New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-03-08

moved BY the engine. 600 passensefs can be car
ned In an English train and only $50 by this
American train" 1T IL more economical to
crowd the 600 into compartments than to multi
ply the number Of comfortable American car
riages?' Yes: and the shorter train can be op-
Grated easily. whereas the long train would block
the line and put the schedule out Of gear"
NEW AND OLD TYPES
Apparently there economic motives behind
the inertia Of the railways in resisting the intro
duction OF rational methods of reconstruction OF
rolling stock. The stase-coach type Of carriage
IS the cheapest in practical operation. More pas
sengers can be carried with the same weight OF
equipment In box-p than in long cars and
consequently they are packed into compartments
as closely as possible that the engine can have
a normal weight behind 1t and the schedule
not be disturbed and the line blocked. CLASSIFIED
boxes are more economical than classified cars,
and privacy and isolation are privileges only to
be secured by lavish tips to statjon-masters and
guards.
1t is true that the English public has become
more or less habi.uated to dining-ca and draw
ing-room cars over lons-distance routes The
Great Northern Railway has comfortable sys-
ten Of Pullman for the Scotch express
trains. with drawing -roon and sleeping coaches
and first and third-class dining-cars. 1t is a
service inferior to that of the best American rail-
ways. such as the Pennsylvania and the New
York Central. but 1t is fairly good and the time
% the express trains is very fast. Both the
Northwestern and the Midland railways have a
service of corridor vestibuled trains between
London and Scotland. which corr esponds closely
to American limited trains. Meals cost about
hot how do Iiv,fv chi
lngs for a table d'h6te dinner with coffee but
the menu is severely simple and plain in COM
parison with that provided on trains like the
Congressional Limited. between New-York and
Washington. Sleeping and drawing room
riages II English pattern are also operated on
the Scotch express trains of these two lines. the
Irish mail train and the special trains be-
tween London and Liverpool The Southwestern
has steamship trains Of connected compartment
cars between London and Southampton. and
drawing room cars running 10 Bournemouth The
Great Western and the Brighton railways have
lar dson,e corridor and drawing room cars and
few Of the other English railways. notably the
Great Eastern. haze introduced long smoking
cars and drawing groom cars. These are the
G approaches to luxurious railway travel In
England and Scotland.
The bulk of the rong-stock all the rail-
ways is made up Of compartment-cars. with
out essential variations from the original type.
Sometimes the barriers between sections
partial, the partition not rising to the roof OF
the car Sometimes the compartments con-
nected by doors. In the corridor-Car there Is
or side a narrow alley into which the
partments open by sliding doors; and lavatories
frequently connected with first and second
class carriages. and cars are sometimes linked
together by vestibules in through trains for
long distances These notifications are the
main concessions which the railway companies
have made in response to the public require
ment for additional comfort and luxury; and
these have been introduced small scale
and with great reluctance. The stage-coach
type is considered good enough for the
Of the travelling public There will be room
for six passengers in first-class compartment:
for eight in second class. and for ten in third
class and the width Of the seat and quality
of the upholstering will depend upon the price
paid for the ticket. The compartment will
be heated in winter. The doors will be closed
with a nerve-racking bang whenever the guard
is moved by curiosity to inspect the tickets. 1t
was the method OF travel which was considered
comfortable and safe half century ago. and
II has not been changed In conservative Eng
land. Probably IL will not be altered In another
half-century. unless murders and Matchmaking
cases become more common than at present
There have only been three startling incidents
what are these when railway travellers in Eng
land may be numbered by the millions,
Moreover. there is the cord communicating
with the guard. I never enter English com
partment without reading with a feeling OF
awe the printed instructions for finding and
using the cord. 1t generally runs in this fash
ion: ITO call the attention Of the guard and
driver. passengers must pull down the cord
which will be found outside the carriages close
10 the cornce, the window OF the carriage
door There are cords both sides Of the
train. but that or the right-hand side. in the
direction in which the train is travelling. is the
one by which alone the communication can be
made. Passengers are earnestly requested
themselves TO protect the communication from
improper and mischievous use as il is very
important that 1t should not be used without
real and urgent necessity" Then follows a
citation Of an act Of Parliament imposing fine
Of 81 for improper use Of the cord. So deep is
the respect for law in this most conservative or
countries that victims of sudden attack APP
parently prefer to surrender at discretion rather
than to incur the risk Of being fined IL.
Or II they escape the assaants clutches, as
two of them have done recently. they crawl out
on the footboard, but do not venture TO pull
the cord close to the cornice. J. y. +.
ESCAPED FROM MEXICAN PRISON.
City Of Mexico. March 7-Harod A. Elmer. who