St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1917-03-10
N. o. G. N. RE-
PLIES TO TOWN
PETITION FOR
NEW DEPOT
Claims That Depot is Well
Lighted, Cost $4,000 and
is Good Enough.
ASSN. OF COMMERCE
RAISES FUND TO FIGHT
Case Comes Before Railroad
Commission at Baton
Routh on March 20.

AOs
At a special meeting Of the Asso-
cia ton of Commerce, Tuesday even
ing, March 6, the question Of the
new depot for Covington was taken
up. Attorneys F. j. Heintz and 4.
%. Schwartz. attorneys for the Asso-
citation, were present and explained
the necessity Of raising fund to de-
fray the expenses of witnesses be-
fore the Commission at Baton Rouge.
March 20, when the case is set for
trial. These attorneys are not
charging anything for their services,
the matter being one of civic interest.
Fifty-four dollars we're raised
among the members present and the
Association guaranteed to increase
the sum to $4,000. The town coun-
ell appropriated fifty dollars to be
added to this sum.
The answer Of the N. o. G.. n.
Railroad to the petition filed by the
town of Covington was read by At
torney Heintz. 1t ia given in full
below:
Citizens Of Town of Covington VS..
New Orleans Great Northern Rail-
road Company, No. 1921, Before
the kailrssd Commission Of Lou
Now comes the defendant, New
Orleans Great Northern Railroad
Company, and for answer to the Pc
tition Of the plaintiffs. says:
l. It denies that the depot build
ing in Covington is an old antlquat-
ed structure which has served the
people of said town as a depot for
wears immemorial, but defendant
says that said depot building was
newly constructed in the year 1903
At a cost of over five thousand five
hundred dollars.
2. Defendant denies that said
depot has and possesses absolutely
NO conveniences at all, and denies
that there are no toilets connected
with same, but it says that there are
nroper and suitable sanitary toilets
within less than seventy-ffve feet OF
said depot, for the use OF the travel
ing public.
3. Defendant says that the white
patrons o. the railroad have been IN
the habit of using the colored wall
ing room for sending and receiving
telegrams, freight and express, with
out complaint, and says that at sucn
times there are usually no colored
neople in said waiting room, but that
white patrons can, if they desire
nsa the white waiting room for such
purpose.
Defendant denies that said de-
not IS ill-lighted and unsan1tary
< Defendant denies that sa'd
depot is too small and says it is
sufiicient for the needs OF the pa
irons of the railroad at Covlngton.
and denies the other allegations OF
Article v of the petition.
6. Defendant says that sald de-
not affords the same facilities for the
travelling public in the way OF pro
lection from rain as are AFFORDED Dy
all ordinary depots on railroads IN
louisiana. -.
depot is entirely too small for the
use of the travelling patrons OF the
road.
8. Further answering, defendant
saws that when application was made
"a Il bv some OF the citizens of Gov
inrton to build new depot in that
Town. defendant offered and ex-
pressed its readiness to improve SAID
depot by painting It inside ana out
side. changing the colored waiting
room so that white persons woula
not be required W use 1t, to equip It
with sanitary closets on the premises
and make such other minor improve
ments As might be deemed necessary,
or. II the citizens would donate siss
ON Block IL of said town. along the
east side of the main line, that de-
fandant would move the depot to this
location and make the said repairs.
9. That the persons representa-
the citizens Of Covington refused
said offer and insisted that defend
ant build a new brick depot on an
other location than where the depot
now stands.
10. That while the question Of
new depot was pending, the plaints
procured an ordinance to be passc
bv the Town Council of covington
establishing fire limits in the town,
including the site of the present de-
not. and prohibiting all persons from
erecting or constructing within sa1o
limits any building whatever except
of brick, concrete or other non
combustible material, and the roof
covered with slate or other nom
com bustible material, and making It
unlawful to make any repairs to any
frame building to q greater amount
than fifty dollars, and making It un-
lawful to increase or add to the d.
menslons Of any building not con-