The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-06-16
Railroad Gravel
I'm Russia.


We are accustomed to think that the
height of luxury in long railway journeys
has been reached in this country. our
transcontinental trip, however, seems
short In comparison with the journey
from Moscow to Irkutsk, which takes
nine days. and about four more will be
required to reach the Pacific at Port Ar
thur, when the railway has been COM
pleted. Our Russian friends believe tat
they have succeeded in equipping a ira n
whose accommodations are proportion
ateIy comfortable and irclICe some thin g
not known elsewhere. These are described
In an article in the Magasin Picturesque
(PaFis). written from information fur
nished by the Russian director of rail-
roads We translate several paragraphs
below. Says the writer:
- The trans-Siberian express is COM
posed of six coaches, one first and TWO
second class, a saloon coach containing
dining room and library and a bag
gage car. Great attention has been paid
to the mechanical construction Of the
coaches so as to diminish as much as
possible the motion of the cars, which
on SO long Journey becomes very tire
some. Screens are placed at the win
dow in such manner as to protect the
interior from dust and smoke.
The cars are heated by means Of hot
water, and the temperature of each car
can be controlled at Will. From fifteen to
twenty minutes suffice to heat the train,
whose temperature in the coolest weather
never descends below is degrees c.. 90 ~
greeS FL. Ventilators are provided for
the escape of the impure air. 1t is hard
~ necessary to STATE that the cars are
lighted both within and without by cleo
trlctty. The lamps suspended from the
ceiling of the sleeping compartments are
furnished with an ingenious automatic
contriVance whereby the light is eXtin--
gulshed or relighted as one closes or
draws aside the curtains
nhe train IS capable Of carrying
eighteen second class passengers The
dining room contains nine small tables,
and is capable of seating twenty-eignt
persons at one time. Travellers have also
the privilege Of being served in their own
apartments. Meals are served at fixed
hours but the restaurant and buffet are
open from o'clock in the morning until
midnight
Adjoining the dining room is the IL
brary, which is like a little salon ele-
gantly furnished, with a bookcase con-
tanning about a hundred books in the
Russian language, beside numerous for
elgn works, maps, periodicals. and the
newspapers of the principal citi S Of the
route. The best official and private publ
cations regarding Siberia are also to be
found here. Beside reading travellers
can while away the time with music. for
there is a piano, or seek amusement in
cards, dominoes or chess the fay or to
game Of the Russians.
OIlS Oh the COACHES contains DdLn
room with enameled tub and a very COM
plete arrangement for shower baths. Like
all the other toilet rooms. floor and walls
as high as windows are covered with dec
GRATED porcelain tiles. The rest of the
walls and the ceiling are covered with
wood paneling. Hot and cold water for
baths and douches are provided by means
of a reservoir placed on top OF the coach
capable Of holding 3C0 gallons and fire.
quently renewed
Beside all this there is a gymnasium,
with all kinds of apparatus for exercising
all the muscles of the body, including
chamber velocipede. Finally, for the use
of the tourist photographer, of whom
there are multitudes at present a dark
cabinet has been fitted up with all the
necessary paraphernalia.
beside the usual number OF conductors
each train is provided with mechanician.
an electrician, chef de train, three
cooks. five walters and two men for the
lighting and heating. The personnel of
the express train also comprises a hea tn
officer, who has a little pharmacy and
surgical instruments at his disposal IN
case of sickness or accident AS on the
trans Atlantic steamers, medical service
is gratuitous."