Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-04-15
SAVANNAH, FLORIDAANDW WEST
ERIN RAILWAY.
Increase of Rolling StOek-New Inn
prOvementgs

Recently we noticed at length the extern
sive Improvements at the Central Railroad
wharves, in the western boundary of the
city, and remarked the busy aspect OF af-
fairs in that locality. at the eastern ex-
tremity of the city similar gratifying state
Of affairs exists, and in visit yester-
day TO that quarter we CLEANED considerable
information concerning Savannah's other
great railroad corporation, the Savannah,
Florida and Western, Railway which will be
of interest TO our public generally. We
have from time to time noticed casually
the additions to the rolling stock of this
well managed corporation, and now propose
to note at length some of these valuable ac-
QUESTIONS to the facilities of the the railway
for the accommodation of passengers and
the transportation Of freight, and also the
improvements that have recently been made
in the erection of new buildings and de-
par+ments.
The completion of the Waycross Short
Line, and the opening of new railroads in
Florida, have served to increase the bust
ness Of the line almost beyond conception,
and the company have been greatly taxed
during the season on its motive power and
rolling stock. The purchase of ten splendid
locomotives from Rogers, including two
"moguls," the largest and heaviest, proba-
bly,, in the State, and several new cars, be-
sides the beautiful sleeping car, which at
tracted so much attention at the Atlanta
Exposition, have already been noted.
Among the recent acquisitions are six
new passenger coaches from the establish
ment OF the Gilbert Bush Company, of Troy,
New York, which are furnished in the best
style, and are provided with all the modern
improvements. Within the past few DAYS
two magnificent parlor cars, built by the
Wsson Manufacturing Company, of Spring
field, Mass according to designs furnished
by the draughtsman of the Savannah,
Florida and Western Railway Company,
have been received. One of these
new drawing room or parlor cars
is named "St. Augustine" the other
EST. MarY's," and both are fur
nished in the most artistic style. These
cars are provided with twenty-four comfors
able roomy plush chairs, a sofa with four
seats, and the cOsiest of cosy staterooms,
containing accommodations for six persons,
and furnished exquisitely. The paneling on
these cars is the finest we have ever seen, and
they are beautifully upholstered. The exterl-
ors are equally as we'll finished as the interior,
and another great Improvement is the intro
| duction of wire screens on the win
dows, thus enabling the passengers
to enjoy the ventilation free
from dust and smoke. We doubt
IL there are any hsndsomer or more
comfortable cars on any railroad in the
| country than these The interior is OF
the Queen Anne" style, bordering on the
truly aesthetic, and may be pronounced
| beautifully ''intenselY intense" in all theii
| appointments. There are also two new
sleepers, of the Leighton patent, which are
magniicentlY constructed, the uphOlsterfng
and finish being of the very best. They are
| provided with all the accessories OF comfort
| and convenience, andireslly render travelling
J q luxury instead of discomfort and annoy
ance. These sleepers are christened "Cor-
sair' and Tourist" combination Of names
which suggested to a carping, penurious
| traveller that the former might possibly
designate the Florida hotel keepers. These
cars were built by the Jackson q Sharp
| Company, of Wilmington, Delaware, and
are finished in similarly aesthetic style to
| the drawing room cars.
There are also among these recent addi-
| tions five combination cars, mail and eX-
| press, and baggage and smoking cars which,
| for their purpose, are unequaDed. These
have been in use for a short time, but have
the appearance of being entirely new.
Whilst these additions have been made to
the rolling stock, extensive improvements
have been made in the manufacturing de-
partments Of the road; prominent among
| these is new paintshop, two hundred and
sixty feet long by thirty feet wide, divided
| In two apartments, one for the painting
of cars, the other closely pro-
tected, where the finishing touches
are given and the vanishing is done. Op-
posite is the "shelter she'd" 1876 feet long,
| by 60 feet wide, where the building of
freight cars is carried on, and here we may
remark that in this branch business Is unu-
susliy active, and new cars are turned out
every week. These include the box and
fiat cars. and also the ventilated vegetable
snd fruit cars, the latter so ar
ranged as to be closed with iron
Grated door, or solid wood. All the work
on these cars is done in the shops, and
on an average six cars are turned out per
week. The wheels are from Noble Bros
Rome, Ga, and are finished here. These
! departments are under the charge of the
master OF machinery, Mr.. j. ID. HOllster,
who is thoroughly experienced and compe
tent in his line.
For the housing OF the locomotives in
| creased accommodation is required, and
additions are being made to the round
| house for this purpose. Should the bust
ness Of the road increase in the same pro-
portion the next few years the shops will
have to be enlarged or moved to more Ca
| paci0us Quarters, as the work necessarily
requires ample room.
At the extremity of the offices in the
| depot yard g neat two story building, which
we lately noticed IS having been completed.
| furnishes increased facilities for the Master
OF Transportation. The lower floor is occu-
| pied by the Southern Express Company, and
the upper story is connected by convenient
apartments for the Master of Transportation
| and his assistants. In this room are the five
telegraph operators in the employ Of the
| company, including the train dispatcher,
who from a neat bay window commands a
view OF the entire yard.
The future is most encouraging, and
under the present able and enterprising
management, and the splendid organization
which characterizes the corporation, it may
safely be predicted that the extensive bust
ness done in the past and now being con-
Quoted will dwarf into insignificance in
comparison with its immensely of a few
years hence.
Those of our citizens who rarely get be-
yond the confines of their immediate bust
ness and only know Of the immense traffic
and extensive improvements which are to
be noted in this quarter from the accounts
in the MORNING NEWS, could not devote
their leisure hours to better advantage or
with more interest than to visit the Savan-
nab, Florida and Western Railway depot
yards, where they will then see that in
what we have said, nothing have we ex-
tenuated or aught described, that investi-
cation will not prove correct.