The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-07-23
FRIsco's HANDSOME OFFICES.
New Quarters for Ticket Freight
and Live stock DepRrtments.

and Live stock Departments.
In striking contrast to the building in
which it is located. the Frisco Line yes
terday formally opened one of the hand
soonest ticket and freight offices in the city,
and this means the handsomest in the
country. Within the past two years the
railways centering in St. Louis appear to
have been stimulated by spirit of friend
ly rivalry in securing the most costly cor
ners of the downtown streets for ticket
offices. and then furnishing and equipping
them regardless of expense.
The Union Pacific started the pace in a
westward direction by moving from Fourth
street to the Century building. Prior to
this the Baltimore and Ohio Southwestern
had moved from Broadway near Chestnut
to Broadway and Locust, and both COM
panies opened offices vastly superior to any
then in the city.
Next came the Chicago and Alton. with
its superb offices in the Carleton building at
Sixth and Olive streets. and the Wabash
with its rich and convenient quarters in the
Chemical building at Eighth and Olive. The
Illinois Central followed in the wake of the
Baltimore and Ohio Southwestern by OPEN
ing up quarters which rivaled those of its
competitors. on Broadway between Olive
and Locust. Then the Mobile and Ohio
went over to Olive street, west of Broad
way. the Rock Island and Cotton Belt
jumped from Fourth street to the Century
building, and the Southern opened up the
OLD Air Line office in the Chemical build
Ing.
Now comes the St. Louis and San Fran
cisco. which is essentially st. Louis line,
and opens up offices in the same block with
The Republic building. Situated on the
southeast corner of Eighth and Olive streets
the location is one of the most advan-
tngeous in the city. clean sweep of VIM
view of the rich furnishings and fittings
within. which are sure to catch the OBJ
serving public eye.
The design OF the architects Mariner &
Clark. who had charge of the office plans.
was to produce something novel in this
line. and they chose a free rendering of the
Italian Renaissance style. This is striking
ly displayed in the wall and ceiling decora-
lions, the wainscoting. paneling and other
mural ornamentaton.
The woodwork is of San Domingo mahog-
any, with an alkaline green stain. The
high lights of the carving are touched with
gold leaf. which gives the posts and panels
doubly rich appearance and renders them
exceedingly attractive from the street. A
feature Of the mural decorations behind the
counter are three large oil paintings Of
scenes along the Frisco.
The ticket case is modelled after and an
Improvement on that of the Chicago and
Alton. The boxes are of solid zinc, with
nlghIy polished brass fittings Two work
Ing desks in mahogany are formed on either
side of this case
The freight and live stock departments
adJoin the ticket office, while two private
offices are partitioned off at the rear.
These are so arranged that they may be
thrown into single office or meeting room
invitations to inspect the offices were
sent out by Zach AIulhall live stock agent;
A D. Lightner. general agent freight de-
partment and Fred Deicke, city passenger
and ticket agent. The window sills and
parts of the desks and counters were artfs-
ticaily decorated with potted plants, palms
and ferns. From IL a. m. to D. M there
was continuous stream OF visitors Rail-
| road officials and employees merchants and
shippers. theatrical and hotel men were all
welcomed: and afterwards RECALLED in regal
style OF Frisco representatives. President
1oakum. Vice Presidents Douglas and
Blsgs: Superintendent Davidson, General
Freight Agent Russell and General Pas-
senger Agent Snyder We're all there early
In the morning.
The out-of-town passenger representa-
dves We're: w. c. Melville Omaha; w A.
Iuley, Dallas: Kenneth Wshart, Chicago:
l.: W. Price. Kansas City: ]. F. Dunn
sen, Pittsburs. In addition to these r. n
Heed, advertising agent: w r. Saunders.
local travelling passenger agent and the
employees of the city ticket and freieht
offices helped to perform the honors of The
occasion. '"'