Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1870-01-12
How to Cross the Continent.
From the san Frarcisco Bunetin.l

ETOul tue san EEdHGlSCO bullellu.l
First-class travel to the East is very
dull at present. Californians do not
care to exchange the moderate and
even temperature of the Pacific Coast
for the alternate biting blasts, the
dreary snow-drifts or chilling driZzles
of the Atlantic side during this sea-
son Of the year. Many, too, are deter
red from taking the trip through fear
of detention by snow blockade, which
there is less reason to fear on this side
of the Missouri than beyond Omaha,
until late in February and in March.
Meantime, the light snOw-falls of mid
winter will have tested the defenses
provided by the railroad COM
pany, and demonstrated whether they
are adequate to keep the road open.
The Atlantic Hotel Express, which
left for the East at noon, Wednesday,
may be expected to deliver its passen-
gers in Omaha on Sunday forenoon,
and in New York City, on Tuesday
night. The general public appear not
to be fully posted as to the peeuliari-
ties of this luxurious provision for
overland travel. A few facts in regard
thereto will be of interest. The Ex-
press leaves weekly-On Wednesday,
at noon, instead of in the early morn
ing, as heretofore. Taking through
travel only, and making no stops ex-
cept for water and fuel, it speedily
overtakes and passes the regular daily
express leaving several hours earlier.
A brief description of Wednesdays
Express will give fair idea of what
is offered to the travelling public week
ly. The train consisted exclusively
of a baggage car and the Pullman
coaches Minnesota, Elkhorn Club and
San Francisco. The latter is the per-
feetiOn of luxury, comfort and safely
in railroad ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
if possible, to the Palace cars which
we described last June when the first
coaches of the Pullman pattern came
across the Sierras. While at night it
affords twenty-four commOdiOus and
luxurious double beds, besides two
staterooms, in the daytime it is an ell
egant saloon fitted up with sofas on Ell
ther side, leaving ample space be-
tween for dancing or any other amuse-
ment. Built into the car, at one side,
and midway between either end is a
fine organ which, under the fingers OF
some passenger, furnishes the music
for eotilliOn or the accompaniment
to a song. Dancing by day and anna
teur concerts in the early evening are
among the regular entertainments by
which old time is robbed of his terrors
on the overland trip, and hours that
otherwise would be irksome are filled
with pleasant recreation.
The San Francisco, and its counter
part, the Sacramento, (which alterna-
ting with the former, leaves on We'd
nesday of next week for the East, )are
exactly alike. Both are fitted up with
rich coverings, curtains and Wilton
carpets, in canary and wood eolors.-
The woodwork is in black walnut ar
ranged in panels, and ornamented
with bronze medallions.
The Minnesota is quite as elegant as
the San Francisco, though somewhat
different in arrangement. The Elk
horn Club is the eommissaTy and di-
ming car. At one end of it is store
room and commodiOus kitchen where
meals arc prepared for passengers
adjoining is neat and well conducted
bar, while the rear half of the car is
provided with portable tables, at which
breakfast dinner and lunch are served
in excellent style and at rates less than
the average at wayside restaurants.
The extra cost of an overland jour
ney by the Hotel Express, as eompar-
ed with the regular express leaving
daily at o'clock, A. NJ, is $50, in
greenbaeks. For this the traveller
saves time on the trip, has ample room
in q car that never is crowded, takes
his meals leisurely, at regular hours,
if he chooses, and is sure that they
will be well prepared. If delayed en-
route from any cause he suffers no dis
comfort, for his larder, dining and
sleeping apartments are all at hand,
and may be availed of when required.
In the possible event of a snow block
ade, these advantages would be dOub-
ly appreciated, especially as the bag
gage car of the Hotel train carries ex-
ira supplies of provisions and fuel suf-
fieient to Withstand q thirty days
siege. This consideration doubtless
viii insure the running of the weekly
Hotel train, at least until spring, and
then we shall be surprised if pleasure
travel from the Atlantic States and
Europe can be accommodated with
less than one such through train every
day in the week.