The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-12-18
EXPENSIVE PRIVATE CARS
THEIR INCREASING USE BY MEN
OUTSIDE OF RAILWAY SERVICE.
In Two Years the Pennsylvania Has
Assumed sI2s.OOO, 900 in Buying
Securities and Equipment.

The magnificent palaces on wheels or
to-day were hardly known until 1876. when,
at the Centennial Exposition In Philadel-
phia, the Pullman Company exhibited two
palace cars, the Queen and the President
These cars at the time created a senSa-
ton. yet at present would hardly be con-
sidered first-class cars by the ordinary
traveller. In every private car of the pres
ent time one Of the main points is the
kitchen, as in these days there are many
people who spend months rambling in a
private car hired or owned, yet there were
even in the early eighties which had no
facilities even for preparing a boiled egg
or a cup of coffee. The late John Newell,
when he was president of the Lake Shore
road, had a private car without any kitch-
EN-, and Mr.. Newell used only a cupboard
stocked with crackers, cheese. dried her
rings and similar dainties.
The late Coils Z. Huntington was prob
ably the first to recognize the limitations
of one car in which could be combined
within the space of a good-sized room all
the comforts of a luxurious home. His
car Oneonta contained a kitchen, a store
room, a dining room and quarters
for the servant The other portion
of the car was divided into a state
room, drawing room and an observa-
ton compartment. The private cars in
general use to-day vary in size and
equipment. but as a rule they are eighty
feet long. provided with a kitchen at one
end, several sleeping apartments, a draw
ing ROOM, a few in the center of the car,
a few private staterooms, and at the rear
an observation compartment with a broad
platform.
Perhaps one of the best cars made for a
railroad official is the one now used by w.
II. Newman, president OF the New York
Central, the Lake Shore and the Lake Erie
q Western. 1t has an observation COM
partment at either end. Private car No.
l01, of the New York Central, is known as
the Vanderbilt car because ii was set
aside for the use of the family. IL is
simple in appearance, upholstered in leath-
er and the woodwork contains little or
namentatiOn. President ingalls,. of the Big
Four, has a private car which ranks
among the best run on Western lines.
President Hill, of the Great Northern, is
now having built a car entirely of steel,
eighty feet long, with all modern equip
ment. Another fine car is that of Charles
w. Bunting, a Western millionaire, which
cost $4,000. The practice of hiring private
cars is of recent origin, but has in the last
three years grown to considerable proper
tions. The Pullman Company now OPP
crates twenty private cars which are for
hire to private parties. That there is some
thing even in the name of a private car
is demonstrated In an incident of the late
President Mckinley. When he was about
to start on his last tour across the con-
tinent he requested the Pullman Company
to fuIelish him a private car. They as
signed for his use the best car they had,
the Imperial. BY return mail came a let
ter requesting that some other car be as
signed to him on the ground that the name
Imperial might furnish an undesirable OPP
portunity TO his opponents for ridicule.
The charge for a private car is made by
tho dow opd rapCas from S25 m go