The Forrest City times., 1899-02-24
Improvements on the Cotton Belt.


 The Cotton Belt has recently made some large additions to it's. rolling stock. aud will in few days co.nrifice operating m its trains suine of the handsomest cars ever run west of the Mississippi river. 1 The Pullman and the St. Charles Car com panies have just completed and delivered to the Cotton Belt four new parlor caie | cars. ten new chair cars and six conhina- ton express and baggage cars all of which are models of beauty and convenience. | The four parlor cafe cars are the hand somest cars ever seen in the Southwest, and are the only parlor cafe cars in daily operation in that section of the country. To simply say they are luxurious would be faint praise indeed. The cars are fin- | ished throughout with beautifully polished oak, quarter. sawed. which is relieved by handsome beveled plate glass mirrors. The floor is covered by heavy. dark green Wilton carpet of soft shade, and the ceiling is delicately frescoed in harmo- nious shade of pink. The main compart- nent contains two rows Of large. high back revolving armchairs. upholstered in dsrk-green leather. the woodwork Of the chairs being highly polished mahogany. The chairs were built with an eye to cnm- fort as well as for beauty. and there being only nine on each side of the car, simple room is assured The windows are large. permitting floods of light from without and an unrestricted view from within. At the rear end of the car there is a smoking room. furnished with large coach and three commodious armchairs. Here also is stationary wasbstand, supplied with clean towels. soap, etc. and adjoining is a spacious lsyatory. The other end of the car contains feature which will appeal strongly to the ladies; it is large lOunging roun. containing couch and aTmchairs, where the ladies can retire for a nap or place to rest. Adjoining this lounging room is the dressing room, supplied with all the necessities of such a compartment. Besides caring for the comfort of the outer man. provision has been made in tue cars to supply the wants of the inner man. A compartment is set aside for the porter, which is ftted up with three gas broilers and other cooking apparatus. besides | large refrigerator and ample shelves and lockers for dishes. etc.-in short, a we'll | equipped kitchen, reduced in size tO meet the requirements. From this compartment | tempting meal can be served. individual | tables being plse~d before your chair. A | choice menu has been prepared. from which the most exac;ing epicure could or | der to his hearts content. Meals are served Ia carte, so that you will only have to pay for what you order.
 The cars are wide vestibuled, with long plate glass windows and extended plat | forms, being in effect substantially an ob- servation end. These cars are te be placed in the daily runs between Memphis and Texarkana. and rexarkana and Waco. The charge for a seat in these cars is merely nominal. being only twenty five cents for from l30 to l5O miles, and fifty cents for any greater distance. Meals will be served in these cars to the occu- pants Of other cars in the train. but such persoss will be expected to retire after meal has been finished.
 The chair cars are likewise very hand. some, being finished throughout with highly polished oak and carpeted with heavy Wilton carpet, containing at cue end smoking compartment with station- ary washstand, towels. etc, and at the other ladies' dressing room. also supplied with stationary washstand. towels. etc |. and assuring complete privacy to those desiring it. These cars, like the parlor cars. arc of the wide vestibule pattern "ith tNtchueu pidtiotHi. Shu, ike tile par Tor cars, are also lighted by Pintsch gas and heated by the Baker system Of ho,
 water heat.
 One or more Of these cars will be placed in each through train. and the patrons of the Cotton Belt will thus be assured every comfort and convenience ever supplied to a railroad traveller. No charge whatever | is made for use of these cars
 This is certainly big step in advance taken by the Cotton Belt, and the travel ing public should show it's appreciation of the service thus offered 1t by making lib- eral use of 1t whenever possible.