The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1861-10-09
BL0oMsBURG. COLUMBIA COUNTY. PA WEDNEsDA
The Government Bakery.

Hundreds pass daily over the frey ovens al
the Capitol as they promenade on the broad |
terrace, who, if there attention is attracted !
by the chimneys along it's outer edge, con-
tent themselves with peep over into the
yard at the reefs of the sheds without peer
ing into The establishment, or considering
for moment the immense amount Of labor !
performed daily, or the enormous stores |
consumed in the manufacture OF the huge
wagon loads OF bread which are seen cons
stanty winding out of the Capitol grounds
and stretching away TO the various camps
about the city. Just inside The arches, by
the fountain, are the departments for the
manufacture OF yeast, where several men
are busiy engaged stirring in casks a mix
iure of boiled potatoes, malt, &C., which
when thoroughly mixed, is allowed to stand
about two hours, when ii is ready for use.
At the LETT, in the vaults formerly used for
storing wood coal and cinders, six huge
brick ovens have been constructed, into
who's frey mouths the loaves are thrust by
hundreds as they roll out in proper form
under the swift manipula,ions of the -four
whitened bakers. Attached 10 each oven
is &neadlng room, where, in the long
lrouehs, the yeast is poured into a large
| quantity of -four, where, with sleeves rolled
! 10 the shoulders, sialwart men plunge and
tumble il about until il becomes SO stiff as
10 require cUtting and spreading oul in large
! layers, one upon another, in order that it
may become thoroughly eavened. 1t is
! then taken out upon the tables, rolled out
into loayes, ard in large pans, holding ff
teen loaves each, slid away into the dark,
cavernous depths of the ovens, where ii
rests it peace unll made 10 supply the
wants of The inner man. When done, the
! loaves are taken out and placed upon the
| edges on long shelves, where they become
/ cooled before removal 10 The wagons
! These are not the only bakeries, however,
as inside the Capitol are found, in The rooms
once occupied by the Superintendent OF
Public Printing and his cleTks-where soft
carpets muffled the thread-pes of bricks
and mortar, into which hundreds OF barrels
of -four pass weekly, emerging beautifully
! Drowned soft, sweet bread The melamor-
phose extends through all the lower rooms
| OF the Ihe old buIting, aud the visitor is
struck as he passes through at the contrast
presented 10 their appearance one year since
Each door has upon ii number Of other
designations as Mess Room, Bread Room,'
&C., The former of which is used by the ba>
/ kers who mess at the Capitol and whose
provisions are cooked in room al the right
! oil the entrance, opposite the apartment for
merly occupied by Dr. Wooster and his
! electric bath, now oruameneG with long
| rows of Tin cups, &c, and filled up three
/ times day with hungry men engaged al
the bakeries. Still further along the pas
I sage, where artists flourished and stone
I and plaster grew into the likeness of man,
are found the steamiEg ovens and fragrant
bread, while at every turn the visitor stum>
bes upon carpeted rooms filled TO the cell
( ing with the staff ofife.
Besides the numerous wagons connected
with The establishment, a great number
from the several camps crowd the ap
prosches TO the bakery, and enliven the
surroundings with the vehement persuasons
OF leamsters whose obstinate mules TOO o.
ten strive 10 initiate the lobsler's mode OF
locomolion. Each wagon in lis turn is back.
] ed up 10 a window, through which the
loaves fly swiftly, propelled by the muscle
OF some stalwar chap inside, and when tiil-
ed, makes way for another customer, who
mpaliently waits his turn outside. The
wood used is pine split very fine, OF which
about so cords are consumed per month
The establishment is under The supervis-
ion of Lieut.. Thomas ]. Cate, OF the 10Th
infantry. U. S. A, who anived here with
the Massachusetts SIKH, and al once began
preparations for supplying the troops with
bread. Upon his superin'endence all the
ovens at The Capilol-iouneen in number
have been built, OF which two were con-
strucied Immediately upon the arrival OF the
Massachusetts boys. In the manufacture
! OF bread at this bakery there are used every
| twenty-iuur hours "a bushels OF potatoes,
2 40 barrels of -four, and l,4e0 gallons of
yeast-iurning out about 60,00 leaves of
bread. One hundred and fifty men are EN-.
! ployed, who represent all parts of the coun.
iry-Nor;h, South, East aud West. One,
from South Carolina, was in Charleston al
the time oil the bombardment of Fort Sum-
ter
The amount paid TO the employees falls
bot little short of S5 900 per month, and The
whole expense of maintaining the establish.
ment is enormous. All the oIher Provis-
ions for the troops are obtained. elsewhere
The Quauermasier of regiment receiv-
ing from Capt. Beckwiih a requisition upon
the officer st the Post Office building who
furnishes the coffee, rice, crackers, &C..
and then gives requisiIion upon the off,
] a