The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-05-03
FOR UNION DEPOT.
Mr. F. I. King Comments on Station
Problem.


% The salt Lake Herald:
-FOUR issue Of Nay states that the
suicA committee on streets has vot-
70 grant the. Short Line railroad a
slsH1 Of way on Foarth West street
street. ~
question if the members of this
uotiInlttee have considered this prop
1S't'on suTlciently 20 understand clear
~ the effect that such a resolution
tuisht haye-if hastily passed-on the
AuLufe growth of our city
ne RIO Grande Western represen-
ealIfes state that-this action will have
ne erect of shutting them out from
ne proposed union depot If this state
Liient Is a fact, how viii ali future
toaus enter the city. or reach advan-
.aseouS passenger and freight
grounds?
Answering this question, they will he
compelled to enter on a line east of
1 hlrd West street or 10 cross all other
- :. -cNs from the west side Of the city.
NE - ne snort Line now has a franchise on
4HiId west, south of South Temple
street and, according TO this resolu-
.ioh, VIII have Fourth West practical
~ me entire length Of the city from
nor IN 10 south. Therefore other roads
VII ASA Tor privileges on Second West
and First West.
II IS apparent that the Short Line
uoes not want a union depot here. The
liae ufai question is. Why do they not,
and also why is the Rio Grande West
erh DESTROYS of having one2 II NAV be
wen Tor our citizens to weigh this mat
Ter carefully. One view of the situation
IS this: The Short Line is now con-
tIolled by the same .fnanciers who con
Itol the Union Pacific and Southern
acme roads. The union depot in Og-
ueh IS controlled by these latter COM
pahles. lt is apparent that this man
asement WILL after their Los Angeles
road IS completed. make up all Of their
trains in Ogden, run them into their
Iepot here, then out again as solid
rains Salt Lake City will be a way
S'd1ion on the line. TO all intents and
purpose the same as Provo now is.
Would 1t not be an evidence of far
slghtedness on the part OF our citizens
70 80 frame our legislation that al fu-
ture roads from any direction would
ma a welcome here in a union depot
IOr transfer Of passengers2
In time, there will be more railroads
from the east to the west coast The
wonderful growth of trade in the Pa
clnc ocean will force the building of
these roads and we should put our
city in such a position as to bring all
OF these roads through Salt Lake City.
II IS apparent that the Short Line
can not use its present depot to good
advantage in handling the bennington
cutoff passenger traffic to Los Angeles,
and their present depot is q disgrace
to any city of half our population. Also
their track on Third West street from
Second South TO First South is only
nj for switching, owing to the steep
grade.
Then make them a compromise, give
them their depot privileges on Fourth
Vest, presumably near First South, as
they cannot possibly locate the depot
al the foot of South Temple street, ow-
ing to the freight tracks necessary 10
cross to reach that point. Also give
them the franchise on Fourth West,
STIMULATING that this track and all 9TH
ers now on this street or TO be placed
on this street from South Temple south
to the city limits, shall be used joint
~ for union depot purposes by any
and all roads entering the city. Also
that their franchise rights on Third
West street from Third South 70
Fourth South be vacated. This piece
OF track not being necessary in hand
ling their traffic.
At the same time, provide for a union
depot ompany, composed Of officials of
the Rio Grande Western, San Pedro Of
ficials and any others who desired 10
take advantage of the benefits TO be de-
rived from such a depot, and an agreed
percentage Of citizens OF Salt Lake
City. These litter might be suggest
ed by the Commercial club. The city
representatives TO guard the city's
rights in all future transactions.
Give to this company the Fort square
and take into the company such of the
holdings of the Rio Graade Western
real estate as necessary. at the pur-
chase price, plus the interest. Then
allow this company to buy the remain
ing portion of the block west of the
Fort square, all for union depot pur-
poses.
This VIII allow all trains to enter tbs |
city on Fourth West and come into the
depot heal on. which manner OF en- /
tering depot has been proven far
superior and less dangerous to the pub
lie than side entrance, such as sug- /
gested by the Rio Graude Western, for /
Fourth West street
After these arrangements are made, |
advise Mr.. Moffat of Denver that Salt /
Lake City has prepared an entrance /
for his road on equal terms with 9TH /
er roads and wants the road here as /
soon as his company can build il.
The central feature of a large depot I
could be built on Second West. facing /
east. and, as conditions would war /
rant. extensions both north and south /
could be made, and it is not unreasOn- /
able to expect that the Union Pacific I
and Southern Pacific would in time 1
cause part of this extension to get the /
to be obtained in the union 1
depot of our future city.
T. L. KING.
Salt Lake, May ?.