Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-12-29
A Palace ON WHEEIs.
Pullman's Practical Demonstration of
the LuxuriOusness of American
Travel.


PAi1ddeEpASa Press
When the Pullman palace cars Oueen
and President were exhibited at the Gem
tennial Exposition, it was then generally
conceded that the highest art in car build
ing had been reached. The drawing room
car Alton, which reached this city vester-
day from Pittsburg, and which was COM
pleted few days ago at the company's
shops, IN Pullman, Ill.,, is as far superior
to the Queen and President in point of
artistic finish as these magnificent coaches
were to their immediate predecessors.
The Alton is one of sixteen cars. which
when finished, will be OF similar design,
EXteriOrly it at once attracts attention
by the paneling, the square plate GLASS
windows and the running gear. The
panels are vertical, about two and half
inches in width, and so placed in position
that they cannot warp under the hottest
sun. So perfect are the junctures that
the side of the car looks like one stretch
of solid plank gro0yed ut regular inter-
walls. The windows are square and set in
mahogany sashes. All the wheels of the
car are made of paper, trimmed with steel,
and run under trucks, provided with
springs, which are ingeniously arranged
to prevent any lateral swaying of the
coach. The Alton is equipped-as the
others will be-with the EECombined IAN
ney and Miller" coupler, so thar i'm case n
car with "JanIey'' coupler strikes a
railroad where the "Miller'' is in use.
either coupler can be substituted in ninety
seconds by simply withdrawing the king
bolt below the shoulder.
The scene inside the car is one of simple
elegance, The designer has succeeded in
the dif1cult task of producing a beautiful
ly artistic effect, with very few curves.
Everything, save the bottoms of the berths
in square, and even there the curving is
very gentle. The entire car is finished in
solid mahogany, and an effort seems to
have been made to use the most beautiful
ly grained wood obtainable. The seats
are upholstered In crimson plush, and the
floor is carpeted with dark-patterned Ak
minister. A soft uniform light is shed
through the car by six brass lamDs- de-
pending from wooden ceiling, tasteflIlv
frescoed after Ethe Moorish style. One Of
the most noticeable features i'm the finish
OF the wood rs the inlaid work in the
sides of the pieces which form the
division between the upper and lower
berths when in use. Olive, cherrg,
walnut, maple, oak, ash and other hard
woods have been used to produce q series
of harmonious designs, resembling the
finest mosaic, and so delicately are the
pieces blended, that at few feet they re-
semble hand painting. At either end of
the main body OF the car hang rich color
ed raw silk curtains of the finest texture.
These curtains conceal from view the
smoking room, cosy little b0uFe, and
geptlemen's dressing room Mt one end.
and lady's dressing room and private
apartment with four berths at the other.
Each of the dressing rooms have glass
roofs, through which light is obtained
from the lamp outside. This is an en-
tlrely new idea, and is intended
to do away with the odor of
oil which made the old cars slightly un-
pleasant, The little boufe next to the
smoking room deserves special mention.
1t could appropriately be styled naultups
IN pdryo. There is the loyoliest little side
board, with white marble top, and mirrors
behind it, that one would find i'm mag
nitcently appointed dwelling: a hand
some silver service of plate; a silver cof-
fee urn and chafngdish combined. and
the most ingenious arrangements of
drawers, ice chest and bottle box ever
seen. The car with all its appointments
cost tritie over $15, 900, and the CONVOY
If SUCH term is allowable-is to run be-
tween New York and Washington and
Florida, and on the Atlantic coast lines.