The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1893-10-11
SLEEPING CARS.
SHEY WE'RE EVOLVED FROM A
PRIMITIVE START.
Wagner and Pullman Conceived the
Same Idea Almost Coincidental-
~ In 1867 Furnishings and
Seryicc-Pr'vntc Cars

agent of the New York n Hud.
ron River, says q writer in the Indian.
apolis News. He took MI ordinary
coach and put the berths in tiers.
There were three tiers, the upper
berths being made of slate, and during
the day these slats, with the mattresses.
were taken out and piled in the
end OF the cars. 1t cost about SIP. 900
TO arrange these cars, and in 1858 four
of them were in use. The public at
first fought shy of the nov tangled"
affairs, and ii was two years before the
patronage was sufficient to Justify fur
ther improvements. The berths were
finally changed So they were hung
from above with iron rods aud not in
frequently when the train was turning
sharp curves were the passengers
thrown out or had their elbows and
heads bruised by the swaying of the
cars. AS the years advanced travellers
began to take p liking to sleeping cars
and the patronage was SO great that
vGrious improvements were made until
the palaces of to-day were tharSesnn.
Wagner was killed G-fsrv Years ago in
e collision. When he died he was a
multi-millionaire. The same wear. and
about the Same time that Wagner in
vented his sleoping car, George NJ.
Pullman was taking n trip over tho
Chicago & Alton. AMI the idea Of car
on which passengers could sleep struck
him. He got two passenger coaches
md constructed "slccpers' similar to
the one made by Wagner. One of
these was the Pioneer, now retired
from service on its honors.
From these beginnings sprang the
two great palace car companies,
probably the most powerful monopolies
IN the railroad world The Wagner
operates 2100 cars on 1000 miles Of
road and thirty companies. The Pull
man operates 2600 cars on 100, 900
miles of railroad. Thera were also
two smaller companies begun years
ago, the Woodruff and the Mann. The
former was merged into the Pullman
company in 1891 and the Mann is almost
out Of existence So great has been
the advance in car construction that |
with all the gorgeousness and luxury
uf the palace car of to day they cost
little more than the plain, crude cars
Of years ago. Itrequired one year TO
build the Pioneer of cost of SlS, 900.
Now a car is turned out in two months
nj AT expense of about sI9, 900 or S2l,
900.
" wns only a step from n sleeping to
parlor car, but il was years before II
hotel or buffet car was turned out.
Pullman built the first in 1876 All
the Pullman sleepers are now buffets
and few of them are hotel cars. where
freshly cooked meats are served. The
dining cars supplanted the hotel cars.
Observation and combination cars are
only few years old. The furnish
ings of an average sleeper, which has
sixteen compartments for thirty-twu
passengers, for an ordinary run of
day and night and return are 100
sheets, 100 hand towels, 100 pillow
slips, twelve cakes Of soap, six boxes of
matches, two brooms, six whisk
Drooms, four combs and SIX brushes.
The cars have, in addition to their
other equipments, hammer monkey
wrench, hatchet saw and crowbars,
iron and wooden buckets, feather
busters, telegraph blanks, and on some
Bibles and other books
The conductors average from S75 10
400 o month, according to ability and
length Of gervice. The porters are paid
from S25 to S75 month but they buy
their own uniforms and wear overcoats
furnished by the company. The con.
Cuctor is required to give n bond of
$500; the porter is not required TO give
any. On a run exceeding what is known
nc n short or twelve hour trip either
the conductor or porter must be awake
md get out at every regular etop,
ready to receive passengers. On short
runs neither is allowed TO sleep. Por.
ters in private cars get S75 month.
Private cara carry three men cook,
pantryman and waiter. A sleeper usu-
nlly carries two, but on short runs
there is porter in each car. while n
conductor is in charge of two or more
cars in the train. The dining cars
carry first, second and third cook al
80, four to six walters nj $50 q month
md a conductor at &IOO month, who
also acts as cashier
There is much rivalry md at the
same time much difference in the Sc