Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-03-28

In The Star of March %, 1859, Is a
paragraph Of historical interest in these
days of truly luxurious
Sleeping railway travelling: "Sev-
eral ladies' and gentle
men of this city by in
vitation took a trip yesterday to Balti-
more In sleeping car just finished at
the Mt. Glare works, Baltimore, under the
direction of Henry Tyson, for use on the
Baltimore and Ohio road. Somewhat
similar cars have been put in use on other
roads. but this seems to combine more
conveniences in the same space than any
other yet tried. Thus. in each car forty
eight persons can be provided with lux
urious sleeping accommodations during
the night and In the morning the couch
bottoms slide to the ceiling, the bedding
| subsidies mystertously into the recesses OF
the seats and we have a car of handsome
| but ordinary everyday look. We learn
that the present car has been constructed
at cost of 1900. and others of the
same description are to be made for use
on the Baltimore and Ohio road and on
the Baltimore and Philadelphia road"
Sleeping cars had in fact been con-
| ceived and actually produced more than
| twenty years before. In 1888 such car
accommodating twenty-four persons, had
ocCH put vi Lie Inc between baltimore
and Philadelphia, the run then requiring
| six hours. In 1858. one year before the
car mentioned in the extract quoted from
The Star was produced. two cars had
been built at a cost of 5000 for service
| between Cleveland and Buffalo, but were
withdrawn because Of lack of patronage
The same year two sleeping cars were
| installed on the line between Chicago and
Toledo. A sofa along the side Of the
car formed the lower berth, q middle one
hPlnQ ind ocl,, II
third tier resting on cleats fastened to
permanent cross partitions It was while
riding in one of these uncomfortable cars,
which accommodated forty-eight passen-
gers. that George N. Pullman. In 1883
planned his own device for a sleeping car,
the first two Of his design being trans
| formed the following year from Chicago
and Alton coaches. The first true Pull
man was built in 1863 at cost of $4,000
1t was in this car. the Pioneer" that
the Lincoln funeral party travelled from
Chicago to Springfield two years later.
The discussion as to the suburban roads
in the District and Maryland, lately
caused by the miring of a
County fire engine outside Of the
District. Is but an echo
>'0"o of a debate on the same
subject in progress half a century ago in
the columns Of The Star. In the Issue
Of March o, 1859, correspondent COM
planned of bad conditions In the city
streets and appealed for relief. The next
day The Star printed letter signed
''Marylander." as follows:
"Your correspondent, in my opinion,
very properly complains OF the wretched
condition Of your county roads and many
Of your streets. The Eastern Branch
roads, the 14th street and Piney Branch
road, the 7th street road and the Red
Hill deep cut, above Georgetown, are sad
evidences of the fact. The levy court and
your mayors rarely. If ever. make the
proper spring repairs, but improper
autumn repairs. and never provide for
an open winter. Oh! for some engineering
skill and better drainage and less intense
democracy Or other politics, in our road
makers and members! Let me assure
you that it Is worse than folly to expect
your Maryland wagon trade to increase or
your markets to be we'll attended until
you of the District furnish us Of Prince
George and Montgomery better winter
roads within the District and q suitable
market house. Your negligence drives us
to trade much in Baltimore. when our
preference Is your market. Have your
business men and merchants no enter
prise? II so. why permit this state Of
things to continue?