The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1901-04-04

by the accompanying Cit, IS erected Oh
the southwest corner Of Walnut ard
Broad Streets 1t is the most beautiful
structure in the South, and the most
tasteful railroad building in the United
States. 1t is.correct in design; ample
in its proportions; highly artistic in its
decorations; ingenious in adaptation of
construction; elegant in its appoint
ments; convenient in It's arrangements,
and is situated in that part of the city
where it stands almost alone in its
princely grandeur and serene beauty as
splendid architectural triumph.
The style of architecture is what is
known as the Romanesquc, which carries
with it simplicity massiveness, and
strength. 1t is built of the beautiful
oolitic Bowling Green grey limestone,
which gives the exterior a subdued as
pect, but with suggestion of durability
and strength. 1t stands four stories in
height The main tower rises in grace
full outlines to the height of eco feet~with
a final of bronze statue of Mercury.
representative of science, commerce, and
the arts, as we'll as the grace of life and
the patron Of travellers. The clocll in
this big square tower, when finished.
will be unique in that it will have NOV
able blocks to indicate the hour in
stead of hands.
The main entrance to the building Is
from Broad Street, which has spacc ua-
derneath for number Of parallel rail-
way tracks. One passes from the pave
ment on the viaduct into TIE l0ggia or
stone porch, which is supported by seven
massive stone arches, three in front and
two on either side. These arches rise
in graceful proportions and are e!ab-
orately carved in delicate tracery Of
stone work. The central arch in front
is higher and more imposing t;.an the
others The floor is laid With orna-
mental thing. and rises in the center b.
four steps to the level Of the floor in the
main waiting room. The ceiling of til
loggia is paneled in oak and the roof i
flat. There is q fine sculptured stone
entablature near the top. upon which
massive stone baiustrade stanGs that rises
above and surrounds the roof balcon.-.
The loggia connects with three vestibuIes
by trio of heavy archways correspond
ing in height to the front arches Of TIC
loggia. All these arches a"e artiStically
carved and present the most perfect ont
lines of Romancsque beauty
The interior Of the main waiting
room. by its imposing beauty, cxcites the
most enthusiastic admiration. The
harmony of its proportions leaves in the
mind the impressions of fitness elegance,
and magni6cence. This hall is 100 feet
long, 65 feet wide, and 6s feet high Its
ceiling forms one solid arIh lighted by a
large skylight of ornamental glass in the
roof Tennessee marble is used in the
wainscoting, with base of black marble.
The wall between the Tennessee marble
and the interior corridor, which forms
break in the continuity of the vertical
lines at the second story is done in rich
olive or colonial green, lighted UP with
the splendor of GOLD and capped BY cor
nice also decorated with gold The
brackets which apparently support the
corridor are large in size. giving an idea
of support and strength and majesty.
Above the corridor shades of much light
er green are used, tipped with yellow or
mauve, with brighter golden tints.
Higher up the green fades into yellow
and green, which blend in beautiful har-
mony with the art glass in the panels that
form the top of the arch The whole
freSco work of the walls is splendid in
execution and gives an added glory to
the magnifcence of the hall
At the eastern end one is struck with
the significance of the symbolical figures
done in metal. Rameses and his queen,
with all the insignia of royalty. are seat
ed i'll chariot of antique pattern.
Though clumsy in the extreme. there is
an awesonle barbaric splendor in its slow
movement. While a number of slaves
with ropes over their shoulders are draw
ing the chariot, two other slaves follow
behind the vehicle, one carrying an
carthcn vessel filled with water, or it
may be wine; the other bearing palm
leaf and holding it as a sunShade over
the heads of the royal personageS. The
whole design brings to ones mind the
stately ponlp, the awful dignity. and the
slow transit Of 3, 800 years ago.
Immediately above this metal piece is
a clock five feet in diameter The hands
and Arabic numbers are white while the
dial plate is black, thus giving 4 contrast
which enables every one to read the time
from any portion Of the great hall. An
exact duplicate of this clock rests upon
the southern end wall Above each clock
IS a great circle forming an exquisite
study in gold decoration
In the spandrcl of the big arch on the
northern end is a winged man pushing
everything before him. He represents
energy and progress. III the opposite
spandrel CT the left tine emblem al Time
IS represented by Gothic. beautiful
Grecian maiden holding the di-taf in
winch the thread o. lie /; SPIN