The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-07-13
RAILROAD NEWS.
Rock Island Has Moved Into
New Depot.
1t Is the Largest in the United
States.
1T is BUILT ON PILES.
Total Cost of the Building Was
SO, 100000.
200 Trains Will Arrive and
Depart Daily.

Chicago, July 13.-The new So, 500, 900
passenger station of the Rock Island
and Lake Shore railroads was thrown
open to the public at midnight last
night, when the doors were unlocked,
never again to have key turned in them.
! There will be no formal or dedicatory
exercises marking the opening of one of
the largest and without doubt the finest
passenger station in the United States.
The first train out last night was the
Rock Island fast mail, No. p, which
left there at 2:50 O'Clock this morning.
west bound. This was followed ten
minutes later by the Lake Shore fast
mail, No. 50, east bound. The first to
arrive will be the Lake Shore train, No
81. from New York, due there at 7:1O
a. m. The Rock Island California
train, No. 4, will follow this in fifteen
minutes later.
The station occupies the entire block
between La Sale and Sherman streets,
on Van Buren,, extending back to Har-
rison. When the old building was de-.
molished a stone crusher was set up
within the fenced Enclosure to the south,
and all of the old stone was broken, to
be used for concrete in the new fOunda-
lions. The supply was not sufficient,
and it was necessary to buy stone in
considerable quantities. All foundations
rest on fifty-foot piles driven below the
city datum and capped with concrete.
The caps extend below the level OF Lake
Michigan. to insure that no rOtting of
the piles will occur. Under the two
tiers of vaults extending the entire
height of the office building, the loca-
tioDs of which are shown in the station
plan the piles were driven in groups of
142 each, and under each end of the
arched entrance eighty piles were driven
in, fnfl al 1f nile
used for the foundation of the building
and train shed columns
The main building on Van Buren,
street is twelve stories high, ten of
which are office floors. It has a 'front.'
age of 213 feet and depth of POP. The
train sheds are 213 feet wide and 515
feet long, ard are covered with pris-
matte glass, which will make them light
as day. The ground floor, from which
entrance is made from the street, has
vestibule and large main lobby, 96x
lis feet Surrounding this lobby are
placed the main ticket of11ce, baggage
check room, information bureau, dining
room, telegraph office. cab telephone
messenger service and other small
offices.
Leading from the ground floor to the
main floor at the track level is grand
staircase and two large passenger ele-
vators. The track floor contains the
main waiting room. women's waiting
room, waiting room for elevated
trains, smoking room, parcel checking
room, small ticket Office and other
small Offices and rooms. The main
waiting room is finished in marble and
mosaic with a decorated plaster ceiling
and all the woodwork will be of ma
hogany The offices and smaller rooms
are finished in oak with maple floors,
with the exception of the baggage
rooms and possibly the smoking ana
toilet rooms TIE metal work is OF
wrought iron The main waiting room
is lighted through the main arch on
Van Buren, street, and through Win
dows above the concourse roof, and also
through a large vaulted light ceiling IN
the central portion. At the highest
point of this dome the ceiling will be
40 feet above the floor.
The cOncourse connecting the mann
waiting room with the train shed IS
departure from the ordinary. 1t IS mn
ished in harmony With the waiting
room rather than with the train Shed'
and has a barrel vault ceiling with
lighting at both ends and above. 1t IS
As feet wide and 210 feet long The
partition between the concourse and
waiting room is of glass, so that every
the concourse and have view OF the
ends Of all tracks in the train shed.
There are $500 lights in the main
building and 10S arc lamps in the tram
shed The switches controlling the
movements of trains will be handled
from an interlocking tower located Just
north of Polk street The La safe
street station is larger than any other
in the United States which is owned by
only two railroad companies. Although
not havin~ any ownership in the sta
ton the Nickel Plate leases its faclli-
ties. over 200 trains will arrive and
depart from the new depot daily.