Perth Amboy evening news., 1907-02-28

NEW TERMINAL
First Of Modern DepOts Open for
Active Use A Marvel
of Architecture.

railroad depot In Hoboken, which was
thrown open to the public Monday af-
ter sixteen months work. Railroad
men from all over the state and New
York were present and inspected the
property.
Besides having the distinguished
honor of being the first great terml-
nal to be opened, 1t still has higher
one--that of the best arranged water
front railway terminal in the world,
having a frontage of 730 feet upon
the Hudson river
The terminal Itself is unique in
many respects. 1t Is built upon new
engineering and architectural lines.
there being none like 1t in existence.
1t was built over traffic, one hundred
thousand people using the terminal
daily during It's CONSTRUCTION with
out the loss of time or single injury.
1t Is built over water, its concrete
and steel foundation resting upon
piling. Its system of train sheds Is
absolutely original, designed by the
chief engineer OF the company. These
are a few of the most interesting
| features.
| Not to so deep into statistics or
ancient history, on the night of Aug
ust 8, 1905, the Hoboken terminal
and ferry house were burned to the
ground. Before the last flame had
flickered out plans were being drawn
for temporary terminal In few
days the temporary structure was in
place.
On March 25, 1906, the first actual
concrete construction was commenc-
ed and on February 3, 1907, the en-
tire station, except three of the fer
ry slips, was finished and open to
the public. The quick construction
of the terminal. going on over the
pie and thirty-six hundred teams
daily is marvel In Itself.
The Lackawanna terminal is abso
lutely tireproof Even the racks and
desks in the ticket Office are of metal.
The Waiting Room.
On the first floor Is the waiting
room and Its dependencies. also the
ferry concourse. The waiting room
is 80 X 10J feet and SO feet high. 1t
is finished in limestone and plaster.
with high windows on all. sides, and
loaded ceiling light In art glass. AT
night the room will be lighted by
one thousand incandescent lights.
Four bronze chandeliers, weighing
one ton each, will hang, one In each
corner, brackets around the sides,
and canopies on the seats will be
the new and novel scneme. In the
waiting room will be found the very
ornamental bronze stairways leading
to the ferry concourse. The general
design of the decorations Is the Louis
XVI style. Opening off from the
waiting room will be found commo-
dious womens rooms, smoking
rooms, information bureau, lunch
room, telephone booths, baggage, ex-
press and news stand.
Restaurant.
The most ornate room in the new
terminal is the restaurant on the sec
ond fioor,n finished in old ivory with
old-gold hanging and French gilt fix
lures, all the woodwork being of ma
hogany. The restaurant, seating over
$50, overlooks the water and gives
its patrons a fine marine view. An
outdoor balcony, seating forty-fve,
will be utilized in the summer. This
will allow patrons, while enjoying a
dainty lunch or dinner, to see the
busiest harbor in America at it's best.
The ferry approaches have been
made with the purpose in view of fur
nishing convenient facilities for the
thousands of patrons of the Lacka-
wanna. Three pairs of slips, each
accommodating two immense double
decked ferry boats, serving 24d, Bar
clay and Christopher streets have
been provided. To reach the ferry
there is concourse 20 100 feet.
with rows of coupled columns and
heavy ornamental beams across the
ceiling to the upper deck. To reach
the concourse, passengers have the
choice of three ways, an easy inclined
pIane. a stairway and elevators. The
waiting room and ferry concourse
have a capacity to safely shelter 40
900 people.
Tower.
The architectural and artistic feat
ures are numerous. but the principal
ones are that the building will be
covered with copper. A tower 225
feet high rises from the central fa-
cade. The highly ornamental tower
supports the largest clock in the har-
bor. it being twelve feet in diameter.
The tower by day carries flag that
can be seen for many miles up and
down the river. At night 1t is illu-
minated from top to bottom with
electric lights, making 1t the most
conspicuous feature on either side of
the Hudson. The six ferry slips are
spanned by arches supported by Or
namental piers, all Of which are
pricked out at night by electric lights
and making beautiful picture.
The street elevation of the ferry
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