depot.html

The Mt. Adams Sun, Bingen, WA., August 15, 1941

EDITORIAL
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WHY NOT A NEW DEPOT?

Word has been received here this week that the S. P. & S. Railway company is contemplating more improvements to the local depot that will run to considerable expense. We appreciate the efforts of the company to improve its local property but feel that it would be a much better from every standpoint to build a new depot at a different location.
If the present building is just repaired and remodelled, patrons of the railroad will still be confronted with the same alley entrance to the depot. In its present location is not accessible to any street and cannot conveniently been made so.
We propose that a new depot be built two blocks east between the two crossings. A depot here would be accessible from either Oak or Maple Street and it would be possible for the railroad company to discontinue use of the present crossing facilities near the Nordby Lumber and Box Company mill, which in fact is only a temporary crossing. Savings in switching time alone through the elimination of this crossing would somewhat offset any additional cost in construction of the depot.
Local shipping facilities have been worked to such an extent lately that this is one of the biggest revenue producing points on the S.P. & S. line. We feel that for this reason to the railroad company owes the community a new passenger and freight depot. The present structure with its poor approach from the business section is an eye sore and does not give the proper impression of the industrial progressiveness of this community.
New depot facilities where sought by the Chamber of Commerce a few years back but because of poor business conditions at that time of the matter was dropped. However, such is not the condition at this time and we feel a new depot would be a good investment for the S P & S Company.
This being the depot that serves practically the entire western Klickitat County area, we ask the cooperation of other communities of the area in seeking this new structure.