New Britain herald., 1925-06-15
WANT MODERN R. R. STATION IN CITY
Joint Committee Visits Depot
 and Finds Conditions Bad

"Cnsightly unsanitary and unsat- isfactory" was the verdict of the joint committee Of the Chamber of Commerce and the common council after a thorough inspection of the New York, New Haven and Hart ford railroad station this morning. The common council railroad com m.tee consisted of Chairman Frank s. Caldwell and John Buckley. Tho Chamber Of Commerce committee consisted Of Judge w. c. Hunger lord, first vice president, Ralph l.. Gould, secretary, and Jesse F, At rater of the traffic bureau.
 Chairman Caldwell Of the railroad ! committee of the common council stated that it Is his intention 10 have the committee do some much neel- ed work this year and the commit tee will not cease its efforts until satisfied that something has been ac- complished
 Plumbing and heating arrange ments were found to be inadequate and unsatisfactory, as were the light i ing facilities The committee will recommend that the toilet facilities be rebuilt and put at the south end Of the building. that the ticket office be enlarged and relocated and the | news stand be relocated. Recom- i m4ndations will be made that the walls and ceilings Of the main sta ton and the fronts Of the buildings l in the Arcade be painted and that the station be given a sanitary stone floor. instead Of the present wood l floor.
 The public drinking fountains were declared to be a violation of both state and city ordinances. The steam radiators should be taken out, according to the committee, a modern heating plant installed and new seating arrangements planned.
 IF CplllllllllCt ipvhtI pNFl tisC l bulletin boards and found pacards advertising condtons Reflective Feb ruary l, l919," still on the boards.
 The east end Of the station came in for considerable discussion and l the accumulation Of express pack = sges on the passageWay was noted. { It was felt that an express loading and unloading platform should be built along the triangular extension to the concrete platform. to remove the accumulation from the passage way to and from train. Notice was taken of the "unsightly' condition of concrete, especially at the west end of the station and of the signs over the sidewalks in front of the stores in the Arcade.
 Fire Trap DisCo,C cred.
 A closet in the main station, filled with oil cans, oil lanterns, etc, was declared 10 be fire trop, The bag gage room was inspected and the room formerly used by the train dispatcher and now said 10 be un- important in its present use. vas claimed by the committee 10 be needed in an enlarged baggage room. Secretary Gould was instructed by the committee 10 engage an archi- tect 10 make a complete survey Of the station and submit drawings and 2 report. II Is likely the council will be asked for an appropriation 10 cover this expense st its meeting Wednesday night, Later the report will be taken up with railroad of fcisls.
 Mir. Caldwell stated that he knows the first impressions gained by peo- pie comlng into the city often have q serious effect upon the business life of the city. and that much need cd improvements at the New Brit ain railroad station would make I considerable difference here. The committee seemed to he of an aC. cord that an entire new station really vas needed, hut felt that tho repairs and improvements suggest ed would be fair compromise.
 About the only thing that seemeo to he entirely satisfactory abtut th' station was the fact that 1t is located near the railroad
 The relocation nf the telephone booths, adequate telephone facilities . into the ticket office, and the addt tional Identifying the grounds ol the Church street side, With the co operation of the park commission were discussed.
 The smoke nuisance from th' burning of rubbish in the rear of th arcade vas discussed and in N } opinion of the committee an lncin erator should be built 10 carry tn
 smoke over the tops of the build
 ings and not simply over the fence The board fence was declared 10 D