The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1884-03-28
AMERICAN AND BRITISH RAIL-
WAYS.


WAYS.
A Striking Contrast Presented by the
Experience of Scotch Traveller.
From the Scotsman, Edinburgh, Jan. Z.
S1R-Circumstances of friendship called
me suddenly in October last to the Northwest
of America The summons came by telegram
on Thursday On Friday I secured, by the
same means, berth in the celebrated
steamer Alaska, which left Liverpool next
forenoon; and in seven days one hour from
Queenstown l landed at New York. 1t was
fine Sunday morning, and having, like all the
passengers, {" checked " my baggage to the
hotel / intended to go to, friend and myself
walked up town. After booking our names
and reading some letters and having look at
the papers, we proceeded to our appointments,
where we found the baggage awaiting us.
The cost of g checking which in my case
amounted to fifty cents Cor Is. for three
pieces-was afterward included in the hotel
bill
Two days later left for the West by the
limited express of the Pennsylvania Central
Railroad. My ticket, which [ had secured
the day before at one of the railway offices in
Broadway, not far from the hotel, cost 800 to
Chicago, with $40 extra for the use of sleep
ing and dining cars and my baggage, it need
scarcely be said, was checked from hotel in
New York to Chicago, and charged for in the
bill as usual. The distance by this road is
Will nj, in
twenty-five hours and thirty minutes, and the
cost was less than for corresponding distance
at home. But in the manner of travelling the
difference is overwhelming in favor of
America The car by which I journeyed was
built of mahogany, inlaid with graceful
decorations, and furnished in the most
sumptuous manner. Heated by concealed
steam-pipes, comfortable temperature was
maintained night and day, and, although snow
streaked the Alleghanies, and smaller streams
were covered with ice. nobody among the
passengers seemed to think rugs, &C., a
necessary portion of their travelling impedi-
ments. Our hideous lead foot-warmers were
CONSPICUOUS by their absence. At either end
of the car were capacious lavatories and rela-
tive convenences-one for ladies, the other
for gentlemen, equipped with soap, clean
towels brushes combs, &C., and filter with
fresh drinking water. From the time of
leaving New York till arrival at Chicago, no
passenger need leave the cars. Attached to
the sleeping car is dining car, equally
sumptuously fitted and also a smoking car,
both of which are especially reserved for
those who pay the extra $40, and which,
therefore, in reality constitute frst-class &C.
commodation. In the dining car, at 81 each,
one can have three meals daily, from bill of
fare that erred only in its profuse abundance
and variety Of well-cooked food. The use of
stimulants seems to be falling into discredit
among the better class of Americans, for
neither on this occasion nor afterwards did
any wine, beer, or spirits appear on the tables,
nor did I ever hear them asked for. After
wards, those who felt disposed that way re-
tired to the smoking car; but the sleeping
car contained small, neatly fitted up cabinet,
where such as sought private conversation
over cigar might resort.
In short, the new first class American cars
exceeded by far in elegance convenience, and
comfort the rare Pullmans seen on this line,
and I venture to say no European monarch
travels by rail SO sumptuously as urrepubli-
can cousins.
AT dawn saw from my comfortable bed,
in which everything was scrupulously fresh
and clean, that we were gliding, with scarce
any vibration, over the prairies of Illinois;
and on nearing Chicago checked my bag
gage to the Grand Pacific, whittier was car
ried by one of the hotel omnibusses and
where found it shortly afterwards. Suisse
quently, in travelling through the States of
Illinois, Iowa, and Minnesota, for consider