The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1900-04-23
!. ;
!. RAILROAD;
Luxury in Mid-Asiatic
Travel.
FINEST CARS IN THE WORLD
Bathroom, Gymnasium, Library, Dark
Room and Handy eIeetri-
cal Appliances. -,

NEW YORK, April s.--(Correspond-
ence. IAN album containing views of
the new trains on the Trans-Siberian
Railroad was received recently by
George IA. Danieis as a gift from PRINCE
Michol HilkOff; Imperial Minister Of
Ways and Communication OF Russia.
Mr.. Daniels had acted as the Princes
guide and host on a trip mp the Hud-
son river and throughout the State OF
New York to Niagara Fails several
years ago, and made every effort TO
show the perfection OF the American
railroads, especially the New York
Central. The pictures which have been
sent to this country show that the Rus
sian railroad man was not satisfied
with a simple imitation OF what he
saw here, but must do better In many
respects than those railroad people
from whom he learned many things
about the business.
The Empire State Express trash.
with its comfortable coaches, luxurious
drawing room and dining cara. fsD
eclipsed by. the trains which are now
run daily on the Trans-Siberian road.
which, when completed, will extend
from Moscow to Vladivostok. ~
The trains consist Of one first-ciass,
and two seeond-class coaches, q dining
car and a baggage car. The entrance
to the cars Is from the ends and not
from the sides, like the old style cars
In Europe; the engines are American.
and the trains look as though they
might have been transported from the
United States. There are no sleeping
cars, because the compartments are 30
arranged that the sofa seats may be
readily converted into couches, where
one may rest comfortably. The cars
are all lighted inside and az the ends
outside by electricity, and for each
compartment there Is, besides the FIX
ed incandescent lamps, a movable lamp
which may be placed on the table or
on brackets which are provided for the
purpose. The first-class coach con-
tains a bath room, with gymnasium ap-
paratus, library In several Ian
guages, perfectly appointed kitchen.
luxurious dining compartments. and
appliances for ventilatIng and heating
that have never been equalled in Eu-
ropean railway coaches.
The dining room 10 probably the main
feature OF the new train. The furniture
is massive and highly polished. and the
table appointments are of a superior
quality. At one end of the car is
piano and at the other Is the well filed
and other small tables where coffee
may be served or where games may be
played are scattered about the car, Civ
ing 1t the appearance OF a club on
wheels. There is a refrigerator or "ice
cellar" in the car for keeping and
transporting perishable de.icacies, and
there Is also an arrangement by which
boiling water may be had within three
minutes.
All the windows are protected from
dust and wind by external plate glass
guards, and on the last car there Is an
observation platform arranged so that
il may be inclosed with glass in stormy
weather
Among other points as to the train
which the Russian railroad people men
tion are: a stationary bicycle, with
arrangements for measuring in minutes
and kilometers the amount OF work
done; a barber, who is also qualified
to give medical assistance, ID a super
intendent, who speaks Russian. French.
German and English. a lavatory has
been fitted in the second class car, so as
to be available for the enthusiastic
photographer to change plates and de-
velop his work while on the journey.
The kitchen is arranged and provided
to furnish a hoI dinner for sixty peo-
pie. Paper and envelopes are supplied
free at the buffet, where hot and cold
drinks of all kinds may be had. One of
the strange features is that me services
OF the barber are free. but a bath costs
two rubles, and the passenger who
wishes to indulge in the luxury must
give three hours notice.
The road over which these cars ru-
has a five-foot gauge, uniform with all
the roads in European Rrssis the
bridges are all of iron. and the stations
are artistic and picturesque. comforta-
BILE. substantial and equal TO the aver
age station on the Pennsylvania or New
York Central roads.
a traveller who made the trip re-
Gently. after speaking OF the comforts
on the train and how they were doub
ly appreciated because they were un-
looked for. said that II was a delight
to take a meal In the station restaur-
ants.
"On entering the dining ROOM" he
said. you will find at one end an i'm