The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1911-06-16
PASSENGER TERMINALS
Chicago & Northwestern Railway

With the opening of the new pass
enger terminal, Chicago, of the Chi
cago & North Western Railway COM
pany, a worthy gateway is flung wide
to the golden west. Whatever of al
lurement lies in the new land of pro-
mise, or beauty in the old world left
behind, finds expression in the new
station. 1t is like picture from
European cathedral town set down In
the heart of Americas most cosmo-
politan city. Its substantial walls are
of grey granite brought from Maine.
Its architecture is that of early Ital-
ian renaissance.
The station is located ON Madison
street, one of Chicago's busiest thor
oughfares, between Canal and Clinton
streets. All around it is rush OF
tireless traffic, but not even the tread
of nations seeking new homes or new
experiences, or hurying on to do the
worlds work, will ever take from the
4-story building, with its Doric porti-
co and massive granite pillars it's look
of luxurious calm and leisure to tarry.
The portico at the main entrance
on Madison street is supported on
colorado of six granite columns three
stories high. The sort OF entrance
first designed and built for holy tenn
pies now invites the travelling public.
Back of the colonnade is the high
vaulted vestibule with granite stair
ways leading to the main waiting
room.
In the big low-ceilinged main lobby
just beyond the vestibule the weary
traveller may lay down his cares with
the suit case he drops on the brass
baggage rest below the ticket win
dows. An old experienced traveller
will be grateful for the many new
conveniences. A young girl making
her first journey alone will wonder
why any one ever told her travelling
was not easy. The tiled walls are Of
a soft, restful green. The arched cell
ing is supported by pillars, the very
massiveness of which radiates conf
dence. There is no chance for bewild-
ering confusion even though all the
nations of the earth go west at once,
for there are 81 ticket windows, each
one with lettered designation above
it. Pullman tickets, communication, par
lor car-every sort of ticket sold Is
clearly indicated. Adjoining the
ticket Office is special department
in charge of personally escorted tours.
There are plainly marked baggage
rooms, parcel windows and lost-and'
found department. There are 20 tel
ephone booths so arranged that the
opening of the doors starts an electric
fan and turns on the light. There are
other telephones scattered all over
the builIing-not room of any i'm
portance in the station but has one
or more.
A telegraph Office, drug store with
travellers supplies and lunch rooms
add to the general convenience
Around the pillars are service racks
with writing materials. The station
masters office and elevators oper
off the main lobby, which extends
from Canal street to Clinton, with ar
entrance from each street. Buses ar
rive and leave from under the Clinton
street porte cochere, and just to the
north is a coneourse for private mo-
tor cars and carriages. TheParmelee
buses receive and discharge passen
gers under the canopy on Cana
street The carriage and motor cal
stand is north of the Canal street en-
trance Everywhere are exists ant
entrances; everywhere careful plans
for the avoidance of confusion or con
gestion of traffic.
The system of lighting adds to thu
attractiveness of the lobby. In thu
center of it all, lest there is some
thing the passenger has overlooked o.
forgotten, is the Information bureau
Facing the main entrance on Madison
street is the grand stairway, brass
rallied and with headlights, to keel
the unwary from stumbling. Thu
leads to the main waiting room ant
train concourse where the travele
takes the local train to the suburban
home or through trains to all point
in the great west or northwest.
In the waiting room on the tract
level, you must pause and lool
around, even though there are usher
and the train master on his balloon
are calling your train. If you have
long wait between trains you will no