The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-05-23
BY 10000 VISITORS
THE SAVANNAH UNION STATION
WAS THRONGED.
PUBLIC OPENING AN EVENT.
EXPRESSIONS OF ADMIRATION
FROM EVERY ONE.

The Officers of the station Conferred
Favor in Having the OPENING.
Architectural Beauty of the In
terror Was Enhanced by the Flor
al DecOratiOns-Music Rendered by
the Orchestra-Aiany Features Of
fered Attractions to the Visitors.
satisfaction in the Fact That Sa-
vnnnah Has So Fine. IA station ant:
So Excellent IA First View for
Strangers.
The Savannah Union Station was
opened to the public yesterday after
noon for the first time. Great crowds
visited the building. and all joined in
expressions of the warmest praise and
admiration. The great building was
surprise to those who had not been in
it before, and there was a general feel
ing of pride among all in the discovery
that Savannah is now so splendidly
equipped with a passenger terminal.
When passengers leave the incoming
trains they will be impressed immedi-
ately. The handsome and commodious
station in which they disembark will
be enough to at once create a favor
able impression of Savannah. That
was the general opinion expressed. and
satisfaction seemed to be felt in this
fact.
An Impressive Building.
Nothing could be more effective in
producing an excellent opinion of
city than the station in which passen-
gers, visiting the place for the first
time, leave the trains" said several of
the visitors. The first impression is
always the most lasting. and Savan-
nah is fortunate in having a station
that will produce so favorable first
impression. Much is owed by Savan-
nahians to the enterprise and progress
of those who erected this magnificent
building"
The hour of the opening was o'clock,
and even then there were a number
of visitors waiting to be the first to
enter the station. When the doors
were thrown wide by the attendants
at the station there was an influx of
people, who began with admiring gaze
to take in all the details OF the interior
construction and decoration.
The ROtunda ThrOnged.
The great rotunda was the principal
rallying point for the crowd, and that
in which they most liked to linger
Oelschig, the florist had used his art
to enhance that of the architect and
builders, and ferns and foliage were
arranged about in profusion that
added vastly to the attraction of the
place. In the gallery that runs about
the rotunda was Rosenfeld's Orches-
tra which, from until 10 o'clock, the
closing hour of the opening, played
sweet music.
Grouped about the fountain were a
number of palms. Soon after the open
ing the water was turned on and the
fountain began its play. At night the
fountain is illuminated, and the effect
is greatly enhanced, the rays from the
incandescent lights shining through
the glass umbrella that shelters the
little bronze figures that hold it aloft
The commodious offices of the
Southern Express Company on the
Stewart street side of the building
were visited by many. Mr.. Warren
j. Brown, Savannah agent for the
company, did the honors, showing the
visitors all that would interest them.
One of the employees of the company
stood at the scales, and all who cared
to ascertain how many pounds avoir-
dupois they carried were given his at
tention. The scales did "A great bus
mess, this feature proving popular.
Many Ladies' Attended.
Many ladies were among the visitors,
and what proved one of the most at
tractive places for their inspection
was the dining room. Messrs. Fried &
Sommers have the dining room privi-
leges at the station, and have
already established their bust
y,oC hax ELL
of clerks and walters and are prepared
even now to cater to the rush of pa
tronage that will follow the Inaugural
ton of train service, which will take
place tomorrow night. The arrange
ments of the culinary department and
storerooms are admirable. and the la
dies found pleasure in their inspection.
During the evening the crowd
was largest, all the available space
being filed.
From until 10 o'clock the building
was thronged from the entrance to the
balcony and out into the car shed. All
classes of people were there. The street
cars leading to the station were packed
with people going to and from the sta
ton. At 10 o'clock the band played
Home, Sweet Hame," and the build
ing was cleared. Secretary Davis of
the Union Station Company said after
the building was closed that 10, 900 peo-
pie had visited it during the day.
All expressed the deepest interest in
the building, as well as qualification
that the officers of the station had de-
cided to have a public opening.
President w. w Mackall of the Sa-
vannah Union Station Company was
not present at the opening, being out
of the city. Secretary w. V. Davis of
the company and Station Master r.
G. Matthews, however. were both in
attendance throughout the afternoon
and evening, and they used their best
efforts to see that the opening was
properly conducted In this they sue
ceeded.
The first regular train into the new
station will be train &c of the S A L.,
which will arrive tomorrow night
The dinner given by Messrs Fried &,
Sommers. in compliment to the Off
Gals, will continue until the arrival of
the first train.