N&W in 1907 -- Station

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Bluefield Daily Telegraph
October 1, 1907

W. M. SEAY AND SON GET DEPOT CONTRACT
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Addition Really a Small One, Railroad Not Seeming to Realize Importance of Bigger Facilities
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PRACTICALLY NO CHANGES INSIDE OF BUILDING
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    The contract for the new depot has been let, as was reported in Sunday's Telegraph.  W. M. Seay & Son are the successful bidders.  The work will be commenced immediately.  The plans call for an addition to the present station, which will cost about $15,000.  They call for a 16-1/2 foot addition to the baggage room and an 49-1/2 foot addition to the east end of the passenger station.  Practically no changes will be made in the inside of the present station, except that an archway will extend from Princeton avenue through the station to the stairways, which will be widened.  In the southeast corner a toilet room will be built for men, while the present toilets will be enlarged so as to accommodate the ladies who visit the station.  J. B. Seay, of Lynchburg, has the contract for the plumbing.
    This addition is in reality a very small one, and it is evident that the Norfolk and Western railroad hardly recognizes the importance of this station.  The two additions practically amount to an addition of 49-1/2 for the use of passengers.  And out of this 49-1/2 feet the plans call for toilets which are to have inside entrances and which will take up about 160 square feet of space.  So in reality the new depot is still a fond dream which Bluefielders and coalfielders can snore out while they are sitting outside in the cold waiting for trains this winter.
    Still it is better than none and someday another story may be built so that the ladies may have some place for themselves.  An office might also be located on this floor for the station agent.  An information bureau on this floor would help some, as many times people miss trains simply because they are not able to find out how to make connections.  This applies particularly to the foreigners.  No blame can be attached to the employes at the station, as they are so busy at train time that they cannot be in all places at once.
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Gordon Hamilton
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