The weekly intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1891-1901, 1900-12-15
EcuApoR's STATE CARRIAGE.
New one Lately Built In This Coan-
try and IL . Marvel Of
Costly Elegance.

New Haven, tonn., lne nrst STATE car
riage that has EVER been manufactured
In America. While many costly car
riages have been built in the United
States II has remained for a New Haven
firm 10 get the contract and 10 build
a real carriage OF state. The vehicle
which has Just been finished was built
for the republic Of Ecuador, II Is al
most IN exact reproduction OF the ia
nous slbO,OOO carriage Of the pope,
and OF the 10000 franc carriage Of the
khediye. The state coach Of Ecuador
Is said TO have cost about $4,000. The
only difference between IL and the car
risges of the pope and the khedlye is
that they have solid gold ornaments
and that Of the pope's is studded with
many precious gems.
About six months ago the republic
OF Ecuador sent agents TO the United
States and 10 Europe TO procure a state
coach that would outshine the state
| coach OF Perm. Firms In New York and
France and England were asked to sub
init designs and bids. II happened that
a New Haven firm decided to put in a
bid. As France has built most of the
worlds famous state coaches many OF
the carriage dealers OF this country
did not think II worth while to bid
for the contract. The New Haven firm
which did put In an estimate that was
considerably above the estimates OF
foreign houses. The local firm was
surprised when It's bid was accepted,
The agents Of Ecuador said that they
believed they would get a finer and
more durable carriage in this country
than they could get in Europe,
The design and the construction OF
the carriage were left entirely to the
local builders. They followed In gen.
eral the style and outline Of the ear.
riages Of the pope and the khediye,
which are the two most famous state
carriages built in recent years. Both
OF these carriages are a happy combina.
tlon Of the best that Is found In the IA
mous state carriages Of France, Eng
land and Germany. The local builders
improved In some OF the minor details
upon this design, and In so far as the
quality Of the running gear and the
carriage frame Is concerned they built
a carriage on just as expensive a scale
as the two famous carriages OF Europe.
When II came 10 putting on solid gold
ornaments, gold lanterns and gold
buckles, and to studding these orna-
ments with precious gems, economy
was practlced.
During the few days the vehicle has
been on exhibition here between 5000
and 5000 persons have In one way OF
another gained admittance to the fac.
tory to see II. The agents Of Ecuador
were among the first TO arrive and were
80 anxious to get the carriage home
that they refused TO allow II 10 be ex
hibited either in New Haven or II
New York. The Ecuador agents want
ed It shipped at once.
The Ecuador state coach IL an enor
nous affair in point of size. II Is Just
about twice as big as the average car
riage. A tall man can stand up lnsidt
of II with a silk hat on. Its cushion
are huge and a man OF small stature
is almost lost when he gets into II
II is what is called by builders a "ful
sweep gala coach" II Is hung on eigh.
springs, The length Of the carriage
not including the pole. Is IS feet. II 4
gorgeously decorated with silk tapes
tries. The inside trimming is rich SAITH
brocade interviewer with gold thread
The curtains are festooned. They ar
Of crimson silk with gold cord and taI
, sells. At each corner Of the coach ther
, is a large ornamental gold lamp.
On the roof OF the coach runnln.
along the edge there is a heavy gold
plated metal cresting design. In IN
middle OF this design and Just aboy
! the doors the arms OF Ecuador are poi
trayed in gold bronze. On the doc
t, OF the coach and on the hammer eliot
Of the drivers seat the arms OF Ecuado
are painted In gold. This work has q
Il been done by hand. The lower body Z
+ the coach Is painted in a deep sea blu
I while the balance Of the body is pain.
/ ed black. The running gear is a ric
red with gold stripping,
4 The coach Is arranged for four POI
4 tilions with horses. The pole has
n deep sweep in the center 10 that n
feet Of the positions will clear II. Tw
n footmen win ride ut the back OF II
coach and two guards on the side
7 front.
l.. The coach win be shipped this we,
' TO Quito, the capital Of Eanndor. pack,
In zino-lined boxes. A New York ar
!, has made harness IN keeping with II
a grandeur Of the coach, The harne
n IL modelled after that used by n
queen Of England. II IA mounted vii
N heavy gold trimmings and cost a anu
4 fortune. The agents Of Ecuador wi
1, have been here 10 accept the Goa,
and harness were delighted.
IA