Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1918-12-19
RAILROADS NEW MOVE

hAlLkOADS NEW MOVE
The new move on the part of the
railroads. 10 construct the proposed
building for the express company al
the west end of the present depot, is
Just as interesting as the formeg
proposition 10 take a portion of the
park for this purpose, and in view OF
the fact that the railroads now wish
ten feet of Prospect avenue for this
purpose. II should be objected too
lust as holly as the former attempt.
It is understood that the railroads
will make application TO the council
TO this effect Tuesday evening. and
il is said that some members Of the
council assured the railroad officials
that the ten feet of the street would
oe forthcoming for The purpose
There are four very good objections
to this plan that the railroads are
putting forth.
One Of these is the fact that this
proposed structure, to be built of
wood, can only add to the unsightli-
ness Of the present elegant 90 Union
Passenger Station, which gives every
visitor poor impression Of the city
as they come into Alma and a heart
rending pang Of regret as they leave
with the thought that such a hustling
community rs Alma must be saddled
down under such "a depot which
would not be worthy OF place one
third the size Of Alma.
Another reason why this frame
addition, OF structure (call it what
YOU WILD should not be built to the
west Of the depot, using ten feet Of
the street as "A portion of the site. is
the fact that this would partially
block Prospect avenue, and with the
city growing as il has been during
the past few years, none OF Us are
able TO tell what demands may be
made upon this street for traffic with
n the next few years.
one strong reason why this struc-
lure should not be- built. is that it
would aid in Harvesting this already
totally. inadequate depot upon Alma
for years more. with il becoming
more and more inadequate to take
care Of those people who are forced
20 await the arrival and departure OF
trains Il was constructed years ago
for a struggling village and was ade-
quate then only. This proposed struc-
ture is not designed 20 care for this
part of the business of the railroads,
but rather for the convenience Of the
express company, for storage of eX
press. II is only by the construction
Of an entirely new depot that the &C
cancellations needed i'm this respect are
TO be secured.
We doubt also that the construction
IF this addition will aid in making tn,
depot more sanitary place. The
Record has previously made the state.
ment that at least one Of the laws re-
garding sanitation is being violated
every day at the depot, which alone
should be sufficient argument for the
condeming of the depot and sufficient
argument in favor Of a new structure
II now seems evident that the rail
road holding the title TO the propert!
20 the east Of the present Union sta
tion has discovered a reversion CLAUSE
n the deed which might prevent j
from constructing the proposed mes
for cream cans, chicken crates am
boxes. az the east end of the station
and nov quietly seeks 20 put one Owe
on the city by obtaining lease t,
the ten feet Of Prospect avenue which
Il needs to carry out is newer ideas
Alma has done much for the tw
railroads, in both freight and passen
ger business. and it should be born
IN mind in this connection that Aim
has had nothing in return of any i'm
portance. Years ago when the pres
ent station was constructed, il wa
Alma money and Alma property to
great extent that was used in it
construction.
Now when the mind Of the com
munity and Of the travelling publ
revolts at the thought Of using thi
depot for another decade, if the raj
roads can patch it up and get by wit
it as they will if the council lease
this ten feet Of ground 20 them. il
time that some action was taken {
call speedy halt 70 these plans an
that insistent demands be made tina
the railroads construct a new and M
to-date station in this city.
The recent petition by the bushes
interests Of the city should be su
ficent thermometer, TO indicate Il
pulse Of the residents Of Alma in tn
respect We pass these thoughts q
to the city council, which it is Q,
pected will be called upon by II
railroads next Tuesday evening.
take action in this regard, and SUI
gest that the council turn an eye