The publication of "Old and New St. Louis" has been delayed far beyond the wishes of the publishers by the immense amount of work which had to be done, not only in securing data concerning the lives and achievements of prominent men in the city, but also in having the necessary steel plates made. A large number of gentlemen who could not possibly be excluded from a work of this character have been absent from the city, and neither photographs nor biographical data could be obtained until they returned. The completeness of the work and the unprecedented and uniform excellence of the plates is ample justification for the delay.<br><br>The introductory and historical chapters have been in print for upwards of a year, and since they were written a number of events have taken place which have greatly affected the city's standing and its prospects. The financial depression of 1893 has been succeeded by a period of healthy reaction. No city in the United States withstood the panic in such a thoroughly satisfactory manner as St. Louis, which has the proud record of no bank failure for a period of nearly nine years. St. Louis generally is in a much better condition financially and commercially than it was when the earlier chapters of this work were prepared, and it now stands before the world a model of financial strength and of conservative progressiveness.<br><br>The largest Union Railroad Station in the world, described in Chapter V., was completed during the summer of 1894 and opened with befitting ceremonies at the commencement of the fall festivities season. In every respect the depot has proved to be superior to expectation, and the words of praise written in anticipation of the completion of the work seem feeble and inadequate in view of the magnificent realization.<br><br>The Planters Hotel, also described as in course of construction, was completed shortly after the New Union Station and was opened to the public immediately. Like the magnificent structure fourteen blocks farther west, the Planters Hotel - referred to in this work as the New Planters House, its exact title not having been determined upon until a recent date - far exceeds expectation.