The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-10-27
WASHINGTON OPENS
new UNION STATION
One OF the Handsomest Depots in
the World lnaugurated
To-Day.
GREAT RAILROAD ADVANCE
Imposing White Granite Structure
Faces the Capitol and New
Buildings.
GREAT RAILROAD ADvANl
WASHINGTON. d. c., October 2s.-
\ new era in railroading and an event

WASHINGTON. d. c., October 20
A new era in railroading and an event
Of signal Importance in the history
of Washington VIII be recorded In
the. annals OF the railroads OF this
country when, early sunday morning.
the clear whistle of a Baltimore and
Ohio locomotive drawing a train of
passenger cars will proclaim to resi-
dents the triumphal entering OF the
first railroad built In the United States
and In the world into the new union
station and terminal at Washington.
This will BIO impressive in refreshing
memory of an evolution in railroad
ing from the little passenger train
which. drawn by two OF the now an
tlquated locomotives of the famous
"grasshopped" type OF the early days
of the railway. steamed into the zoe
est little Baltimore and Ohio station,
there to be greeted by the deafening
cheers of members of the country's
diplomatic corps. including President
jackson, that memorable 25th day of
August. 1886.
But apace with all the improvements
that have been made in the construc-
ton of passenger equipment through
all these years has been the progress
made in the building of terminals. and
In this direction tho one at Washing
ton Is considered the most magnificent
yet undertaken.
In anticipation OF the suspicious
event of the opening to traffic of the
splendid union station soon after sun
rise Tomorrow, there was much hustle
and hustle to-day about both tho old
building and the new. Venerable cit
liens spoke feelingly of the ancient
structure at New Jersey Avenue and
G Street, which has been so long occu-
pied MS a railroad station. and which
is known as the "old original depot"
Work of Construction.
Groups of men to-day stood about
the new station and discussed the gi-
gantic work. costing in tho neighbor-
hood of S20,00o,oo0. and Of which Con-
gross appropriated $4,000, 900. This
great work has been accomplished by
the Washington Terminal Company,
owned Jointly by the Baltimore and
Ohio and Pennsylvania Railroads. Tho
Baltimore and Ohio had charge : OF
building the station proper. express
building, various shop buildings, power
house and engine houses and the north
approach, while the Pennsylvania built
the tunnel under Capitol Hill and the
plaza and a portion of the Magruder
connection.
The Baltimore and Ohio work was
road, and Mr.. W. +. Strouse, assistant
engineer Of the terminal company.
representing the Baltimore II Ohio,
both OF whom gave close attention to
the enormous amount OF detail arising
from time to time during the course
OF constructions, The Baltimore and
Ohio engineers have for more than n
decade a expended every energy
and left nothing undone to make 1t
what It Is to-day-the most thorough
" modern trunk line system In the
gle Improvement reflects greater credit
on Mr.. Carothers and his corps of as
%sistants than does this monumental
The Pennsylvania's interests were
represented in teh terminal work by
a. G. shand, chief engineer, and MI.
Robert Farnham, assistant engineer
OH the ground.
While the construction work was
done by the Baltimore and OHIO and
conformity with an act OF Congress,
be used by all the roads entering
Washington; INCLUDING the Philadel-
southern. c%hesapeake and Ohio. AT
and the Richmond, Fredericksburg and
Situated at an elevation of about
sixty fest above tide and with a gently
sloplng plaza and approaches to insure
ana the new Senate office building. and
; Isl within .asfew minutes walk OF either.
The station site before the. work OF
construction was commenced was low
and a fill Of about 3s0.5OO cubic yards
was necessary In starting tho Improve
ment.
The station building proper. which Is
built of white granite from Vermont,
). Is $50 feet 10 inches in length and 3?to
!. feet o inches in width, and the genetA
! height OF the building varies from =
I feet, in the east and west wings. to 120