The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-10-27
PERSONALLY Conducted Tours
Fifteen Years Ago and Now.
Rock Island Passenger Official
Grows Reminiscent.
BROUGHT BEDS ALONG.
People Furnished Their own
Mattresses on Original Tours.
Southern Pacific System Now
Controlled by Vanderbilt.

''These personally conducted tourist
excursions, now being run by the Rock
Island, and, indeed, all the transcon-
tinental roads, are a great thing" re-
marked Assistant General Passenger
Agent A w. Thompson this morning, in
a reminiscent way. ''Afr. Phillips, Of
A. Phillips & Co.. originated the low
rate tourist excursions that placed Pa
cific coast travel within the reach of
moderately filed purses. That was early
in the 7O's. It was found that much
better rates could be secured by the rail-
roads by travelling in large parties. So
Mr. Phillips took to personally con-
Quoting large parties whever they wish
ed to go across the continent. He is a
rich man today, having made hand
some, Independent fortune, and his bus
mess is now conducted by the company
he formed. Personally he is active no
longer believe.
Along at first these second-class
tourists took along their own mattresses,
rugs and blankets on the trains re-
member myself to have helped string
wires through the cars to put up cur
tains. And they had wooden blocks to
fasten on the window stills and hold the
backs of car seats up, so that people
could lie comfortably on two seats.
Gradually the passenger departments of
the roads themselves took it up and
made 1t an organized business. It has
passed out OF the nanQS OF private en-
terprise. The Pullman tourist sleeping
car was built especially and came into
service to accommodate secOnd-claSS
travellers. They haven't the resplendent
finish of a regular sleeper that is all the
difference The tourist Pullmans are
upholstered in cane and their berths are
made up with clean linen each night.
Blankets and good bedding are provided
and curtains are hung. There are fac1H-
ties for making hot tea and coffee,
cOlored porter accompanies each car,
and everything is neatly and comfort
ably arranged for the traveller, though
plainly.
1T is wonderful what distances some
tourist guides or conductors have travel
for instance. Willetts began in 1885.
from Boston, where I was Rock Island
agent at the time. He has been. person
ally conducting California tours ever
since, being now with the c. B. & O.
On a rough calculation. allowing him II
round trips a year. I should say he has
crossed the United States over 500 times, |
travelling at least /, 600 miles,
The Rock Islands newly announced |
tourist excursions are in addition to the |
regular excursions that leave Kansas
City every Friday. Beginning November |
one of the new series will leave Kan
sas City with through Pullman tourist
and Pacific coast points, via the Denver
& Rio Grande scenic route. The ex-
cursiOns thus pass through Royal Gorge,
Tennessee Pass, Canon of the GFande, |
Glenwood Springs and Castle Rock They
leave Boston every Monday and Los
Angeles every Wednesday. Just a week
is consumed in crossing the continents |
and the two or three intervening days
are all silk and rest for the tourist con-
ductOrS.