Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1897-08-26
A VALUABLE CONTRACT.

The Jacksnn Is Sharp Co. tn Build Five
Sleeping Cars for the Argentine Great
Western Railway co. of South America.
The jackson & Sharp Co. has received
a contract from the Argentine Great
Western Railway Co., Limited, of South
America, for the construction OF i've
fret class sleeping cRrs, and it is alto.
gether likely that they will also receive
a contract to build six day coaches for
the same company. The jackson &
Sharp Co. has nude quite reputation
ON work done for South American rail
roads, which will undoubtedly be OF
great advantage to them. Some time
ago number of cars were huilt for the
government Of the Argentine Republic.
Subsequently the Great Western Co.
purchased ono Of the cars and the man
agement was 50 well pleased that they
decided 10 senda representative to viii
mington to negotiate for the construc.
ton of other cars.
On July 2Sth John ID. Smelt, one OF
the company engineers, came to this
city and from that time until to-day
was engaged at the office Of the jackson
& Sharp Co. in experimenting the
drawing of plans for the proposed cars.
Tbs cars which tho jackson & Sharp
Co. is to build arc to be constructed
partly on the Pullman system and
partly on the Mann system. They
will be built after the most modern de.
aign and will be fitted with the latest
improvement and conveniences. They
will be 81 feet long and 10 feet inches
wide and will be arranged for ? foot
6 inch gauge.
In accordance with Mr.. S'melt's ideas,
each of the coaches will have dnmni
roofs, instead of raised roofs, which he
believes will batter protect the passen-
gers from dust and rain. The outside
will be constructed OF moudmien teak,
which will be yarniEhed on the exterior
The interior hnish will he principally
of oak, relieved by black walnut carv-
ings and holdings. Inside the cars
will be handsomely finished, to CORE.
spond with the exterior. There will he
heavy mirrors and tho seats will be up
holetered in buffalo hide of dust color.
Tine builders will commence on the
work at once and will finish the con.
tract as soon as possible.
Mr.. Smelt stated that the company
proposed to have six day coaches built,
in addition 10 the sleeping cars above
described, and the contract for the day
coaches will be given out shortly after
his return to the office in London. The
company is very well pleased with the
work Of the Wilmington firm, and il
satisfied that no better cars can hl
built anywhere than in the Unitet
States.
During Mr.. Smells stay in this coun
try he also gave to the Maryland Stee
Co. contract for some rails for thu
railway. lie passed some of his leisur
time in touring about the country and
taking observations OF how rairoadins
and business generally is carried on il
the United States. He visited Pitts
burg, Chicago, Altoona and othe
places OF intGrsat. While in this cit
J he was shown about the local shipyard
ami manufacturing plants and was wei
pleased with the way business is con
Quoted in tho great plants hero. ii
expects TO return in the fall, when h
will resume the supervision of the wor
which IS being done in this country fo
his company.
The Argentine Great Western rail
j way. which ia one of the most import
q ant railroads in South America, Ia -
Q miles in length. liz forms connectin
4 link between Buenos Ayres, ON tn
o eastern coast, and Valparaiso, on III
, Pacific Ocean, crossing the Andt
!. mountains. 1t extends from Villa Me-
:. uedes to Mendoza, and north to Sa
=. Juan. The company operating Lin
d through the most important section
n Of the Argentine Republic, has take
b great pride in keeping up the standar
l. of the service, which it ia said is ver
n similar to that of some of the grea
railroads in this country.