The Saint Paul globe., 1904-01-31
Railroad News
OMAHA'S NEW CITY
OFFICE is READY
Railway Company Will Occupy
New Headquarters I'm the
Ryan Hotel.

The Omaha's new ticket Office in the
Ryan hotel building will be opened tomor-
row. The old Office at 3S2 Robert street
was closed last night. Nothing was
moved from the old headquarters but
the tickets and books Of record. The fur
nishings We're left behind.
When the new office is formally opened
to the public tomorrow morning all its
furnishings will be new, even to the
smallest detail. The building itself has
been remodeled for the railway company.
All the furnishings are of solid mahog-
any. including the desks and chairs The
walls are beautifully frescoed, the deco
rations being of a deep olive green.
City Ticket Agent Whitaker will have
his private office facing Robert street.
Directly back Of that office is the general
ticket counter. In the rear the freight
and passenger solicitors will have their
desks.
The Omaha's new location not only gives
the company one of the best locations
In st. Paul for a ticket Office, but con-
siderably improves a prominent corner
The windows are adorned with the sign
of the North Western system. and the
heavy brick pillars are covered with
large reflective signs. Unlike the average
mercantile establishment, the windows
are not obscured with display of wares,
but give full view Of the luxurious ma
hogany furnishings of the office.
The records of the Omaha companv are
meager concerning the early history of
the line In the Twin Cities The follow
Ing story Of its ST. Paul ticket office will
be of interest to the older citizens of
the state and others interested in its de-
velopment:
Its First Ticket Office.
In 1871 the West Wisconsin built into
st. Paul and about that time the st. Paul
q Sioux City was built west from here
The West Wisconsin is really the parent
company of what is now known 40 the
Chicago, ST. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha
railway. Prior to 1877 they conducted their
business in happy go lucky fashion,
characteristic of the railroads In those
days. The ticket agent carried his office
In his hat and chalked the hats of pas
sengers in lieu Of what is now the rail-
way ticket.
In 1877 the Omaha lines occupied an of
flee at Third and Jackson streets. Charles
Thompson and Charles PetSch were the
joint ticket agents Of the West Wisconsin,
Chicago, Milwaukee &c st. Paul and Sioux
City lines.
In 1880 the West Wisconsin and the
st. Paul & Sioux City and other smaller
known as the Chicago. st. Paul, Mime
apolis & Omaha railway. 8. w. Hazard
acted as ticket agent for the new com
pany for a short time. when he was sue
ceeded by Mr.. Petsch as exclusive agent
Of the company
In 1882 the office was moved to Third
and SibIey streets temporarily, while the
Hale block was being built, and on its
completion the office returned to Third
and Jackson. where 1t remained until 1892.
In the interim Mr.. Petsch was succeeded
as agent by T. J. McCarty, who Is now
connected with the company in the general
Office Mr. McCarty was succeeded by III.
G. Cowling in February, 1900. and during
his incumbency the Office was moved to
No. 3S2 Robert street.
In 1901 Mr.. Cowling was succeeded by
the present agent, p. A. Whitaker.
Mr. Whitaker, who now represents the
Omaha Is a native Of st. Paul and has
made his home here continually with the
exception of few years he was agent
of the ST. Paul & Duluth at Duluth.
The Omaha passenger officials last night
gave a supper at the Ryan hotel to the
railroad reporters of the Twin City pa
pers in honor of the opening of the new
city Office.