Yesterday noon the Chicago & Northwestern Railway took possession of their new depot, the finest building of its kind on this division of the railway.
For some time, the company has been planning a new depot for Brookings and in the selection of the plan used have given to our city as beautiful a structure and surroundings as can be found in the Northwest.
The building
The building is of brick and steel construction, trimmed with stone and roofed with slate, making it fireproof, warm, and safe. Located on the site of the old building, it is 191 feet in length with 235 feet of platform on each side and 20 feet in width. Over the ticket office the height is over 22 feet, surmounted by a flagstaff. From each side of this the walls and roof are graduated to a normal height of 16 feet. The doorways to the waiting rooms are guarded by massive pillars of stone and with the surrounding trimmings give the building a beautiful and substantial appearance.
As one approaches the depot from Main Street, the first room reached is the one given over to the use of the American Express Company for the transfer of express. This room is 20x25 feet and has all the modern conveniences such as heat, light, and desk space, that go to help in making the work pleasant. Next to this is located the baggage room, heated and lighted, and fitted with platform scales for weighing baggage and ample desk room.
The waiting rooms
The mens’ room is next in line and is furnished with ample seats and lighted by 14 incandescent lights. The walls are trimmed in warm red and the ceiling is in light green, showing effectively the truss construction of the ceiling. In this room is located the trainman’s register and bulletin board and a large wall map of the United States. Adjoining the room is a men’s toilet, furnished with a wash stand, urinal, three closets, and a slop bowl. This room, as well as the ladies’ toilet, is furnished in marble and cement. Toilet paper, soap, and towels will be furnished in both of these rooms for the convenience of the patrons of the company.
The ladies’ room is west of the ticket office and has light green walls and buff ceiling, with the same truss effect as seen in the other room. This room has six settees, several rocking chairs, and numerous radiators and is lighted by 16 lights. This make it a most pleasant apartment for ladies and children while waiting for trains. Attached to this is a very elegant toilet room, having all the conveniences so necessary while on tour.
Between the waiting rooms is the commodious ticket office, opening by windows into both. Here is located a desk for the operator and cashier, switchboard for the lights used in the building, and the various ticket racks necessary to the large business done at this station.
West of the ladies’ room is the lunch room designed for the accommodation of the traveling public. This room is filled with a counter and stools, has attached a most complete kitchen, and being warmed and lighted affords a pleasant place for a light lunch.
The basement
In the basement is located the heating plant and battery room. The heating is done by a 10 horsepower boiler. The draft is regulated automatically by a thermostat in the ticket office, and coal and ash bins extend under the south platform, making it possible to dump coal and remove ashes without inconvenience or dirt inside the building. In the basement is also located water taps which will be connected to the surface during the summer and furnish drinking water on both sides of the building.
During the coming summer it is proposed to move the old depot east of Main street and fit and install it as a freight house. With these removals, it will be possible to have a beautiful park between the depot and Front street. This park will have a grass lawn and be embellished by shrubbery and trees.
