The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-01-05
Broad-St. Station
Opens to Public

/ 4s0 ~ sssSAS~
Handsome Structure Is Inspected BY
Prominent OfRciais and Citizens
First Train Touaorrow.
/ Complete to the most minute de-
tail. and representing what Is said to
be the last word In railroad terminal
construction. Broad street station.
erected by the Richmond Terminal
company for Joint use OF the Rich
mond. Fredericksburg and Potomac
and Atlantic Coast Line railroads, was
opened to public inspection yesterday
afternoon between the hours of a/id
IL o'clock. Beginning noon tomor-
row, train service between this city
and points north and south over these
two lines will be inaugurated.
Among those who visited the build
ing yesterday were Governor West
lmoreland Davis. Mayor George Aims
lie and other state and city officials.
including the street committee OF city
council, Thousands of Richmond's
citizens also inspected the structure
and Its interminahie ''nooks and cram
mics" Notwithstanding the fact that
the building throughout the afternoon
housed several thousand persons at
| no time was there the least semblance
OF congestion or disorder. so vast In
the structure.
4 The view presented to the visitor AZ
soon as he alights from street car or
other conveyancr In front OF the new
station Is an imposing and command
/ ing one. IN design, the building. both
lextsrioF and interior: are simple and
dignifsed. The style of architecture is
classic. Doric outside and Ionic in
Il side. II is marked by simple mould
inxs and practically no ornaments
The only exception is the carved set
ting for the tower clock In the front
pediment. typfying progress and In
dustry. and two seals~-one each OF
i used again. in y modified form. on the
wallis of the eoncourse. riAin coursed
limestone walls and Napoleon gray
marble wainscotipg are used in the
waiting-room and concourse, Alt
i other rooms of the main foor have
Il wainscot OF gray Tennessee marble
4 and plaster walls. The latter are
tinted in subdued and soothing tones
of gray.
Il Ticket Erills and ell interior metal
work Is a soft Greenish grax--harnnnz
fxing nicely with walls and wa;nscot
All floors are marble terraExa. with
marble slab order. A great illumi-
mated sphere. representing the world.
II suspended from the center of the
domed ceiling of the main waiting
room and is supported within a
double ring ornamented with the sign
OF the Zodiac. The entire fixture is
made OF wrought metal and glass. At
a number OF available points are
i white marble clocks. all controlled by
a master clock.
i Fireproof Building.
OF steel and concrete. with exterior
wallis OF Indiana travertin limestone.
the building. IN hrcproof throughout.
The face OF the structure Is $40 feet
north OF the street line. permitting a
broad plaza with swearing curves and
grass plots. The building is s40 feet
long, lis feet inches wide, and
three stories high on the plaza front.
Facing the interior courts. an addi-
ltionai story 10 obtained in the east
and west wings. These three upper
floors are used for railroad business
offices. The entire main floor 10
given over to the uses Of the travel
ing public. The waiting room for
white people. with its lofty domed
j ceiling extending up entirely through
the building. occupies all the space
included within the central motif.
A concourse. 50 feet wide and more
than 200 feet long. Joins the domed
WdiliHS TOOIu fHTOuEH tue SoHSOuTSc
lvestihule on the north. extending. at
J the same level m the waiting room.
lover the seven tracks. The con-
course vestibuic II SO feet by 50 feet
lin plan Access to the track plat
forms Is IN the east and ramps. or In
clined sidewalks. on tho west. En-
/ IclOsed passages flank THE building on
the northeast and northwest. giving
J dlrect access to Nthe concourse from
the cab stand on the west and the
plaza and co,ored section on the east.
The main entrance to the station IL
IN Broad street. and consists Of two
j groups of seven doors each. leading
from fhe portico. through the veati-
hule directly into the waiting room
J flor. white people. The vestibule ID
Banked by two entrance Railways.
Also oreninR from the portico. served
by two doors each. Stairwaya and
J elevators run from each Of these hall
ways to the ONCE floors above
Upon entering the waiting room
throuKh the portico and vestibule. one
finds tAe information desk, ticket Of
4 nee, bagKaRe checking and concOurse
to his right. To bis left, In the west
wing. are the smoking room. men D
itoilet and barber shop. restaurant.
lunch room. telephone, telegraph and
soda fountain. The rest room and
toilets for women afe<on the right OF
the main waiting room. A large pOr-
!. ton OF the main floor OF the eaat
wing II given over to waiting room,
1 restaurant. rest room and toilets for
lcolcred people. rheiT entrance 4
la tcontiaueA On Pase Two,