New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-02-03
BIG CROWDS VISIT
THE NEW TERMINAL
Practically All Grand Central
Employees Required to
Handle ThrOng.
WERE WALKING BAEDEKERS
Gightseers Fill Galleries and
Gaze Admiringly at Blue Sky
Ceiling-Traffic Not
Inconvenience.

Tn travelling public was lost in the
,l"fio' o., tho Grand Central Terminal
Yesterday. fol thousands Of persons in
tadcd .ns new terminal with the inten-
sion oul> OF seeing it. All roads seemed
TO lead there Judging 10y the throngs pres
cr; 30 LAY. 70 handle the crowds prac-
steadily the entire force Of station en-
p.cycs was on duty. Ordinarily on sun
uay the fotce is cut in half. it was said
h> ID railroad official There were lac Of
the force Of 1Go red caps on hand and
the fun quota Of satemcn.
Not an eccident WAS reported despite
the large crowds.
The big concoursc. with its blue Sky
Collins was the main attraction. The gal
lcfics that overlook it were filed with per
So,s looking down on the streams OF hu-
mauity that flowed il from all directions
ana then flowed out when curiosity had
been seoisded.
The "IaiibirdS.' a. the persons lined up
aion. the railing Of the gallery around
tine cOncouse We're frequently called by
persons ON the main floor, held their van
tagc points for many minutes at a time 10
watch the sea Of persons moving about on
IN" ooncoWSe floor. The gallery was mis-
taken for the kissing gallery" by many
who did not know that the place set apart
for Oscillation was one Of the train plat
forms. They expected to see the kissing
gallery" live up to expectations. hut they
were in the wrong place and were not
rewarded for their waiting.
The first sunday in the new station Will
bee one long remembered by the railroad
officials. Trains went out on time. bag
gage was handled accurately and infor-
nation was dispensed as in the old sta
ton Bat information had 10 be dis
Beuscd iu greater quantities than ever be-
fore. Every attendant was walking
Pdedcker. He had to testify hundreds o.
times as 10 the number Of stars in the sky
above he main concourse. as he did 10
most OF the other unusual features Of the
station.
Nishtmg at the station. outward bound
passengers. not content TO take the rail-
road mans statement that the station was
simplicity itself placed themselves in the
hands Of attendants who knew every
angle ana did not relinquish the Missouri
Ike attitude even when ushered to their
train platform il short order and with no
trouble. except for the crowds.
The station is so arranged that incOm-
ms and outgoing traffic will not interfere.
r Gij not interfere yesterday. strictly
speaking for the passengers lived up 10
expectations. 1t was the sishtseer how
ever who went IN one door and came out
o. The same one again.
TaNicahs ran into Vanderbilt avenue and
nnioaded their passengers and trunks a.
3. that thorOughf1re had been opened TO-
months whereas it was opened only on
saturday.
The spacious waiting room. between the
main concOurse and f2d street. was deco
roteG with palms. II was 50 populous.
though. that the decorations. except for
;ornost branches. were hidden from view
most Of the time The waiting room is
designed To- serve as a place where trdN-
cllc,s may wait in comfort and quiet. On
another SUNDAY if MAJ live up to require
'urnts but Yesterday it was in the pos
session Qf the siehtseers. Even babies
and peIambuators found their way into
the station. for The ramps afforded an op-
uoiturity for locOmOtion impossible on
long light of stairs.
This beats all the Labor Day and
Christmas holiday crowds in the Grand
Central station have ever seen" said
az elderly railroad attendant. RS
good thing they are not all outgoing pas
scr@eTs."
IT, the throngs Of spectators were many
per sons Of advanced years who comment
ed ou the difference between the new
terminal and that completed in 1871. That
station was then thought 10 suit all needs
II had TO be enlarged later and again. in
I>9S Il had to be even further enlarged.
only finally to make way for the present
station.
The thrones that visited the terminal
Yesterday had decidedly noticeable effect
ON subway traffic ~ the station at that
point