The Savannah morning news., 1902-03-24
MANY SAW STATION
HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE VIEWED
THE NEW DEPOT.
BUILDING NEARLY FINISHED.
EXTERIOR WORK Is CONFINED TO
THE PORTE CoCHERE.

Trustees of the Old Hebrew Gene
terry object to an Overhanging
Shed on the stewart Street side OF
the acknowledgements 1t Is
Thought, Will BE Arranged-Has
to Establish Its Division Superin-
tendent5 Omces at the station.
station Master VIII Probably Be
Appointed in Advance of the Other
Employees of the station.
The Savannah Union Station has
grown to be the objective Of many
Sunday strollers. For many weeks, as
the station has been nearing compile
ton. there have been frequent visi-
tors. and the view that has been Sc
cured of the handsome and extensive
structure has repaid them for their
walk. The only regret that has been
felt is the inability of visitors to gain
access to the building, unless accom-
panied by some one in authority.
Yesterday was no exception to the
rule, and visitors found the station,
judging from external appearances, al
most complete. 1t now appears practi-
cally as when completed. The differ
ence will be apparent from the re-
moval of some loose debris and the
assumption by the station of the great
life, hustle and activity that is to fol-
low its opening.
Work on the exterior is now confined
to the porte cochere, the ceiling of
which is being put on. This is an or
namental, as it is destined to prove
useful, feature of the building, and it
forms a most attractive substitute for
the eyesore that, in the shape of the
old, tumbledown, brick drug store, de-
tracted so greatly from the appear
ance of the station.
Through two arches ingress and
egress will be afforded for carriages
and other vehicles. Station rules will
be adopted, settling just what route
drivers entering or leaving the porte
cochere must take.
On the West Broad street front is
the facade. For some distance on both
Roberts and Stewart streets the brick
and stone building extends, and from
any viewpoint its appearance is impos-
ing A long walk on Roberts or Stew
art street westward from West Broad
gives one an idea of the extent of the
station Chances into the interior may
be secured. and one may see that there
is a great floor space about the six
tracks, with room reserved for two
more, that enter the shed.
The shed proper is practically an eX-
tension of the building, but this steel
shed itself has an extension in shape OF
wooden sheds that reach some 200 rect
beyond its western end. On the Stew
art street side is a wider shed that is
300 feet long. This is designed for the
local transfer business of the Southern
Express Company.
For forty or fifty feet of its length
some four or five feet of this shed
overhang the old Hebrew cemetery
property. The trustees of the cemetery
have protested against this overlap
ping of the property. The Union Sta
ton Company offered to buy the strip.
The trustees declined to sell, unless
the company buy a larger tract and
open a street through the property
purchased. A price was named, which
the company thought about 20 per cent.
higher than property on Stewart street
brings. This was thought rather re-
markable, as the trustees of the ceme-
terry property had objected to the sta
ton work, on the score that the value
of the property would be diminished.
An understanding will probably be
reached in this matter.
Stewart street is also overhung by
a portion of the shed. This was design
ed for the shelter of teams that drive
up to discharge or receive freight. The
cemetery trustees, however. claim that
the projecting caves shut off the view
from the cemetery property, and have
filed a petition with the City Council,
protesting against 1t.
In front of the building a concrete
pavement is being laid. This extends
to the curbing. Two or three open
plots are left. and these will be sown
in grass. The green will be a soft spot
20 attract the eye.
Workmen are still busy upon some
of the rooms of the interior of the
building. These rooms are to be used
for offices. There will be space for the
division superintendent of the Plant
System and his force, as it has been
decided to transfer his offices from
the general office building of the Plant
System on Liberty street, east The
Southern Express Company's division
superintendent offices will also be re-
moved from the uptown offices of the
company to the station.
1t is not known just when the sta
ton will be turned over by the con-
tractors to the company as complete.
This. however, will probably be within
two weeks. 1t is expected that the sta
ton will be formally opened about May
l. when the offices will be established.
Nothing has yet been done relative
to the appointment of station mas
ter and other employees. 1t is probable
| that a station master will be named
soon, and that his judgment will count
in the selection of other employees.