The Democratic advocate., 1882-07-08
Our @liu.
Luxury in Rail Travel.

Old Commodore Vanderbilt used to ride
over his roads in car that he considered
pretty fine and becoming his station as
railroad king. That car is now owned by
the Wagner Car Company, and leaves the
Grand Central Depot in this city at 3.55
O'Clock every afternoon for Chicago. 1t
bears the name Iroquois, and any one may
ride in it who pays his passage. In these
times it is looked upon as very plain car,
and none too good for common travel.
Since the days when the old Commodore
was whirled over the rails, and gave his
engineers ten-dollar gold pieces when they
made unusually fast runs, great improve
ments have been made in car architecture.
People not worth thOusandth part what
the Commodore was ride in better cars
every time they take a trip than the old
railroad king did. 1t costs from s15, 900
to $4,000 to build palace car nowadays,
according to the style in which it is finish
ed, and it is safe to say that the Commo-
dores ear cost scarcely more than half the
first sum. Cars are now built so that the
owner of one, If he were so inclined, could
live on the rail from one end of the year TO
the other. The aecOmodatiolk, to be sure,
are more limited than in the average home
built upon the solid earth, but the cars are so
constructed that comforts are afforded which
one would hardly expect TO find in such
meagre space. Three cars have Just been
built by the Pullman Palace Car Company
which are, indeed, palaces on wheels. One
was constructed for Hugh J. Jewett, the
President Of the Erie Railway; another for
Henry Willard, the President Of the Ore
gou Railway and Navigation Company, and
the third for T. w. Pierce, the President
Of the Sunset Route in Texas. These ears
form houses in miniature. Atthe forward
end Of each car Is a kitchen; back Of this a
parlor; which serves as a dining room; ad-
joining bedroom, with bathroom attach
ed, and at the rear end smoking-room
and observatory. Berths are also supplied
at different parts Of the ear, and electric
bells eonnect with the kitchen and servants
quarters. The cars are handsome in the
extreme. That Of Mr.. Jewett, the Rama
Do, may be taken as an example. IL Is
heavily inlaid with oostly woods aud mag
nihocntly upholstered These ears cost
about $50, 600 each.
The car of Mr.. William ii. Vanderbilt
Is one Of the largest in the coHntry. IL Is
"a feet in length, feet 10 inches wide,
and Ia feet inches high IL Is divided
into four main apartments. At the front
: the kitchen, and back Of il Mr.. Wander
hilt's ssate-ro0m. The sitting and diping-
room. and the eard-room follow. At the
extreme rear is the observatory, with in
elosed sides and open back. The car Is
elegantly fitted up, and Is provided wish
electric bells and other eonvenienees.
There are four views on the sides Of the
car, regruscniing the Grand Central Depot,
the improvements as One Hundred and
Tenth street and Fourth svenue, in this
city, Niagara Falls. and the West Albany
bridge of the Central Railroad His car
could no, be duplicated for ioss than SIS
900 or 0,000. When Mr.. Vanderbilt
makes trip he has special engine, aud
an oehsr trains must kesp ous Of the war.
He travels a. fast ~ il Is E.aSsihle for en-
ginos 10 draw him, and tune table i made
up as least twelve hours and sometimes tuo
DAYS before he starts, and Is telegEaphed
along the hne. jar Goalds private car,
the Convoy, No. las, Of the MiSsoari Pa
ci6c Railroad, Is the same one thst Gem
mod0rr Garrison used. Ii 10 very large,
aud has accommodation fer twelve. II IS
finished in black walnut, and, while Dot
ssrikingiy beautiful. is very comfortable
The car of George r. Roberts, President
Of the Pennsylvania RailFoad, Is supplied
With state-room, sleeping-roons, kitchen
and ether apartments, A. j. Cassatt, the
Vice President, and Frank Thampean, the
General Manager, have ears of similar con
ssruetian. John W. Garrett, the Presi-
dent Of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad,
has \ car for his exclusive use-the Mary
Iand-and Robert Garrett, his son, the third
Yice President, anosher--the Baltimore.
The President Of nearly every rad Of con-
sequence in the country has car Of his
oxn Of mere or les elegance, but none can
eoEupare with these mentioned The Queen
Of England DOS not Fide in such magnik.
cence As the railway magnates Of America.
In fact, all who are able TO pay their way
can ride on any road of importance in great
er style than Victoria, for j, Is well kHown
that foreign ears viii not bear comparison
with American ones The working officers
Of railroads in the West live in cars for =
week or more At time Il Is not for lux
ury. but matter Of necessity. The dis
sanees are long, the eating places are few
and far between, and there Is business 10
Be transacted at widely different points
Some railroad systems comprise $500 or
5000 miles Of road, and, as may be seen,
il takes some time 70 60 over them. Al
most all roads have Directors cars, which
are used By the Directors once q year in
making an inspection Of their roads. The
remainder Of the time the Superintendents
or other officers use the ears. Directors Of
Western roads living in the East have the
Directors cars sent to them and take them
to the annual meetings and bring them
back.
Others beside railroad officers ride in
special cars. The Pullman Palace Car
Company has, besides its coaches in regu-
lar service, one car especially intended for
the use Of families or private parties. This
car Is house en- wheels, and is similar in
construction to the Ramapo. 1t bears no
inscription save the monogram "P p c."
Ii has accommodations for ten persons, and
is complete in every respect. The main
saloon is furnished like parlor, and is sup
Piled with an organ. The Pullman Com
pany charges Ss5 day for the use of this
car, which includes the services of con-
ducter, cook and two walters Besides
this, the person hiring the car, or in fact
any car, must buy eighteen full tickets of
the railroad line over which the car passes
for hauling it. The car is usually attached
to regular train, and if special engine
is secured, which is rarely the case, the ex-
pense is greatly increased. Provisions and
liquors are supplied by the Pullman Com
pany at cost, or the person to whom the
car is let may stock it himself. Sleeping
cars are let at s65 day, including con-
ductOr and porter, and hotel cars at SO
day, including conductor, cook and two
walters The Pullman Company also has
two hunting and fishing cars. One is
named David Crockett and the other the
Izaak Walton. The charges for these cars
is S35 day, which includes cook and
,,,o;ta- Co. aaoh Tho oara nra urovidad