The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-05-03
MIR. DEPEW'S PRIy4TE CAR,
No Frills Outside and No End or Com fort
and Eiegnncc In the Interior.

A glance into Chauncey NJ. Depew's pri
vate travelling car shows that the railroad
maGnatc lives In comfort and elegance Will,
on the road. Something like $40, 900 was ex
pended in making this palace on wheels on,
of the best specimens Of the car builders ar
possible. Mr.. Depew takes his annual tour.
over the railroad systems of the country in thi.
car, and recently he travelled about 10, OOC
miles, going twice across the continent. and
when the car was turned over to the inspector.
at.the end of the journey for an overhauling no,
n nut or screw was found loose or out of or
der, and all that was necessary to prepare the
car for another journey was to sweep and
dust 1t.
MIR. Depew is not a great lover of glitter
and tinsel. and hence the exterior of his car
is not particularly attractive. When he trav-
els he doesn't care to have the people of way
side stations where he may chance to stop
fiocking about and staring In at the windows
to see what great man has come to town. and so
the exterior of the car presents about the same
appearance as other palace cars of the Wagner
Company. One has to explore the interior to
find luxury, comfort, and elegance.
The car Is sevcnty-four feet long. and Is fit
ted with Westinghouse air brakes. a whistle
signal service to the engineer. steam heat. and
an instrument which records the speed of the
var nc lnulCdIOT HAS Often registered eighty
five miles an hour.
At the rear OF the car Is the observatory Sec
ton. 1t Is n small room, luXuriously uphol-
stored and furnished with easy chairs done in
heavy plush. Large windows on the sides and
rear give n complete view of the passing seen
cry. Next In order come the staterooms.
large and c"mmodious. They are three in num-
her. and contain full sized beds. Nj. nepew
the room he occupies would almost swallow two
Of the cubby holes called rooms in some New
s loTk cd flSts; Each room Is SUPPLIED With hot
draperics and decorations are fit for u 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. IL is about l5
feet long and the width Of the car. The wood
work is, solid mahogany throughout. An i'm
mense French plate pier glass at the end of the
saloon gives the compartment the a appearance
windows are double to keep out the dust. In
one 2orner. by the great mirror, is 4 secretary,
supplied with stationery and telegraph blanks,
and, above IT Is n compartment for books. This
holds railroad manuals. reports OF the Inter
State Commerce and the State Railroad Com,
the convenience of Mr.. Depew. The windows are
hung with heavy silk curtains. and the
tSsy ce enslrS .n are Of fro p!uss au ana "a s s around
dine In comfort.
Next to the main saloon is n small section
then comes the ~porter's room. which is as well
almost es n stateroom IN the aver.
age sleeping car, BeyOnu are the kitchen and
where Mr.. Depew's own cook prepares
all his meals while travelling. The kitchen IL
supplied with all the appurtenances neces-
sary to a model kitchen.
Mr.. Depew's porter Is William Patterson, n
colored man who has been in the employ Of the
and Mr.. DcDew for nearly thirty
years. He has the absolute. confidence OF
these railroad mngnates, and they never Jour
ney anywhere without taking him with them.
When not on the road Patterson holds him
self In readiness for n call at any time. His
fellow porters declare he has the best Job in
tho gift OF the New York Central. Patterson
points proudly to the Ave gold stripes on his
sleeve which denote his length of service in
the employ of the New York Central Rail-
road, Anuther stripe will DO added next No
vember. when he will have completed thirty
years continuous service.