Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-10-27
THE FIRST SLEEPING CAR.
How Pullman Made q Fortune From
WOOdruff's Invention.

no" fulfman Made q Fortune From
WOOdruH's Invention. ..
Robert p Porter in New York Mail and Express.
The death of George NJ. Pullman recalls
an interesting story in relation to the in
ventor of the sleeping car, which Mr.. An
drew Carnegie tells. Some year ago.
when collaborating some statistical facts
ON the progress of the United States with
the famous Pennsylvania iron master, he
told me a most interesting story IN rela-
lion to his first financial speculation, and
the story was afterward Incorporated in
Triumphant Democracy" 1t is of special
interest just now, in view of the fact that
some of the biographies of Mr. Pullman
carry the idea that Pullman was the in
ventor. not the promoter, of sleeping cars
We'll do I remember" said Carnegie,
that, when clerk in the service of the
Pennsylvania Railroad Company, a tall,
spare, farmer-looking kind Of man came
TO me once when l was sitting on the end
seat OF the rear car looking the line.
He said he had been told by the conductor
| that l was connected with the railway
company, and he wished me to look at an
invention he had made. With that he
Grew from green bag a small model of
sleeping berth for railway cars. He had
not spoken minute when, like flash,
the whole range OF the discovery burst
! upon me. Yes l said. that is something
ised to address him upon the subject as
| soon as had talked over the matter with
my superiors."
Did you do anything about it?"
"Of course 1 did. 1 could not get that
blessed sleeping car out of my head. Upon
my return laid 1t before Mr.. Scott, de-
ciar1ng that 1t was one Of the inventions
OF the age He remarked: You are en-
thus1astic, young man; but you may ask
the inventor to come and let me see It,
l did so, and arrangements were made to
build two trial cars and run them on the
pennsylvania railroad. I was offered an
gladly accepted. Payments were to be
made 10 per cent per month after the cars
we're delivered. the Pennsylvania Railroad
Company guaranteeing to the builders that
the cars would be kept upon its line and
under their control"
How did the enterprise come outY'
All very satisfactory until the notice
came that my share of the first payment
| was $217.5O. How we'll l remember the
exact sum; but $217.5O was as far beyond
my means as If 1t had been millions. I
was ca rning $50 per month. however, and
had prospects. or at leastnI always felt
that l had. What was to BE done? I de-
cided to call on theiolocatt banker. Mr..
Lioyd. state the case and BOLDLY ask him
10 10 ADVANCE the sum Upon my interest in
| the AFFAIR He put his hand upon my Shout
der and said: Why, of course, Andie: YOU
are all right. Go ahead. Here is the
money. 1t Is proud day for a man when
~ pays aiiS idst note, Out not to be named
IN comparison with the day in which he
makes MS first one. and gets banker to
Jake It. l have tried BothE and 1 know
Inc cars paid the subsequent payments
from their earnings. paid my first note
from my savings, SO much per month, and
| thus old get my foot upon fortunes lad
ger. Is easy to climb after that A
triumphant success was scored. And thus
came sleeping cars into theaworld Bless
ed De the man who invented sleep' SAYS
Sancho rama. ThousandB upon thou
SANDS Will echo the sentiment: Blessed be
| the man who invented sleeping cars. Let
me give you MS name and testify my graft
tude TO MIN. my dear, quiet, modest, truth
ful. rarmer-looking friend, Mr.. T. T Wood
run, the inventor Of the sleeping car"
On the subsequent development and ex-
plotting OF the sleeping car by George M
fuilman, MI: Carnegie at this time said:
George NJ. Pullman was as great q
genius In organisation and administration
as woodruff was an inventor. It did not
take this typical American Of Chicago very
long TO see what part sleeping cars were
bound to play upon the American conti-
nent; and while a few cautious old gentle
men IN Philadelphia were managing the
original cars this young man laid his .dar-
ing plans He contracted for twenty or
thirty cars. while the Phiiadelphia people
hesitated to engage for one. The result
was that Mr.. Pullman completely eciipsed
them. soon saw that Ne had q genius to
deal with. and advised the cid concern 10