The Saint Paul globe., 1897-06-06

presenting this idea to the railroad men of
the country. He believes that the plan Is not
only feasible, but that there is no question
OF its being carried out. There is, he says,
nothing which the railroads of the United
States cannot accomplish II they so desire.
President McKinley's train, Mr.. Phillips be-
lieyes, will be surprise to even build
ers and furnishers. The number Of cars has
not been definitely decided as yet.
1t is suggested that two cars Of the twin
variety would be amply sufficient for the train
as the half Of the second car could be devoted
to purposes of baggage etc.
Thomas Anderson, M. G. b.. Of the Pitts
9urg q Western railway, has prepared
oeslgn Tor one car Of the train, to be used by
tne president He dominates Il the presiden-
tlai car His plan calls for a car So feet 6
lnches long, and feet s inches wide. In
one end are the heater, range, sink and all
tnat goes with the Kitchen together with a
refrigerator, etc. In the same portion of the
car Is the section where the cook porter, etc.,
would lodge. A small baggage room fanked
oy the toilet room on side and locker
on the other come next The succeeding
space is occupied by private room extending
almost the entire width OF the car, narrow
aisle on one side Just permitting the massage
of person. Next to this room at one side is
spacious wardrobe and locker, these adjoin-
Ing buffet which occupies q portion of one
enc OF large dining room. A private room
comes next, and joining that is the bath room
and another private room. The remainder of
the car Is taken up by the observation room.
This is one OF the most elaborate designs of
all those submitted.
The project for the presidents train calls
to mind the remarkable advance which has
been made in the comforts of rairoading the
last IS or 40 years. Up to 1860 only a few
private cars had been built, and they were
structures costing little IL any more than
the ordinary passenger car of that period
In the early sixties a man who had charge
of 300 miles Of railroad considered one
OF the foremost men Of his business. The
change from then to now, from no private
cars at all to q private car for almost every
W
car shops alone have turned out 100 private
cars during the last 10 years.
One of the fine private cars in existence
today is that constructed for the president
OF the Philadelphia Reading railroad. The
bottom OF the car consists of 4xS inch sills,
laid solidly side by side for the entire width
OF the car and securely fastened together.
Over this foundation heavy canvas is stretch
ed and upon this canvas O. board flooring
Is laid and nailed to the substructure or sill
timbers. Tails makes the bottom of the car
6 inches thick Of solid timber. Such a car
foundation could not be broken even in a
collision where the car was moving at q.
speed Of 80 miles an hour The decoration OF
the car Is in the empire style. The ceilings
are in artistically co1ored relief work.
The windows Of the car are unusually
large, the observation end being composed
Of one pane Of plate glass and glass door.
The windows are in gothic style, the upper
parts being OF loaded glass. The car contains
800 feet of glass Of all kinds, 100 square feet .
of 1t being thirty-three mirrors. The roof Of
the room is dome shape and the deck sash
throughout the car is supplied with dark
cathedral glass with fancy metal grills. The
car is perfectly equipped electrically for calls
and for lighting. Two hundred drawings,
exclusive Of sketches Of details, were made
for this one car.
The car in which President Mckinley rode
from Canton to Washington is that of ]. F.
Miller, general superintendent of the Western
division of the Pennsylvania railroad 1t
is believed to be the most solidly built car
in the world and is regarded as collision proof.
The walls Of seasoned white oak are planked
solid and without the usual studding. The
could roll down f1fty-foot embankment
and arrive at the bottom safe and sound. In
the event of such emergency, the occupants
of the car would not suffer greatly, the
sides and ceilings are heavily upholstered.
In a collision the other cars might be smashed
into splinters but this one would be unin-
jured.
With all that has been done to render
these railroad palaces safe, commodious and
comfortable, it would seem as if the COM
bined railroad talent of the country would
create for, President Mckinley a train that
would make the whole world marvel.