Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-03-09
THE PRIvATE.CAR MYTH.
Popular Ficsi0ns About Palace ROnses
On Wheels Exploded.

great many picturesque flctions says a writer
In the Chicago Herald have been printed about
prominent men and women, but none so often as
that this old moneybags OF that charming fairy OF
the footlights travels about this big and glorious
country In gorgeous private palace cars OF their
own. The private palace car is a myth. There
are not q half dozen private palace cars In this
country. The handsomest OF this number is owned
BY Mrs. Langtry, the actress 1t cost between
$4,000 and $4,000. When she arrives at some
small town which has not got hotel accommoda-
tons she remains in 1t all the time The car is
run ONO siding and stands there until its owner
wishes 10 proceed on her journey. very fine car
is owned by Mr.. Flagler, VI the Standard OH Co.
Another Is owned by young man connected with
the iron trade, who recently came into large for
tune and has had private car built for
himself He Is now viewing the country
from this car. Mr. Flagler's car, according 10
his own statement, Is not 80 very GORGEOUS. II
probably cost $4,000 and Is only plainly deco
rated. IL Is very comfortable, and Is much TO lie
preferred TO travelling In the regular seepers and
Parlor cars At one end OF the car Is the kitchen.
That is always placed at the end opposite from the
direction in which the car is travelling Next 10
the kitchen is the paror, used as a dining room
rooms and berths. Some time ago the Missouri
Pacific Railroad built some handsome cars and
one OF them they placed at the disposal or Jay
Gould, the president Of the road. The car belonged
TO the railroad company and not TO Mr.. Gould. he
did not buy IT, This car is very handsome. II is
sleeping and cooking. The Pennsylvan,a Raj,
road has six OF these cars lying In their yards
One Is at the disposal OF President Roberts one Is
for Vice President Edmund Smith, and the Others
are used by the other officials OF the railroad.
Robert Garrett travels about IN a luxuri-
GUS private car. II is beautifully decorated and
the arrangements for living, sleeping and eating
In the car very complete. IL Is built on The old
plan and Is just the same as the cars that are used
on trains going long Journeys, only little more
the property OF the Baltimore and ONO Railroad
Co.
his friends made a trip TO California recently Is
the property, not or Mr.. Corbin, tut OF the Long
Island Railroad Co with which he Is connecleI
MI. Pullman, OF Chicago, has very handsome car
which he uses when be travels. II Mr.. Pullman
should die however, that car would be found 70
belong to the Pullman Car co. and not TO Mr. Pull
man. The New York Central Railroad CO. have
some very fine cars which they place al the dis
posal OF their of11cials. They don't belong how
ever, TO Mr.. Vanderbilt or Mr.. Depew but TO the
railroad. The Wagner Car Co. recently built fre
one. II Is used by Mr.. Webb, the president OF the
road IL is not necessary for these men 10 own
their own cars. The railroad companies with
which they are Identified viii furnish them with
all they want. All the companies have cars which
they rent TO private parties for any length OF
time; and great many parties are now travelling
The rent Of such cars is $50 day IL hired oy the
week, or SIS day II taken Tor month, and $40
day II taken for longer period. With every car
there Is cook and q waiter. II six or eight per-
sons took a trip across the continent visiting
different cities, and travelling In the ordinary way
the cost would be nearly as much when hotel bilis
and fncfdentals are added IN as the cost or such
trip In private car. The writer figures out that
Q Two months trip OF this kind IN the ordinary
way would be q, 3O2. private car for two
months would cost 8. 800. They could stop where
they chose, having their own hotel with them. The
cost OF running private car on the railroad Is
the only expensive item. From New York 10 St |
Louis Il Is equivalent 70 eighteen nrst-class fares
and from there TO the West it would be twelve |
fares or an average OF Ieen fares for the through
Journey. II Il calculated that the two months !
trip In such q car would cost S4.JOO. II there 1
tom hat
less than II travelling In the usual manner. A
number OF prominent actors and actresses use pri-
vate cars. Clara Morris, MIA James Brown Potter
Edwin Booth, ModJeska and others travel thai way
Queen Victoria has private car very handsomely 4
upholstered In crimson and gold. and some OF the
English railroad onctaB have prlSale cars as /
they do In this country. The German government /
owns some cars for the use OF the imperial family
and the Russian imperial train Is q very hand /
some suite OF cars. Those who contemplate the /
OF private cars may have them con- |
structed at figures varying from SO 900 To 100000