Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1896-06-12
DEpEw,s PRIVATE CAR
No FrilIs Outside and No End of Com
fort II, the Interior.


that the railroad magnate lives in
comfort and elegance while on the
road Something like so, 900 was
expended in making this palace on
wheels one of the best specimens of
the car builders art possible. Mr.
Depew takes his annual tours over
the railroad systems Of the country
in this car, and recently he Travelled
about 10000 miles, going twice
across the continent, and when the
car was turned over to the Inspectors
at the end of theaourney for an over
hauling not nut or screw was found
loose or out of order, and all that
was necessary to prepare the car for
another journey was to sweep and
dust it.
Mr.. Depew is not a great lover of
glitter and tinsel, and hence the ex-
terror of his car is not particularly
attractive. When he travels he
doesn't care to have the people of
wayslde stations where he may
chance TO stop hocking about and
staring in at the windows to see
what great man has come to town,
and so the exterior of the car pre-
sents about the same appearance as
other palace cars of the Wagner COM
pany, One has to explore the in
terror to find luxury, comfort and
elegance.
The car is "a feet long, and is fit
ted witch Westinghouse air brakes, a
whistle signal service to the engi-
neer, steam heat, and an instrument
which records the speed of the car.
The Indicator has often registered IS
miles an hour
At the rear of the car is the OBJ
servatory section. 1t is a small
room, luxuriously upholstered and
furnished with easy chairs done in
heavy plush. Large windows on the
sides and rear give complete view
of the passing scenery. Next in
order come the staterooms. These,
in reality, are bedrooms, they are So
large and commodious. They are
three in number, and contain full
sized beds. Mr.. Depew never sleeps
in berth when travelling, and the
room he occupies would almost swal-
low two Of the cubby holes called
rooms in some New York fats. Each
room is supplied with hot and cold
water and electric call bells. The
draperies and decorations are fit for
q Fifth avenue house.
A narrow hallway runs along the
front of these bedrooms and leads to
the main saloon. This is also the
dining-room. 1t is about Is feet
long and the width of the car The
woodwork is solid mahogany through
out. An immense French plate pier
glass at the end of the saloon gives
the compartment the appearance of
being much larger than it really is.
The windows are double to keep
out the dust. In one corner, by the
great mirror, is secretary, supplied
with stationery and telegraph blanks,
and above it is a compartment for
books. This holds railroad manuals,
reports of the interstate commerce
and the state railroad commits
sions, and other books of that char
acter for the convenience of Mr..
Depew. The windows are hung with
heavy silk curtains, and the easy
chairs are Of plush and velvet
Around the center table from four
to six persons may dine in comfort.
Next to the main saloon is small
section room with berths for use in
emergencies, and then comes the
porters room, which is as well fur
nished almost as stateroom in the
average sleeping car. Beyond are
the kitchen and pantry, where Mr..
Depew's own cook prepares all his
meals while travelling. The kitchen
is supplied with all the appurten-
ances necessary to a model kitchen.
Mr.. Depew's porter is William
Patterson, colored man who has
been in the employ of the Wander
bits and Mr.. Depew for nearly 30
years. He has the absolute con-
fdence Of these railroad magnates,
and they never journey anywhere
without taking him with them.
When not on the road Patterson
holds himself iii readiness for call
at any time. His fellow porters de-
clare he has the best job in the gift
of the New York Central. Patter-
son points proudly to the five gold
stripes on his sleeve which denote
his length of service in the employ
of the New York Central railroad.
Another stripe will be added next
November, when he will have COM
pleted 30 years continuous service.