Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-10-16
A HANDSOME CAR.
The Kind Of Work Sacramento Mechanics
Fan M

A HANDSOME CAR.
The Kind Of Work Sacramento Mechanics
Can Do.
The building of private railway cara has
become common. Within a few years some
very handsome ones have been constructed
In this day any one who desires can own a
car commensurate in value to his financial
ability, for the railroad companies Of the
United States, if the usual rules as to method
OF construction are followed, will roll owe,
their lines the car of any private owner.
Many merchants and wealthy men at the
East have their private railway coaches
they are also built for and owned by theatri.
cal managers, travelling circus companies, and
even some great stock dealers prefer to own
their cars for transportation of live stock.
Breeders of hoe horses have cars built es-
peclslly for the carriage of their animals.
Some OF the wealthy actors and actresses
have their own carr. The finest private
cars, however, are those built by
sleeping and palace car com oanies for
rental, and by the officers of railway COM
panies for their own use. The private car OF
most convenience aud elegance thas has yet
bScA sokHcu oub iTOul Tue ndilJs Ot hntElChD
mechanics is that recently constructed in this
city at the works of the Central Pacific Rail
road and which to-day leaves the shops. 1t
has been built at the expense sna TO the
order of Mira. Leland Stan ford. Is st is
state to be between 500. 900 snd S25. 600. 1t
is undoubtedly the best example of ca, work
ever presented, not only in finish, but in
| strength, convenience and the prir cip.ss of
construction. 1t was built under the ilnme-
diate direction Of Master Car Builder Ben.
WEIGH, and the work is tina. Of the men of
needed drawn from the department Of Master
Mechanic Stevens. The plans were adapted
to the wishes OF the owner and the suggestions
of her husband, and were drawn by Fred
Snauch. The cabinet work was done by the
force CT Victor Lenay, the painting and gid
ing by the force of w. Q. Fitch, the plating
by the force of MIR. Buchanan, the upholstery
by the force of Isaac T. Crum, and the work
was all personally supervised by MIR. Welch's
genera foreman, G. j. Turner.
The car is 60 feet long, 20 over all, whereas
the usual length of cars is 80 TO 81! feet. 1t
is IL feet in width inside. but the hight is less
than most Central Pacific Railroad cars, in
order to insure its safe passage through east
ern tunnels. It is what is known as a II
wheeled car, there being six to each truck.
The wheels are the Allen paper wheels, with
u men bL9el I1fS. anu nave Deem tesSSu WlCn q
pressure of 80 tons. Beneath the central
section Of the car are 16 feet Of lockers for
provision storage, and these may be reached
either from the outside or through traps fitted
in the floor. From the Baker heater, in one
end of the car, pipes for heating and for hot
water are conducted beneath the double floor
for the warming of the car and for supplying
each room with hot water. This idea of
registers in the car floor is a new one, and in
one sense experimental The entire frame
work is of Oregon pine, heavily ironed, there
beiag especially strong corner irons
and its weight is between 80 and 80 tons.
The car is in exterior flashed in color and
style according to the standard OF the Central
Pacific Railroad, but, unlike most cars, the
sides are smooth and the broken joints COW
cred BIZ iron strap set in by new System OF
rabbett,ng, by which the opening of joint
carrot possibly show outside Of an actual
braa king up Of the structure. The truss
work and bracing is so complete that the car,
notwithstanding its great length, when sup.
ported on Jacks at either end showed no de-
Election from level. To give some idea of
the great strength of this car, it msy be added
that there run from the sides over the entire
top, every six feet, heavy iron csrlins, an
| set rigi3ly into the side framing. One in
| looking at the exterior cannot fail to notice
the inequality of the panels. There are no
two Of equal size, and no two spaces
between the windows are equal
in area. This is purposefal, and though
! in violation of the conventional rule,
the effect is decidedly good, and breaks the
usual monotony where the panels are regular.
The style of the car is modified from the
! Queen Anne in architecture, and while ex-
tremely rich in finish is not at all gaudy; on
| the contrary plain may be said to pre-
vail. There are eight windows on either side,
| and the glsss is Is by 3S inches. All the
frames arch slightly at the upper corners.
| this concession being made to give ease and
grace. The scroll work of the exterior is in
| gold and rich colors. but it is not ford, nor
| ia there q great pr5fusion Of is. Probably
the very best work Of TIE painters art is
shown in the lettering of the word "Stan-
ford on either tide. and the words beneath
| ths caves /" Ger trail Pacific" The inner
blinds to each window are of solid walnut,
with English holl SLATE, and instead of lifting
| these frames slide to ore side and into the
| hollow walls of he car. The ends of the
car are fitted with four foot Miller platforms
and hooks, with ;olding steps, and the car is
| supplied with tie Westinghouse automatic
brake. Each ptsform has heavy iron rail.
ings with nickltsplated standards and pol
ished rails and rickle.plated rosettes. Toe
roof ia what IS lsnown as a clear roof, with
yentilators and Headlights, as is used in sleep
ers. Entering the car one passes, by broad
door set upon tn, left, the parlor, which is
| feet inches by T. From this room there
opens door on .he left into hall a little
over two feet in tihs clear and off of which to
| the right open hsdrooms-ane feet inches
| by 10 feet, and one feet 6 inches b. feet.
| and maids room. At the other end the
hall opens by door into the dining-room,
feet inches OF II feet. Out of this room
a second hal on the left opens and
| runs to the ether end Of the csr. OF
OF this opens the porter's room, sn1 next
| the kitchen, 6 feet 6 inches by feet inches
Then comes niche for the Baker heater. and
next hall running along the end of the Car,
| but the latter part of which is cut off for the
water-closet. The inside finish is in the
Q1esn Anne style. the parlor is finished
throughout the entire interior, including the
ceiling, in rosewood the bedrooms, halls and
dining room in black walnut and mahogany
! the kitchen, porter's room, closets and heater.
room, in burl and curl" redwood The fin.
ish is all in the very highest style of cabinet
| makers art, and is exceedingly rich. In part
| it has been dec Irated, but time falling short
here, the decorative work will be completed
at the East. The capability Of this finish for
rich decorative work from the pencil of the
artist Is OF the highest character. The fur.
niture will consist of sofas and chairs, in wal.
nut aad rosewood, and the usual bedroom
| furniture in like woods. Some of that put in
here is but temporary, and will be supplanted
at the East by furniture to be chosen. All
| the house. hardware is nickel-plated, and the
plating, all of which was done here, is of a
] character not surpassed by the best work
done in any part of the world. The lighting
Is all by hurricane lamps, burning mineral
seal oil. The lamps are of q style to com.
pare with the styls Of the interior of the car.
In the parlor and dining-room each are double
hanging lamps. In the first. also, is one and
in the dining room two side lights, and in
| each of the other rooms one side light. The
headlights in the roof windows are especially
beautiful. They are all protected on the out.
side by wire gauze. They are of what il
known as tinted or stained glass, resembling
the pearly translucence of the interior
OF a sea-shell. and are divided into
! scroll designs by lead lines, as in stained.
| glass windows. At the crossing of these
eurving seams are set large jewel stones Of
/ various hues. In the bedrooms, parlors and
dining.room are set heavy plate mirrors in
| holdings of walnut or rosewood, in the style
of the interior finish. Electrical knobs in each
room operate an electrical call in the p 1rter'.
room and the kitchen. In appropriate places
are set standing basins, handicapped, and
| elegantly finished, and these are supplied by
| hidden pipes from a tank of large capacity
| The upholstery is rich, and in keeping with
the finish of the car but only part was put
on here, considerable remaining to be sup.
| piled at the East. The carpets are the best
Wilton, and match tae finish of the interior
As whole the car is one of chaste elegance
exceedingly rich and substantial finish. with
out any gaudy effects, and impresses one as
having been constructed according to q re
| fined taste. while il is testimony Of the high
est character to tbs ability and skill of me
chanics of this city.
CoMMERcIAL.-Sincs last report the fol
lowing steamers have arrived at this port
Varuna, Flora and Governor Dana, from up
per Sacramento with barges of grain in
transit: San Joaquin, No. 2, from San Fran
oisce,z vita gsnarsl merchandise and barge Of
freight in transit; San joaquin, from SaE
Francisco, en- rouer for upper Sacramento
Departedr-Stesmer Varuns, Flora and Gov
Il