The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-05-25
NEW FREIGHT HOUSE
ATLANTIC COAST LINE TO BUILD IN
 MONTGOMERY.
Structure will Be Built Where old Cowles Mansion Stands--Plans Drawn and Work VIII
 Begin Soon.

Within a few months. according to plans which have already been made, the Atlantic Coast Line Railway will build large new freight depot in Montgomery. Information which leaked out yesterday was to the effect that a design for the structure has all ready been prepared and approved by the officials of the road. and that work on the building will begin shortly
 Local officials of the road yesterday. while hesitating about divulging the extent to which plans have gone. were willing to admit that the new accom- modations for handling the freight traf- fic of the. road have been in contem- plation for the last six months, and that steps have now been taken which make the building practically a cer- tainty
 The plans which have been made for the new building provide for a handsome structure, 500 feet in length, and two stories high. It will be To- cated on the spot where the old Cowles mansion, in the Atlantic Coast Line yards now stands, the present intention of the company being to level away the hill upon which that imposing structure stands. before beginning the work of building.
 The freight warehouse will occupy 
 ing when completed, the second story being reserved for a freigst storehouse and for the freight offices of the com pany in Montgomery. It will be of modern architecture. and. according to the statement of an official of the road last night, will combine beauty with convenience.
 remarkable increase in traffic is the reason assigned by the local officials of kn fA,. A,,tI, structure now used as a freight depot, al the corner of Columbus and North Court Streets, is too small to handle the immense amount of freight which passes through 1t daily, and at present the local depot is greatly congested.
 This building was formerly a cotton warehouse, and was entered first by the Atlantic Coast Line Company when the road was finished to Montgomery in 1888. Since then, beginning from small traffic, the amount of business has increased regularly. until at present, between fifty and sixty cars of freight are handled there daily. As a great deal of this freight is billed through. and must be transferred to other lines at this point, a large portion of it Is transient and requires an extra amount of handling and shifting. This feature of the work Is an added factor in the dln1cultY or the local omcldlS Tn nand- ling their business.
 The extent to which the Montgomery depot was congested began attracting the attention of the general officials of the road about six months ago. At that time an investigation into local conditions a the Atlantic Coast Line freight department in Montgomery resulted in the drawing up of plans for the new structure. It was the original intention to have the depot in readi- ness for the fall trade. but 1t is now believed this will be impossible, all though it Is the intention to break ground within a comparatively short period of time.
 q hardly feel able to discuss the matter at too great length said F. w. Kirtland. Commercial Agent in Mont gomery, last evening, but I understand 1t has been definitely decided to build the depot, of which we are greatly in need. Yes understand that the build ing surely will be built"