Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1910-01-27

W. Writer'S, attorney. and j. NJ. Morrison,
engineer and superintcn dcnt OF structures.
representing tho Central Vermont Rail-
way company. when tho subject was
discussed and the committees
plan for Il new station was presented to
the railway people Among those who
spoke were Bishop Hall. n. T.. Cham
berlin. ]. j. Whalen. Mayor Burke. c. =.
Cowes. representing the committee. j.
J.. southwick nnd W. Fl. Greene.
THE PLANS.
The plans submitted. drawn b,
architect y. I. Lawrence, call for Il
station at the foot Of Main stroct. The
plars are of tentative character and
are made 20 TINT many ltern'ions can
be made to suit the railway company.
Tic main entrance Ia from Main street.
which leads to the general waiting room.
The tickle, office is located IN the center
of this room, opporite the entrance, so
that no crowd may divide and find
access To the platform to the west, which
is on the Main street level. From this
platform stairs lead down to the plat
form on the track level. on either side
o. the general waiting room on the street
level are the smoking. women's, and
toilet rooms. On the platform on the
track level Two main line tracks pass
on the west side and to the north arc
four blind end tracks. for the shuttle
trains of the Central Vermont railway
Long covered platforms extend beside
these tracks. the platforms extending
from College to King street with a
covered platform leading to the dock OF
the Champlain Transportation company
on the track level are the express and
baggage rooms. with a corridor and
stairway leadinas to the Main street level
Leading to these rooms is a paved wagon
yarl that drops to the track level from
Lake street. the decline being a gradual
one. which allows the unloading of
baggage and express direct. The tele-
graph and station agent have offices on
the track level and here the restaurant
and kitchen are also situated. There Is
also trainmen's room and a toilet ROOM
The plan submitted by the railway pco-
PIE for station improvements is well
known. it calling for slight alterations,
such as moving the baggage room to
the north end OF the station and abolish
ing the restaurant. Mr.. Cowles and
Mayor Burke, representing the commit
tee. stated that the people of Burlington
would not be satisfied with anything
short Of new and adequate station.
{. +. Cowles, secretary OF the COM
inittee, presented the following report:
SOME REASONS WHY A NEW UNION
PASSENGER DEPOT is NEEDED
IN BURLINGTON.
I. The present depot was built to suit
conditions which have greatly changed
ca Railway conditions have changed
The present depot was built in the
year 1861. The structure is still exactly
the same as when first built excepting
that Il lean TO" has been put on to the
eastern side and the passenger rooms
shifted from across the tracks into the
lean to-" Tie old passenger rooms are
now occurred by the express and freight
departments, The passenger and train
Accommodate are essentially the same
| as when The station was first built, ~
years ago this spring.
| The present station was built for the
purpose Of accommodating the Central
| Vermont railroad only. and not even for
| their main line trains, but those coming
| and going over the short line from Essex
| Junction only. At that time the Rutland
railroad had its own station on Maple
street, and the Burlington & Lamolle
! had not vet been built.
Some years later the Central Vermont
leased the Rutland railroad, and its
trains were run into the present station.
| In 1877. the Il. e. L. was built. and a
little later its trains were added to the
G. V. station.
In 1880 the Rutland Canadian road was
| bti a
depot for this line as well. This not only
increased the traffic by the new line COM
! ing from the north. but the Rutland line
on the south, which under G. V. manage
ment had been uninportant, then became
| important and now carries large
amount Of traffic.
| The building OF the new line to the
north then made it necessary to ac-
commodate through" trains In the sta
ton. These Through trains" too, are
long trains, one Of them regularly ten
and twelve cars in length The depot
was not constructed for and Is not
adapted for such trans. Cars were small
and only few in a train.
| III snort, the present station was built
TO accommodate the Essex Junction
trains only. 1t has been made to carry
the additional burdens OF. FIRST the Rut-
land under c. v management, then the
"B. * L." then the Rutland under In
dependent management and finally the
new Rutland Canadian road and its con-
nectons on the north making with the
Old Rutland and its connections on the
! south a great railway system with Its
! long trains and necessity for a Through
| track in the depot
Mention Nigh. also be made OF the
White Mountain train which in effect
brings another line into this same sta
| ton in the summer time.
The business Of the express companies
has like wise grown and they need larger
accommodations al the station.
| In these various ways. the railroads
themselves have imposed burdens upon
tho old depot that It was not built tc
| carry
Again. at the time the depot was built
the boats on the lake landed their pas
ser gers at the wharf adjacent to the
depot. The may walk of four blocks
from the depot to the present boat land
ing, while the depot still faces the lake
and still turns Its back to the town Is
II forceful reminder how conditions have
changed since the depot was built.
cd Not only has first one new line
and then another been brought into the
old depot, but travel to an from Buring.
ton has greatly increased during the life
OF the station,
Tho city OF Burlington has grown from
n population OF about $500. at the time
when tho depot was built. to Q population
estimated Mt "a 900 at thu nr>s>rt +tr,.