILROAD NEWS.
Magnificent Depot at Dodge
City Opened to Travel.
One of the Finest on the Line
of the Santa Fe Road.
AT A COST OF $4,000.
Three Stories High, Built of
Pressed Brick and Stone.
Inside Handsomely Finished
Formal Opening Feb. %.


Dodge City, Jan. 15.-The new Santa
Fe depot and hotel is now occupied and
opened to the public.
The architectural design of the build
ing is of the composite; it is beautiful.
imposing and attractive
The very best material has been used
in the construction of this building.
The brick has been trimmed with mag
niffcent stone from the quarries of Col
OradO City.
The foundation stone is from Castle
Rock, Colo. The water tables are made
of Cottonwood, Kan, stone. Pressed
brick was used, and 500, 600 brick have
been laid in the building. The roof is
covered with terra Gotta, or French tile
and there are copper guIlies and val
legs.
The total cost of the copper is about
$4,000. Below the tile on the roof there
are two courses of Imperial felt paper,
water proof The building is 26O feet
long, and at the widest point is 81 feet
wide. There are one, two and three
stories The west room is for the de-
pot, and adjoining on the east are the
express and baggage rooms; ladies' and
gents waiting rooms; lunch counters,
dining room, hotel Office, kitchen, store
room, etc, on the first floor. In the
basement is the boiler room, root cellar
coal house, store room. laundry. The
bakery and refrigerator rooms are on
the first floor, and also room for the
v. A
large sample room for commercial
travellers is on the first floor. In the
second story there are % sleeping rooms
besides ladies' parlor; and five sleeping
rooms in the third story. The balconies
on the north and south sides of the
third story are made of pressed copper,
20 feet long by 4 feet in width The
kitchen, laundry, bakery, or wherever
fire is kept, are made fire proof, with
corrugated iron and concrete and eye
beams. No wood is used except in the
doors and frames.
The floor of the hotel Office and din
ing room are laid in hard maple. All
floors are laid double, with Asbestos
paper between, and in case of fire the
flames can be easily checked.
The finishing of the rooms is of a
very fine character. The lower rooms
are wainscotted with Linn crest,
wood pulp, with finely carved figures.
The walls are calcimined of light ter
"a Gotta color, of different shades in
upper and lower rooms.
The ceilings have ornamental metal,
and brOnzed borders. The dining room
and hotel offices are magnihcently fin
ished.
All wood work is finely vanished.
The upper walls are handsomely decor
ated with hand painted figures. The en-
tire building is heated with steam, the
steam being furnished from two boil
ers in the cellar. These boilers also
furnish steam for cooking.
There are water closets on lower and
upper floors, and porcelain bath tubs
for guests and hotel help. The kitchen
has every appointment for convenience
and facility. There are refrigerator
boxes or closets for vegetab les, meats,
butter and milk. The. closets are lined
with a wood that does not absorb the
OdOr of things.
The building is lighted with electric
lights furnished by the Dodge City Wa
ter and Light company.
A brick platform has been laid on
three sides of the building. The front
platform is 300 feet long and "a feet
wide, laid with vitrified brick, on edge.
The side platforms are built in same
manner, only II feet wide.
The entire cost of the building will
be not less than $780, 600 with furnishings
The material is the very best in use
anywhere, and the workmanship can
not be excelled.
With the adornment of the grounds,
of several blocks, which will be set in
trees and shrubbery, it is believed no
finer depot and hotel can be found in
the west.
The formal opening, which will be
the greatest social affair ever held in
western Kansas, will be held on Wash
ingtOn's birthday, Feb. %, 1898, at which
time a banquet will be served. a grand
ball at the rink and formal dedicatory
exercises will be held
Everything will be on a magnificent
scale, state and railway officials and
members of the state press will be in
vited to participate in the festivities of
the occasion.
The event will be under the auspices
of the Phoenix club and they have APP
pointed a committe in charge, of which
Mayor ]. J. Summersby is chairman
and c. E. Gallagher, secretary.
Invitations will be issued by the
club. Tickets $780,