The Washington times., 1906-05-20
THE PENNSYLvANIA'S NEW STA
TON IN NEW YORK.
All Others in Hav-
ing Tracks Under
ground.

The new Pennsylvania railroad station
in New York for which the plans are
now practically perfected, Will be unique
among all the railway stations OF the
world in the number and convenience Of
its entrances and exits. This condition
is due to the fact that each Of the four
sides of the structure IS a front, open
ing respectively on two wide avenues
and two important streets, which latter
have been widened by the company 10
eighty feet each
The geography Of the station is in
teresting. 1t IS bounded on the east
by Seventh and the west by Eighth ave-
nue.; on the south by Thirty-first and
the north by Thirty-third street. Thirty
second street having been closed and
incIudedin the station site. In the cen
ter OF the hotel. theater and shopping
district the advantage of its location is
obvious. The frontage on the avenues
is 40 feet and on the streets $50 feet.
the sides OF the structure forming per-
feet parallelogran.
The Tracks Below Street Level.
As the tracks are forty feet below the
surface Of the streets the station is
divided into three levels. From the
street level upward the walls OF the
structure rise to the height Of sixty feet.
except in the center. where the roof
of the general waiting room reaches a
height of $50 feet. and the corner OF
Eighth avenue and Thirty-third street,
where there Is an elevation OF four
stories for Office purposes.
The architectural design Of the entire
exterior is a Doric colonnade. thirty
five feet high, surmounted by a low at
tic, raising the general elevation TO sixty
feet. The unusual extent OF the build
ing in area and it's general type are sug-
gestive OF the great baths Of ancient
Rome. In fact. the baths OF Caracalla.
still magnificent in their ruins, were the
inspiration of this architectural plan.
Although the building is low by con-
trast with its skyscraping neighbors. it's
scope makes Il impressive. and the lofty
roof Of the waiting room, rising high
above the top of the surrounding struc-
tuTe, with its eight large semi-cfrCular
openings seventy-two feet In diameter.
adds dignity to the group OF buildings
and at the same time makes them
conspicuous landmark. when seen in
perspective from the streets.
Resembles a Vast Auditorium
In appearance it is a wide departure
from the conventional railway station.
One misses the turrets and towers and
more than all the lofty arched train
shed, but as the principal function Of
this station IS performed underneath
the streets, the upward and visible signs
Of the ordinary railway station are
naturally absent. It will rather re-
semble some vast auditorium con-
structed on low lines for the easy In
gress and egress Of a multitude OF peo-
pie.
The exterior construction is to be OF
pink Milford granite This Is a partic-
ularly effective structural stone and its
soft shades OF color are IIncommonly
pleasing TO the eve.
Tho main entrance is fixed IN the
center OF the structure on Seventh ave-
nue., opposite the intercepted end OF
Thirty-second street This is for foot
passengers only, AID from the street
entrance to the stairway 10 the main
waiting room there extends an arcade
225 feet long and Is feet wide flanked