Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1899-09-09
UNION DEPOT NEEDED
People Of the Capital City Should
Unite in a Move to Secure
One This Year.
A CONVENIENCE WANTED
The Railway Company Helps Towns That
Are Willing to Help Themselves The
Santa Fe and Rio Grande Would
Follow Lead of the People.

NauUd e anu hlO UJanu6 WOulu
Follow Lead of the People.
A few weeks ago the New Mexican
stated that an intimation had been
given by a railway man that the Santa
Fe Railway Company would probably
select this city as the location for the
next new depot to be constructed, if
the people made an effort to induce such
action by asking the two railways to
join in a union depot, and by making a
contribution of a suitable site and ter
minal, or by the donation Of $4,000.
The Santa Fe Railway Company
would be willing to do it's share, and
undoubtedly the Denver & Rio Grande
line, which has been the most progress
sive company in Colorado, and the one
which has most assiduously worked for
the interests of the people of that state,
could hardly fail to Join in the enter
prise. At any rate, the Santa Fe would
undertake the Improvement independ-
emily if necessary, Upon the donation
being made by the people. At Trinidad
a very handsome depot is now being
constructed by the Santa Fe company
and a pretty park planned, as the result
of a subscription Of 1000 by the people.
The railway is spending $1,000 upon
the improvement.
1t is the policy of the company to
build three or four nice depots along its
lines each year. The best towns upon
the main lines are being supplied. When
travellers find nothing but unsightly and
uncomfortable railway buildings, in the
outskirts of this city, very unpleasant
impressions are created. Both the first
and last impressions of the visitors
must be unfavorable.
The depots are both ~disgraceful to the
city and the railways. They are at in
convenient places, especially as many
of the trains arrive and depart in the
night. Their locations and the disagree
able features connected with arrival
and departure in the middle of the night
are dreaded, and people who have once
CApCl lCliSCo tllCil w " NoAiC W SdllId
Fe oftener than can be helped. The peo-
pie of the city are daily put to incon-
v%enience because the depots are located
so far from the business center. There
are many citizens who do not witness
the arrival or departure of a train or
go to the depot from n years end to
that of another simply because the dis
lance and surroundings prevent.
Were there a union depot at some spot
like the foot of San Francisco street or
Palace avenue it would be a public BEN
eft, worth much money to the city.
Such a depot could he surrounded with
grounds as attractive as the plaza.
Santa Fe should cease to rely on a
reverence for the antique to attract Wis
itors. Ancient possessions are all very
well, so far as they go, but for every
person attracted to a city because of
relics a dozen might be induced to come
by modern conveniences and evidences
of progress, and when they did come, be
influenced to stay instead Of doing as
some do who come-take a hurried drive
around sightseeing and depart by the
first train, to stay longer where there is
an up-to-date appearance and
fences for travellers. Santa Fe should
not be content with being ranked as a
back number. 1t is not glory enough to
be considered the Oldest town in the
United States. A union depot is one Of
the modern things most needed. The
people must do as do those of other
towns that ecure such Nb~enefts-seek
them and back up an effort with offers
to help inaugurate the improvement.
Railroad companies can get along with
old depots with less inconvenience than
can the people. But an effort to bring
about improvements always interests
railway men, and they are never slow
to join with the people when the latter
have enough enterprise to stir up such
matters. Railway managers are not
fossils, and their local representatives
are always ready to work for the good
of the town where they are stationed.
The Santa Fe company has always
been friendly to the capital of New
Mexico. The corporations general Off
GERS rarely fail to visit this city when
on a tour, and they frequently bring
capitalists and friends to the city. It
ought to be easy to induce the mana
gers to help make the city more attract
i've If there were evidence of a desire by
the people to join in this.
The union depot proposition is worth
thinking about, working for and help
ing by donations Of land and money. |
Unless the people take the initiative the
railway managers are liable to forget
all about the matter, and Santa Fe will +
to put UP with the present lack
Of accommodations .perpetually. while
pushing towns will get what they go
after.
Sealed Proposals
VIII be received at the office of the cap
ltol rebuilding board, Santa Fe, N. M,
up to Wednesday, September 20, 1899,
1t IL o'clock noon, lat which date and
hour such proposals will be opened, for
Ill the glass and registers Of the capitol
building of New Mexico. The right to
reject any and all bids is reserved. Plans
Ind specifications can be seen at the
office Of the architects, at the capitol ]
grounds, Santa Fe, N. M. Copies of
laid specifications will be mailed on APP
olication. Address all proposals, ETC.,