Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-11-20
ENGLISH AND AMERICAN CARS.
An English Demand for the Conve.
nfences of the American System.

From the London Telegraph
The suggestion that the railway carriages Of
the future should all be built on the American
principle, Of which the Pullman cars, az used
in England. are an elegant and luxurious type,
Is not by any means q novel one; but its adj
vocacy is invariably met by the almost unan-
swerable argument, first. that the construction
OF cars on the transatlantic plan would involve
the abandonment Of rolling stock worth many
millions sterling, and next by the less tenable
argument that the English travelling community
demand certain privacy which would be de-
stroyed were passengers herded together in
long cars with an aisle running at right an
giles to the lines Of seats from one end Of the
train to the other. These objections have
been met by the reminder that the existing
rolling stock might be gradually and not vio-
lently superseded by American cars, whereas,
as matter OF fact the companies are build
ing new carriages every month on the old
and uncomfortable principle. Again, it may
be pointed out. in so far the vexed question
OF privacy is affected, that no such right Of Sc
gregation Is recognized either in the vessels
which cross the channel or on board the great
ocean steamers. Why should squeamish trav-
elers claim in a railway train that privacy
which is not conceded TO them on board ship,
and which they cannot even have in Pullman
car, to which. in England at least. no ''bou-
doir" is attached? This demand for privacy
VIC suopcCt Is VI d nature,
and springs from the fact that the short
sighted builders of the earliest railway trains
constructed their carriages ON the principle of
SO many mail coaches stuck together one be-
hind the other. We hold that it would be
practically impossible to give that lavatory ac-
commodation which the poorest well as
the richest passengers are entitled to demand
II We continue to construct trains on the pres
ent principle of rabbit-hutch compartments.
II American cars for all classes are to
be denied us, let there be a greater num-
Der OF saloon carriages for all classes
and all provided with the requisite accessories
to comfort. The fastidious requirements Of
those who sickle for privacy in railway jour-
neys might be met by the provision of a re-
stricted number Of compartments on the old
rabbit-hutch system, but with lavatories at
tached; and for the privilege of occupying
should be made to pay an additional sum. just
as they pay additionally for a deck-cabin on
board the Channel steamer. Touching the
rates OF payment on the Paris and London
route, it is curious fact that the ordinary
stagecoach. sailing packet, and diligence tariff,
at the beginning of this century, although
more than three days we're consumed in the
journey, was only about 81 more than the
present fare from Charing Cross to the Care
du Nord, in Paris. For "a in the year 1903.
passengers were conveyed from the George and
Blue Boar, Holborn, across the channel. and SO to
the Notre Dame des VICTORIES, and Paris
coaches" set out every morning. not only from
Holborn, but from the White Bear, Piccadilly,
and from the Golden Cross, Charing Cross.
Naturally there were other ways of reaching
the gay city. The exclusive classes could ride
in their own travelling carriages or hire post
chaises from London to Dover, at which sea-
port an entire packet could be hired for ELS
for the voyage to Calais and thence the wealthy
traveller who disdained the diligence might en-
gage place in the male poste' or the "esta-
fnff n-r To- fl,n .,@,
time to eat, plenty of time to drink, to wash,
and shave. and spruce oneself up, but there
was nothing worthy of the name of speed
The present generation demands speed in trav-
cling, and will have it. coute que coute, but
the great problem to solve is how to combine
acceleration of locomotion with the comforts
imperatively demanded by civilization and by
the laws of health.