The islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1891-1899, 1894-09-06
GEORGE NJ. PULLMAN.

move many buildings back from the edge
of the artificial waterway in order that
the necessary additional excavations could
be made.
When young Pullman had finished NOV
ing buildings along the canal, he had
capital of $1,000 or $4,000. A Chicago
lady, who was visiting in Albion told him
that the street level Of the big western
city was about to be raised, and that there
had been a good deal Of trouble expert
enced in lifting the heavy buildings. This
was late in the fifties, and Pullman be-
took himself at once to Chicago.
His success there was great, but in
1860, the work of elevation having been
practically accomplished, he sighed for
new fields. When the civil war broke out,
business prospects looked bad, and hear
ing that gold had been discovered at
Pixies peak he went thither, where he
remained till some time in 1854 Then he
returned to Chicago and set about build
ing his first sleeping car. He was seized
with the notion that some time he would
do this one night, which he passed in one
of the old Woodruff sleeping cars, just be-
fore he left Albion. The bunk in which
ne lay was so uncomfortable that he did
not sleep at all, but his active mind de-
vised plan for sleeping car which he
now set about putting into concrete form.
This car was built in a shed belonging
to the Chicago and Alton Railway COM
pany. Pullman personally supervised its
construction, and before it was finished
had expended $4,000 upon it. 1t was
wider and higher than other cars, and
railroad managers laughed at his expecta-
lions that 1t could be successfully run.
There was no way, they said, by which it
could be passed over their roads but by
moving back the platforms Of the stations
and raising the bridges. The car had not
been finished long when President Lincoln
was assassinated, and it was proposed that
it be used in the funeral train from Chi
cago to Springfield. The managers of the
Alton road, who had more faith in the
new car than had most other railroad
managers, made the necessary changes in
their bridges and platforms, and it was
run over the line. 1t was afterward put
on regularly and found to be drawing
card. Orders for more cars came in quite
as rapidly as Pullman wanted to build
them, and in 1867 the business had grown
20 that it was found necessary to organize
a stock company.
The growth Of the Pullman company
has been constant and rapid ever since. Its
capitalization, some of it water, is now
$50, 900, 900. 1t was not until 1876 that
the $500 acres Of land on which the town
Of Pullman was built a year or two later
was purchased. When everything was
ready. the erection of the town proceeded
rapidly, immense factories, beautiful
dwellings, churches and other public
buildings rising as If summoned by the
wand of an eastern magician from the
fat, half bog prairie Inside of 10 months
after the ground was broken there were
not only handsome and substantial build
ings, but broad, well paved streets, per-
feet sewer system, waterworks and gas
pipes, and in this city those employed by
the Pullman company were expected to
reside. No one could buy home, however,
and all must observe the Pullman rules.
These things no doubt contributed to the
dissatisfaction, which became serious when