Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-10-04
Owning His Own Palace Car.


4 palace car, nearly completed in West
Albany, promises to excel any piece of
railroad architecture IN this or any other
country. 1t is built to satisfy the whim
of private gentleman, who, having done
much travelling in his life, is a cOnnois-
seur in those things which go to make up
the comfort and convenience of travelling.
He has used his bank account
freely, sparing no expense to secure
the object of his ambition, the finest
private car in the world
The framework of the car is construct
ed on an entirely new principle. The
body of the car is much like a raft. being
a series of steel cylinders, lying trans
Versely, and perfectly air tight. They are
tested to stand a pressure of 800 pounds to
the inch, ana it is calculated that train
of cars coming against this car at speed
would merely act a bat against a.ball.
The exterior Of the car is finished in Hon.
duras mahogany, and the entrance is
upon the side, English style, though near
the end. A spacious staircase opens from
the yestibule, and the stained-glass win
dOws at the landing add to the illusion
that one is entering a spacious mansion.
At the turn, however, instead of proceed
ing upward, the visitor is ushered into
little observation and smoking
room, Overhanging the platform and
of the vestibule, one enters, through
doors of California redwood that slide on
rubber rollers, the general parlOr. Alter
nate panels of Mexican onyx and plate
glass mirrors of luxurious depth give a
peculiar charm to the apartment which
is to be furnished in a peculiar manner,
no two chairs being alike in form or up
hOlstery. At one side of the car is an or
gan of unique construction. The wind is
nv n
may be made to play set tunes automati-
cally, or may be played by the performer
in the ordinary manner. The reed organ
is said to possess many advantages over
the piano for palace-car use, the latter. in
fact, being entirely ruined as a musical
instrument by the jar of travel
This central apartment has length
of thIrty-one feet. In two min
utes sleeping room, with
Eastlake bedstead and furniture, is made
in the centre of the saloon, shut off from
the rest by a rolling wall of bamboo work,
Extra berths may be let down from the
sides if needed. Beyond this staterOom,
and included in the grand saloon when
the whole is thrown open, is the dining sa-
loon, a miniature model of luxury and
convenience, copied mainly from the sa-
looms on the Hamburg steamers. The
lavatOries are two, one being a porcelain
water is supplied, not from a tank above,
but from one of the cylinders under the
car, which contains water instead of air,
and which, by an ingenious arrangement,
is kept under an equal pressure. A hose
attachment offers ready means of eXtin-
gushing fires.
The kitchen is an apartment four feet
by eight furnished with a gas range, hot
and cold water, and closets for supplies.
On the opposite side of the hall, in mar
row compartment, is a Siemens dynamo
machine Of great power, while distributed
in various parts of the car, so artfully
concealed that their presence would never
be detected, will be fifty Faure-SeIlOn
batteries. 1t may be lighted with gas or
electricity, as may be preferred.
The owner of the car has taken out
some twenty-five patents already for va
riOus improvements and inventions that
he has introduced in the car, and SAYS
that so far from its being a matter OF eX-
travagance, the car will probably bring
him large addition to his fortune, or if
at any time he should desire to sell the
car, he can do so at a large profit to some
opera star or railroad company, and still
retain his patents. The car is expected
to be completed, according ty the present
plans, by the first of December.