From the Alamosa Empire, Alamosa Colorado, May 3, 1909

The Alamosa depot of the Denver & Rio Grande system, just completed and occupied by the offices, is the best and most modern depot structure in Colorado both in its substantial character and detail of arrangement, and will doubtless be followed as a model by the company in the future construction of depots.  With cement foundation, it is built of gray pressed brick, made by the Standard Fire Brick Co., of Pueblo. The roofing is of tile made by a St. Louis firm.  Ladd & Sanger of Denver were the contractors doing the brick and wood work. C.H. Demming, superintendent of bridges and building, of the Fourth division of the Rio Grande did the inside finish work.

The ground space occupied by the building is 153 feet four inches by 34 feet four inches.  On the south side, next to the tracks, is a cement platform twenty-five feet wide, the full length of the block.  The floors of the depot are cement, save the ticket office which is of lumber.  The walls are plastered and the wood work is of clear Colorado pine.

At the east end is a hot water heating plant 10 feet six inches by 25 feet.  On the ground floor, at the west end, is a ladies waiting room 22x38 feet; general waiting room 25X30 feet; ticket office 17 feet three inches by 16 feet; lobby 27 feet nine inches by 9 feet six inches; baggage room 25x25 feet; express room 25x25 feet. 

On the second floor which extends some fifty feet from West to east, are situated rooms of the officers as follows: Superintendent’s room, 13 feet eight inches by 15 feet; chief clerk’s room, 18 feet nine inches by 15 feet; assistant superintendent’s room, 12x10 feet; chief dispatcher’s room 12x15 feet; despatcher’s room 11x15 feet; conductor’s room 11 feet 6 inches by 15 feet; stationery and record room 9x15 feet and toilet room 11x15 feet.

Extension roof or continuous porch projects on the ends and sides of the building, and in front of the ticket office is a larger or wider porch swinging from the upper story. Altogether it is the handsomest depot in the state. The window glass is of new design, oval and better light shedding than the ordinary glass. No detail which would lend to completeness and facility has been overlooked.

Other improvements under way are the parking of the grounds and laying of cement walks.  These walks at the east and north sides, will be of cement twelve feet wide, and the grounds at north and east will be put to lawns.  There will be a spur leading up to the east end of the depot to be used for private cars.

There is to be a new freight depot of similar structure built at once in the block west of the passenger depot, 25x75 feet, and 3,400 of new track will be laid for this structure.  All the tracks north of the passenger depot are to be removed from the ground to be seeded to lawn. 

These new improvements of the Rio Grande lend much luster to the State avenue section of and the whole city, and indicate the confidence of the Rio Grande company in the permanence of Alamosa as its chief distributing center in the southwest. The records however of the Alamosa freight and passenger departments have been sufficiently substantial to warrant these expenditures.  

People who pass through Alamosa or chance to stop over, hereafter, will find instead of the unsightly bare ground where the former primitive depot was burned a sight worthy to behold, and when the work of parking and placing walks is complete, it will be one of the most attractive stations on any western railway.