The farmers' union. (Memphis, Mo.) 1891-1895, 1892-11-10
BUILDING A PASSENGER CAR.
Detailed Description of How the Work
Is Accom- ,liS she'd.

c H.
Detailed Description of How the Work
Is Accomplished.
Thirty-five thousand passenger cars
are now in use on the l7J, 900 miles of
railroad in the United States and Ter
rituricS. and these cars have cost over
two hundred million dollars. \ pas
sengcr car cost, So, GOO to $4,000. An
outline Of the manner in which such
cars are built cannot but bc OF iu-
tcrc>t, as this class of car cunstruc-
ton constitutes an important in
du>try here. When an order is re-
ccived for Il given number of cars it
is accompanied hy carefully prepared
drawings of every detail! and by spc:i-
tications which even enumcratc the
quantity and quality of screws, nails,
bolts, castings. trimmings, etc,
which are to be used. Those I'M
familiar with this class of work
would bc a>tpni>hcd at the elaborate
nature of the drawings, many of
them of full size. with all dimensions
marked Oh them so that no mistake,
may occur. The Specifications aim
to contain Il clci statement of all
the materials to lc used. their guam
titv, quality and sizes; and tn" man
Her in which they are to bc treated
and built into the proposed cars, Is
also very carefully described: even the
laint and varni>hcs are specified. as
well as the number of coats of each,
ana the length Of time each coat is
to he given to dry. Thus il will lie
seen that Il car is first carefully con-
Struct"d in the mind # the de-
signcr and all details put upon
paper. which serve as a guide to those
having the construction in hand.
When an order for cars is placed,
bills of the materials required are
made in each department and pat
terms for the iron and wood work ar,.
malc. to guide the forcmcn in laying
out their portions OF the work. AS
speedily as possible departments are
furnished with the raw or finished
| materials called for on their bills
of materials with which to make their
portions Of the ear. As an iilu>tra-
ton. the woCd machine shop gets out
from the rough lumber the exact
number of pieces Of wool of every
kind and form called for. aud the
blacksmith shop gets cut the forg-
in-S required, the bolt department
makes the exact numlcy of bolts OF
variuu, kinds needed. and the trass
foundry fills its order for the ncHes-
sary trimmings. which trimmings.
when s. specified, are taken in
hand by the electro plating de-
partmcnt and plated with nickel.
silver or gold, as called for. The
glass department cuts the glass,
etrhns it. and silyers it when re-
uuircd. and makes and furnishes all
the mirrors. When everything is
ready the prepared materials are de-
livcred as needed at the compart-
ments where the ears are to be erect
ed. First, the bottom materials,
such as silis, t,ccr-joi>t>, flooring.
draft-timtcrS. an! tranSomS arrive
and are taken in hand by the bottom
builders. At the completion Of the
work of the hottom- builders, it is
turned over 10 the hody-huiiderS. who
put up the frame work ana complete
the body Of the car, their work
consisting of applying posts, brac-
ing. filling. belt raj ing. ranc.ing. car
lining. etc. The car is now taken by
the roofers, who apply he roof-baar;lS,
holdings. etc. and then the timers
put on the metal covering. After
Il careful inspection the car is taken
!y the outside painters. and is entered
at the same time by the inside finish
c~S. who put in and finish the nice
inside woodwork, which is of the bcSt
kinds of lumber. such as cak. ash.
cherry. mahogany, or vcrmilioa.
The piping for heating and for light
ing is set in before the seats are
paced in position. The inside finish,
too. conccalS the electric wires which
nay b. called for in the spccifica-
tion'. Cars are lighted by OIL. gas or
electricity. If by gas. it is carried in
condensed form in tanks underneath h
the car. ana is conducted to lamps hy
s;.itablc piping. Electric lights are
derived from storage batteries, and
from dynamos run in a baggage car,
by steam from the engine.
When the inside wool work is all
in place. and some of this finish COM
priScs exquisite carving. the inside
painters so over the entire interior
wood work. making the car ready for
the trim mcrs. who place the bronze or
plated trimmings upon doors. sash.
blinds. and walls. The upllolstering,
drapcrics. scat-covcrings, carpets.
ct,'.. which have all been previously
prep red, are now put in. and when
the finishing touches are added by
the equipment department. the car is
; ready for delivery to its purchaser. to
| whom i: is sometimes sent by special
! messenger. Parties for whom car;
| are building generally keep an in
)c t, r at the shops to $ that all
work ana materials are in accordance
with pans and specifications. All
work in the construction department
! is carefully subdividcd, many differ
cnt gangs of men having their allot-
ted tasks, which they perform with
surprising quicknesS and dcXtcrity.
Mo>tof this passenger car work is paid
for by piece wages. These car works
have the capacity for turnin. out
| twelve new passenger cars week
Pullman Journal.
WHAT SWALLOWED JONAH?
Perhaps 1t Was "a White Shark Instead of a
Whale.
4