Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-10-30
REPORT MADE
TO THE HOUSE
ON DEPOT
THE COMMITTEE TELLS OF ITS
WoRK-REP0RT INCL UDES
CORRESPONDENCE AND 1T
SAYS WORK WAS IN VAIN.

The report OF the joint committee OF the
senate and the house Of Representatives
for the erection OF a union passenger sta
ton IN Atlanta. appointed under reso-
luton adopted last year. has been COM
uiled by the state printer and Is being
distributed among the members OF the
house and the senate
The. report Is a rather voluminous pam
phlet. containing "a printed pages, ana
gives IN fun all the work that has oeeh
done By the Joint committee in its enorts
~ build a union passenger station upon
the state site IN Atlanta II contains All
the correspondence the committee had
with the various roads entering Atlanta,
with the city council. and with the arcni-
tects who were empowered 10 draw up
plans for the erection OF the new depot
here
from the presidents OF the different roads,
announcing their willingness TO cooperate
with the state In the erection OF the new
depot. provided suitable room could be
found on the state cite to accommodate
the growing demands upon a union pas
senger station in Atlanta
The report further shows that, in com
uliance with the request OF President
samuel Spencer. OF the Southern road.
a meeting Of the committee and personal
representatives Of all the roads was held
in Atlanta. in the capitol building. on
February 19. 1SO2. and that at this meet
ing IL was decided TO have the leading
architects Of the city submit plans Tor
the erection OF the new passenger sta
ton. Several OF the architects replied
and. owing TO his eminence in his protes-
sion. Mr. Bradford L Gilbert was deslg-
mated to draw the plans. No money for
this purpose having been appropriated
the money was raised by voluntary con-
tributions-
on February 2s. 1907. President spen-
Ger wrote to the committee, laying be-
fore it the difficulties Of erecting pas
senger station on the site owned by the
state. but announcing the determination
OF the Southern to cooperate with the
state II feasible plans could be secured
On March Slst Mr.. Gilbert submitted
rough plans for the erection Of the de-
not in which he recommended the clos
ing OF Pryor and Lloyd streets. the rails
ing OF the tracks and the erection OF the
depot Of steel. This plan provided Tor
the erection Of nine through elevated
tracks. with passenger waiting rooms, ex-
press and freight Offices and the Ike on
the ground floor. beneath the tracks he
estimated that the actual construction OF
the depot would occupy about one year
10 finally. however, became impossible
for the committee 20 secure the consent
OF all the railroads 10 enter the new Pas
ssnger station upon the terms demanded
BY the state. and the different cores
poudence to this effect is printed in the
reDort. which ends with the following
statement from the committee. signed by
all its members:
Thus il becomes apparent that the in
ability OF your committee TO obtain the
consent OF all the railroads at present en-
terfnE the union passenger station 10 the
buiIdinE of union passenger station on
the states property on which union pas
sengsr station now stands. and the refu-
sal OF the mayor and council of Atlanta
. 10 consent to the occupancy Of any portion
O. Wall street by tie proposed structure,
rendered further progress in the efforts
OF your committee 70 erect the proposed
station under the terms OF the act OF the
general assembly impossible The prOvis-
i0n Of the law under which we were act
Ing that a contract must be entered in
70 By each OF the roads entering the city
OF Atlanta TO become the tenants Of the
state OF OF the lessees OF the state road
unless the termination OF the present
lease. was fatal OF course the state has
the right TO condemn 50 much property
as may be necessary for the purpose Of a
new station. but your committee was not
clothed with this power. They could do
nothing 20 protect the interest OF the state
Y shout the consent and cooperation OF
railroad companies whose interests do
not harmonic with the interest Of the
state.
This committee was not raised for the
purpose OF advising the general assem-
bly, and Il viii not presume to do so. but
Il has been demonstrated through these
4, negotiations between this committee and
the railroads. that no agreement can ever
be reached between the conflicting In
terests. and that II the value Of the states
railroad. now worth twelve millions OF
dollars. Is TO be preserved. provision must
be made for the erection on the present
site Of union passenger station without
waiting for the assent and approval OF
any person or corporation
1t is the opinion Of your COMMITTEES
that a union passenger station con-
trolled by the state Is essential TO the pro-
lection Of the states property and that
a failure 10 build a union station win de-
crease the value OF the state road "a
an extent which cannot be estimated al
this time. IL is our opinion that this is
a vital question to the interests OF the
state and one that merits your most earn
est consideration.
Respectfully submitted.
A ID. GAMBLER. chairman;
THOMAS EGLESTON,
JOHN n. HOLDER,
u FERRIS CANN.