Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1898-05-19
All Other Trains EclipSed.


The two splendid new trains, happily
named "The Pioneer Limited" which
the Barney & Smith Car company have
constructed for the Chicago, Milwaukee
& st. Paul Railway company, are ready
forservice between Chicago, Milwaukee,
ST. Paul and Minneapolis, and "private
view proves the assertion that they are
the most magnificent product of the car
builders art ever yet exhibited. These
duplicate trains consist of the usual
mail, express, and baggage cars (the
latter furnished with bicycle racks, and
carrying Il Westinghouse engine and
dynamo to furnish power for the electric
ligl ting of the entire train), buffet smOk-
Ing and library cars, standard sleepers,
compartment sleeperS, dining cans, par
lOr cars, day coaches, and reclinging
chair cars. Entrance to each car is by
way of massive FLUSH" vestibules,
finished in San Domingo mahogany, the
elegance of which is but hint of the
superb display within.
of main apartment, a card room and
buffet. They are finished in St. Jago
mahogany, carefully selected for its
color and beauty, richly carved and
inlaid with the most delicate and elab
crate marquetry work. Months we're
consumed in preparing this most beau
tiful of inIaid woodwork, styled mar
quetry, and the forests of the world
have been drawn upon for material,
including such rare and beautiful woods
as the tulip, amaIanth, prlmayera,
saffron, olive, cocobola, white holly and
English oak in natural cOlors. Each car
is furnished with luxurious chairs, sofa,
reading and writing tables, together
with all the accessories and conyen-
fences of Il home library. The card
room is divided from the main apart
ment by Ionic columns, supporting an
arch in which is set o handsome bronze
grill. This little room is further en-
bellished by handsome mirrors, set in
frames elaborate with carving and mar
quetry.
The ceiling is done in warm Nene-
tan red at the lower line, shading out
to a soft apricot tint at the highest point,
and decorated in bright colors with gold
markings. The dome is lighted through
sparkling cathedral glass in diamond
shaped panes set in copper frame
work. The floor covering is a heavy
Wilton carpet of special weave, showing
the colors employed in the decorations;
the chairs are upholstered in moquette
plush, in soft shade of green to har-
monte with the window and door
hanging, which are of green siIk velour,
satin lined, and edged with heavy silk
gimp and draped with rich silk cord
and tasses. The effect produced by
these lustrous fabrics, together With the
rare inlaid work and delicate carving, is
marveously elegant.
The style used in the ornamentation
throughout the trains is the Empire,
with a suggestion of the classic Greek,
combination peculiarly adapted to pro-
ducing rich effects.
The standard sleepers are massive
structures constructed on a model to
emphasize lofty ideal, and displaying
in detail the architectural perfection
prevalent throughout the train. They
contain sixteen sections, commodious
smoking rooms and toilet rooms at
either end. The long perspective in
the main drawing room is divided in
the middle of the car by ornate Corin-
THAN columns, resting on richly inlaid
pedestals, and from the entablatures
spring the arches supporting the ceiling.
In the arches are placed oXidized grill
finished in dark padouk or vermillon
wood, the ceilings done in dainty
robins egg blue, Oramented with a
design in gold and bright color. The
bulk-heads and berth panels are the
choicest specimens of padouk, highly
polished and deliberately decorated
with marquetry, each design adapted to
its particular place. \ slight departure
from the Empire style in the marquetry
allows the introduction of Greek pat
tern on the entablatures.
The color used in the draperie5 in
these cars is blue. expressing gradual
rise from a rich old blue in the magnifi-
cent Wilton carpet, lighter shading in
the moquette plush of the upholstery,
to tho delicate color of the ceiling. The
upholstery has minute scroll pattern,
made from original designs, and the
hangings are of exquisite silk velour,