The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1908-10-23
PLANS OFFICIALLY GIVEN
MAYOR MOORE AND CITY
ENGINEER LAST EVENING
Space From Post to Howard on Front Sc
lected as Site for Magnificent Depot.

The erection in Spokane of ter
minal building, which will cost
more than 100000, was announc-
ed yesterday afternoon by Robert
Strahorn, representative of the
North Coast railroad.
The proposed terminal is to be
more than two blocks long, ertend-
ing from Post to Howard streets,
along Front avenue, and back to
the river. The distance between
Front and Main avenues will be
used for terminal tracks which the
company will need.
In order to accomplish it's de-
sires, the company will probably
later formally ask the city council
to close Wall street between Main
and the river. The necessity for
this is shown by the announcement
that the distances on either side of
Wall street between Wall and Post
or Wall and Howard Is not enough
to accommodate long trains and
immense traffic.
Although on the face of things
the North Coast does not appear to
be so large a company as to need
the vast accommodations contem.
plated, nevertheless Robert Stra-
horn, the representative, has al
ready expended $12,OOO,O00 on ter
minal, right of way, engineering
and other features. The capital be-
hind the undertaking is a secret.
Various guesses at times have had
4, Il the Chicago, Milwaukee & st.
Paul.. the Hartman interests gen.
orally. the Chicago Northwestern
and the Canadian Pacific.
Just which 1t is neither Mr.. Stra-
horn or other officials connected
with the road have ever limited, SO
far as the general public knows.
In light of the fact that behind
Strahorn seems to be unlimited
capital and vast undertaking gen.
orally, the announcement of Engi-
neer Pittman of the North Coast
that terminal station two blocks
long and possibly six or eight
stories high will be built, does not
seem extravagant. =
Such-a depot as contemplated
would cost close to $4,000, 900, 1t is
figured by the engineer. Terminal
tracks and the work necessary to
carry out plans will cost another
big sum. improvements In the i'm
mediate vicinity of Spokane will
undoubtedly run away up into the
millions.
Mayor Moore yesterday in pri-
vate conference put a direct Ques-
hon to Engineer Pittman as to
what was to be done with regard
to the city hall site, asking frank
Information so that the city would
not be up against the proposition
of hastily selecting a new site.
The engineer as frankly stated
the plans of the company. which
never before were made public. w.
s.. McCrea of McCrea 4 Merry
weather, realty representatives of
the company, who secured options
on all the city property which has
either been bought or is to be, told
the mayor that the company would
not bother the city hall, and there
IL no necessity for the city officials
worrying about site or new hall.
Engineer Pittman stated that the
terminal was to be west of Howard
street, and the company did not de-
sire to interfere with the traffic of
Howard street to the least degree.
The whole plnn came out at the
discussion OF the Monroe street
bridge project City Engineer Raj
ston did not want the beauty Of
his proposed structure marred by
railroad through the middle of the
main arch. 1t was shown that In
order for the company to secure
the length Of terminal tracks i'm.
perative, the line must pass under
the main arch, TO secure the proper
curvature to carry the line under
one of the arches to the north
would require a shortening of the
terminal tracks 10 materially as to
he almost impossible. The line un.
der the arch will connect on q
reasonable curvature with the most
southerly terminal track. 10 accom-
plish the engineering feat OF pass.