Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1869-09-07
HOME INDUSTRY.
Elegant Specimens of Memphis Han
dicraft.
The Rip Van Wrinkle Sleeping Car
Line.
New Engine and Tender.

Through the courtesy Of Mr.. A. W.
Drew, master car-builder of the Mem
phls and Charleston Railroad COmpa-
ny, this " local" has been permitted to
look through and examined two elegant
palace cars now ready for the track in
the workshops of the Railroad Com
pany in whose employ ne is. Some
time since the Superintendent and
Directors of the road resolved to pur-
chase two .drawing-roOm sleeping
cars. During the consideration of the
matter it was suggested that the cars
be built at home instead of sending
North or East for them, but this was,
by the credulOus, looked upon as al
most presumptuOus. "What!n said
they, build q first-class drawing
room a in Memphis? PoOh-pOoh"
But the Superintendent and a few
others, who knew to a fraction the re-
sources of the Memphis shop, both in
men and material, were inclined to
favor the idea. Further deliberatiOn
only impressed them the more forci-
bly, with the feasibility of the plan,
and it was determined that the ears
should be built at home, and put up,
too, in a manner that would bear COM
parison with the best work from
Northern or Eastern shops. And that
they have succeeded is cOnclusively
proved by the appearance of the work
as completed.
THE RIP VAN wINKLE LINE
of palace cars, of which these two are
the pioneers, is to be run from New
Orleans, via Grand Junction, to Chat
tanOOga and Is under the management
of Mr.. E. H. Paine, lessee of the same
franchise on several of the Southern
and Southwestern railways.
AFULL DESCRIPTION OF THE CARS
would not convey to the reader a fair
idea of their spiendor and beauty, but
we will do Our best to give all the
points of interest connected with their
construction. They are duplicates in
every respect except that of names
and cumbersome, the 81, being
called the CITY OF MEMPHIS" and
the other, the 81, the. Gerry OF
HUNTSVILLE" so named in compli-
ment to the places Of residence of the
heaviest stockholders and most promi-
nent officers of the road. ~Sixty-eight
feet in length over all, of the null
width allowed by the guage Of the
tracks over which they are to run, and
higher than the ordinary passenger
coaches, they present al imposing APP
pearance; perhaps not quite as light
and airy in construction as the Pull
man car, but all the more safe and
substantial for that. The outside color
Is a rich claret or maroon, highly
polished, and unrelieved except by
the lettering on the sides and the en-
Enlistment of the ends. The absence
of broad stripes of gaudy green and
gold and scroll work in multi-cOlor
paints, strikes the observer as decided
improvement on the prevalent style.
THE INTERIOR.
Entering the car at either end
the passenger is introduced to a draw
ing-rOom fitted up with fOlding-berth,
sOta-cOuch arm-chairs that extend
themselves into luxurious touches at
his will, marble top wash-stand Of ele-
CANT pattern-eYerything, in truth,
that isaneeded for ease and COM
fort on a journey. These drawing
rooms are upholstered in velvet tapes
try and silk damask, the floor covered
with rich and costly Administer al
peting, and the ceiling and panels
hlled with mirrors and artislicaIly
executed designs in Oil. By direction
of Mr.. w. J. Ross, Superintendent of
the Company, a Photographic artist
made copies of all the notable scenes,
from Lookout Mountain, around Chat
tanOOga, as also Of the COmpany's
shops at Huntsville, which were to
have been used in the establishment
of the pannels, ETC., but were not re-
ceived until the work had been too
far advanced to admit Of their being
painted.
"sLEEPY HOLLOW"
A passage-way leads from the lobby
neal the door of the car, around past
the drawing-rOom to the central sec
ton, or as it has been felic-
itously designated by Mr.. Drew.
This compartment comprises eight
sections, each sufficiently large
TO accommodate, either by day or
night, four persons. As in the drawing
rooms, the upholstery here is elegant
and luxurious; the cushions of the
s~ofa-couches and eXtension-seats are
covered with moquette, while under
the feet is an elegant pattern of Brus-
s~ellette, a superior carpeting from
English looms. The mattresses in the
wide, roomy berths of both the draw
ing-rooms and Sleepy Hollow" are
made from sponge, a material that in
sects will never harbor in for a min
ute.
THE TASTE AND SKILL
displayed in the cabinet and Joiner
work of the cars is remarkable. The
ceiling is of Tennessee cedar, var
nished so artistically as TO bring out
the naturally rich color of the wood
in all its beauty. Pannels Of black
walnut, also of Tennessee production,
inlaid with magnolia, hand-rails of
the same, plated with silver, rich
frames Of mahogany enclosing the
eOuches and chairs, all tell that the
mechanics In this department are
masters Of their business. No veneer
ing or counterfeit "-everything is
what the outside represents it.
LIGHT on THE SUBJECT"
is shed, at night, by s~ilver-plated
Of great %brillianey, so arranged
that there are no dark passages to
stumble through. French plate glass
windows serve a similar purpose by
day.
SAFETY TO PASSENGERS,
case Of accident, has been steadily
kept in view by Mr.. Drew in the con-
struction of these coaches. The tim
oers all run longitudinally, the bolts
and rods are of the best TENNESSEE
iron, long famous for its tenacity,
and the stoves, situated between
SLEEPY Hollow" and the drawing
rooms, are to be fitted with a newly
invented apparatus, whereby the fire
in them is immediately and thorough
~ quenched, should the car be upset.
The trucks are double, and are fitted,
the swiDg-bolster, with extra
hangers, rendering gu accident from
this ource almost impossible. The
brakes are double-acting aud Of i'm
men5e power.
VENTILATION