Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1897-11-04

in both the Old and New Worlds rs
that Of man who reduced greatly the
wcariness and discomfort Of raihoad
travelling. He was not the inventor
of the sleeping car, but the improve
ments in its structure originated by
him and the large number of cars made
by the Pullman Company have given
him the first place in the records ot
the invention.
Starting in life without capital, but
with an observing mind, quick apprc-
ciation of things, some inventive Sc
MUS and indehtigsble perseverance lie
became one of the very rich meu OF the
country. At seventeen he was a cab
inet-maker's helper The extent of
his fortune it is impossible TO estimate,
but as far back as fifteen years ago hc
was believed to- have accumulated from
$l5,0OO.0O0 to $20,000,000 He was
said 10 be worth between 100000
and $50,O00000 in 1897.
Mr.. Pullman was born in Brockton,
Chautauqus county, \. Y, March B.
1881. His parents were poor, and his
! education was limited 10 what he could
learn of the rudlmentary branches IN
the district school At the age ot
fourteen he went to work as clerk for
country merchant. He kept this
place three years, studying at night.
When seventeen he went to Albion,
n. Y, and worked for his brother, who
kept a cabinet shop there.
Five years later he went into bnsl-
ness for himself as contractor for
moving buildings along the line of the
Erie canal, which was then being WI
dened by the State. He was success
full in this, bis inventive mind apply
ing TO the work mechanical princl les
never before used ir that way.
While living at Albion he became
acquainted with Ben Field, then u
State Senator, who was interested IN
legislation concerning sleeping ear
fares, and the Woodruff Sleeping Car
Company, in acknowledgement OF h's
interest in It's behalf had gwen him
the right to run sleepers on several
Western roads. Mr.. Pullman heardn
great deal from his friend Field about
the new car used for night service, aud
he used TO tell with relish the story OF
his Grst experience in a sleeper He
was making a journey Of sixty miles,
and hearing that night car was on
the train he paid fifty cents for berth
in it, although he did not expect to use
It. He wanted TO see how the car
looked. 1t had one bed near the floor,
anoiherswo Or three feet above 1t and
and third rising above the second.
They were mere bnnks, but were the
best sleeping accommodations provided
on cars at that time.
In 1859 Mrs. Mattison, Of Chicago,
whose husband WAS proprietor OF the
Mattison Hotel there, was visiting IN
Albion with her daughters, and in
making social visits young Pullman
learned Of the project then being agl-
tated in Chicago to raise the entire city
eight feet, so as to enable the building
OF sewerage system. The gigantic
feat Of raising a city interested him 70
much that he finally decided TO 80
West and see what the outlook was.
Visiting Chicago and making close
examination of the field. be was finally
led 10 offer bis services to raise the
Mattison House one of the finest blocks
in the city. He undertook the work
and raised the hotel with the sidewalk,
doing it in such way that business
was not suspended nor the street
blocked 10 any way. The feat At that
time was 30 notable that 1t was won.
der Of the city, and before Nh Pull
man had finished the work Of raising
city blocks the 5000 or So. 600 he had
brought with him from Albion had
more than trebled.
His old friend, Senator Field, still
held concession for the use Of sleep
ing cars, aud sold half interest in IT
to Mr.. Pullman for $500. Soon the
latter bought two old day coaches from
the Chicago aud Alton Road and re-
modelled them on something like the
general plan Of the sleeping cars Of the
present day. They were put into SER
ice on the Chicago and Alton and be-
came popular at once. Mr.. Pullman
saw the possibilities Of the business.
bat be had great difficulty IN inducing
capitalists to join him. His proposi-
tiOns were laughed at.
He persevered, and in 1863 built
the first sleeping car closely resem-
bling the Pullman cars Of today. 1t
costs $lS,O 900, and was the Pioneer.
n.