The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-10-24

The great question with him was how
TO have an upper and lower berth tina.
would be comfortable. They were at
that time the merest malscshifts TO af-
ford IL nIGht's rest, Mr. Pullman de-
termtncd that the new car should be
the handsomest ever made. Heretofore
Il sleeping car had cost not more than
S+.OOO or $500. Looking she matter over
ana wondering how hc could arrange
tWO berthS That would be roomy, COM
Portable and convenient, he WAS per
picked as to the disposition Of the mat
trcsses. at that time all the mattresses
were put away In one section during
the day time. In fact, the early sleep
ing cars were simply used for night
cars and not run III the day time. Mr.
l'uiiman's idea was to have a car that
could he run on long trips either as n
day or night car. With this object in
View he started 10 build the pioneer -
He found the mattresses could not be
put OH the floor because of the dust and
discomfort. There was no place be-
tween the windows, and he finally said
- his car builder: "Why not hinge an
upper berth near the roof and put the
mattresses In it when the berth is
CEASED during the day timer" The
car builder replied at once that the car
was not high enough and that the space
would be too small. This was before
cars were built with raised decks or
roofs. Then" said Mr.. Pullman, why
not raise the carr" The outcome of
this conversation was n direction that
plans should be drawn FOR car as wide
and as high as would be necessary to
get In two berths. including one hinged
10 the upper side of the car The plan
was accurately drawn for n car one
foot wider and two and onc-halr feet
81 No. I,,
fore been built in this country.
or course the regulation railroad
officials laughed and sncered at The en-
terprisc, but the man whose brains and
courage had lifted Il large part of Chi
cago out OF the mud went on with his
work and produced "The Pioneer" the
ilrst Pullman palace car. a model OF
comfort, safety and lavish decoration,
ut n cost OF $4,000 and twelve months
of patient labor. 1t was an immediate
success. The assassination of Lincoln
occurring at this time, IT was suggested
that THE Pioneer" be used as the fu-
neral train, and it was run from
Springfield TO Chicago. on the Alton
road AS had been predicted when the
car was built, it was too wide 10 run
on the reads as then constructed. 1t
was necessary for the Alton road TO
send along its line and cut off the plat
forms that projected, and to make num-
crous changes at stations so that the
car. with its width of an additional
foot could pass. When General Grant
came home from the war 1.-THE Pioneer
was used TO carry him from Detroit to
Galena over the Michigan Central, and
the railroad was compelled to cut off
depot platforms and make other
changes in order that the car might
pass. From that day to this railroads
have been built for Pullman cars as a
feature.
OF Pullman Palace Car company,
now housed In u ma rn!iicent s., 900. 900
office building in Chicago little need be
said beyond quoting some tremendous
figures OF millions Up to 1867 Mr.
Pullman conducted his business alone,
but in that year organized Il company
with prominent railroad managers and
acute business men as stockholders. In
1867 the capital stock was $4,000, 900;
1881, 100000; 1883, more than Si3 600. :
600, and to-day more than $40. 000, goo.
The annual output OF manufactured
products from the Pullman car work