Evening star., 1901-04-27

tion before the chief executive leaves
Washington or he will have scant chance
of playing host.
The details of the conduct of the presi-
dental train are left solely to the rail-
road officials. The Presidents secretary
advises them how many persons will COM
pose the party at the outset and what
guests are expected to join en- route and
how long they will remain. Beyond that
they need feel no responsibility while the
distinguished tourists are on board the
train.
One of the phases of the preparations re-
quiring the greatest forethought is found
IN the culinary plans. To provide all the
dellcacies procurable for the Presidents
table and have them ready fresh and appe-
tlZlng at just the moment desired, even
though the train has been speeding for
hours across barren desert. is, as may
be Imagined, a pretty severe tax upon
human ingenuity. The railroad companies
usually take special pride in the quality of
the repasts set before the President and
frequently there is provided at each meal
souvenir menu card that Is notable as a
work of art
The Special Train.
The Presidents train, as constituted on
long trip, such as the prospective one to
the Pacific coast consists of seven yesti-
buled Pullman or Wagner coaches which
represent nearly the maximum weight
which can be drawn by a passenger loco
motive on some OF the most tortuous
stretches Of roadbed. This special train
for the first citizen of America is simply
composed Of regulation sleeping and draw
ing room cars, grouped for the occasion,
and yet it is a question whether Il would
not compare favorably in comfort If not I'm
magnificence with the splendid palaces on
wheels built for the Gar of Russia, the
late Queen Victoria or the khedive OF
Egypt.
From the moment the presidential "spe-
ctaI' pulls out of the station at Washing
ton until 1t is safely back. 1t is the rail-
read officials who must do the worrying
Try as they may by preparing in advance
for all imaginable contingencies, little anx-
1eties VIII creep in. Prominent railroad Of
hcials who are quite at home bringing
der out of chaos after q bad wreck admit
that they grow nervous when the Presi-
dent of the United States is in their care
Something of this uneasiness extends to
every employe, down to the most isolated
trackwalker.
A Government on Wheels.
President McKinley's forthcoming trip
will be unique In one respect. Never before
has the government of the United States
been transferred to a railroad train to such
an extent as It will be during a month and
a half this spring. The presidential "spe-
ciaI' will virtually constitute an impro-
the chief executive be accompanied by his
private secretary and all the members of
his cabinet, but on board will also be a
force of assistant secretaries and stenogra-
pliers such as is maintained in the execu-
tive office at the White House-from which
indeed they will be transferred-and with
the assistance of these men the chief
magistrate will be able to conduct the af-
fairs of the nation quite as satisfactorily
as IL he were enSconced in the Executive
Mansion al Washington.
discriminating assistant secretary will
be In charge at the White House and will
forward to the presidential party all mail
matter that should receive prompt atten-
ton. also communicating with the Presi-
dent by wire with reference to unexpected
questions which may arise The assistant
secretaries of the various departments will
pursue the same course. The cabinet will
mold regular sessions on board the train
and In addition each member will have
submitted to him every day all matters
bearing upon his branch of the govern
mental machinery save the merest routine
Most elaborate plans have been made for
enabling the ofhciais In Washington TO
keep in close touch with the presidential
train. The telegraph and cipher bureau of
the Executive Mansion-the Presidents
private Information bureau-wiIl have a
most complete itinerary of the trip and by
means of a system of reports from train
dispatchers will be enabled to ascertain
the exact location OF the train at any hour
OF the day or night. Communications he
tween the flying seat of government and
the White House will be transmitted I'm
the Presidents private code. and inasmuch
as telegraph offices of one kind or other
are almost as numerous as mile posts along
the lines Of the great railway systems il
will be possible to place a message at any
time In the hands of the Chief Executive
within very few minutes