Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1900-08-01
TIE NEW DEPOT
General Satisfaction in the City Over
the Settlement Of the Question
Of a Depot.
Bismarckers Pleased that at Last they
are3to Have Passenger Depot
Second to None. u
Improvement that the New Structure
Will Make to Main Street and
the City Generally.

-
Will Make to Main Street and s
the City Generally.
5S The fact that the new depot would
be built this year, as stated eby the
party of Northern # Pacific officials
when in the city, was good news to
residents Of the city who have been
waiting for years fora substantial and
permanent station to take the place of
the many tempe 1nakeshifts that
have been used by the railroad COM
pany. Bismarck has never had a de-
pot worthy the name. Prior to the
fire OF August, 1898, there We're three
buildings, part or which were used by
the railroad company. A portion of
the Sheridan house was used for ticket
offices and waiting rooms. The
rooms were cramped and small, the
sanitation poor, and the location not
good. There was frame building
where the present temporary depot.
stands used as an express Office and
further along to the west were offices
and a freight warehouse, in which
started the fire that destroyed the bus
mess center of the city. These build
ings were old, and had been erected
in early days, with regard merely
for utility. @ When the fire destroyed
| the Northern Pacific freight warehouse
and express Office, the agents Offices
were moved to the Little room that
had been used for gentlemen's wait
ing room, and small building was
moved in to accommodate the express
and baggage Office. Then the Sheri-
| dan was moved, and another frame
building was moved in and is now in
lsuse as : temporary depot. It is by
lno means IN ORR ament, and bo i: resi-
dents of the city and the local EN-
ployes of the railroad will breathe
sighs Of relief when permancn; de-
| pot is erected and the Offices are
moved therein.
The Sheridan house has been moved
OH t.:- site the railroad company has
always wanted for a depot and the
work on the new building will
SOON begin. Contracts for the steam
heating and, lighting have been let the
Hughes Electric cOmnanv .f -. : E#I
In addition to settling the matter of
the depot, the officials of the railroad
company authorized a number Of addi-
tional Improvements in the recon
structed Sheridan house. These. in
clude a number OF additional plate
glass windows to those Contemplated
in the original plans, and the elevation
of the whole building a foot higher
than at first proposed. This will set
the Sheridan up from the street and
will be a big Improvement. AS the
plans now are, there will be large
basement under the building, a dining
room over sixty feet long without pill
lar OF support, hardwood and tiled
floors, and every modern convenience,
The railroad company will spend in
the city in Improvements this year in
the neighborhood OIL $50, 900 or S60, 900.
. The addition of a first class modern
hotel and model passenger station
to the conveniences of Bismarck are
matters of the first Importance.
Heretofore when trains arrived at Bis
5marck they have stopped facing the
front Of the Sheridan house as it was
mot an imposing sight to say the
least. There were few depot conven-
fences for passengers--no toilet rooms,
fit waiting rooms or the other con-
.Veniences OF a modern depot When
the new depot is erected ali these omis-
sions will be supplied, and the travel
ing public's appreciation will be Of
material benefit to the city. 5.
A number of other improvements
are contingent upon the building of
the depot and the remodellng Of the
hotel a new two-story brick build
ing is being erected by Thomas Nc
EGowan directly opposite the depot, and
the desirability OF business locations
on Main street between Fourth and
FIFTH will lead to the erection of Others.
Property has already been purchased.
and arran ngements made for bnildin
This will give new concrete walks on
Main street opposite the depot. and
impIove the appearance OF the city to
q greater degree than any other single
imp provenert.
The perspective OF the new depot
published by the Tribune in connection