The Union and journal., 1861-11-22
The Capitol Bakery.

Yesterday morning We paid visit TO tho
Government bakery in the basement Of tho
Capitol building, aud were much surprised at
the sights that we there saw. On entering the
lower door, Immediately behind tbe fountain.
we found ourselves In The presence of the inde-
fstigsble superintendent. Lieut.. 7. J. Cate. tor
merly Of the6th Massachusetts, regiment. but
now Of the 10th regiment United States infAnt-
ry, who was busily employed. as well ashi, two
able clerks aud assistants, Messrs. WI. Mitch
ell and c. @. Merril, OF Lawrence. Mass. We,
however. secured the services Of . friend, and
commenced our tour OF inspection.
We first visited the vault under the rotunda.
which Is used as q store-room for the immense
quantity Of aour which Is Tally being received.
Tho wagons are constantly kept busy delivering
their loads under the eastern portico, from
whence the barrels are ROLLED Into the VAULT
Whenever the -four Is needed, IL is Sided down
10 the floor below. The amount OF -four con-
stantly in this room Is between four and eight
thousand barrels. r.rr-.1rv 80 r'afrtrr
Retracing our steps, VIC came again to the VI
cinity Of the fountain, where We found eight
ovens In full operation, turning out about 20,
900 loayes Of bread every twenty. four hours.-
The bread is Of the best quality, and each loaf
weighs ~ 2ounces. Therea are 10 bakers employ
ed at these ovens. who have on one or two os-
casions, when pressed. run out ~. 900 loavcs .
day. We
Adjscent TO these ovens are two rooms, ono
on each side Of the entrance. from which Oh.
bread is delivered. II may not be uniptsresting
to know the form In use. When the requistion
is sent by q quartermaster To the Subsistence
Department ut the Post Office for the rations for
his regiment, an order Is drawn for the bread,
on Lieut. Cate. TO whom the driver Of the wag-
on presentsit, and is furnished with ticket,
which is handed In st the delivery window, and
the bread is forthwith passed out on smooth
boards TO the wagon. .-vt .fr.a.lr s'.t n.
The mess room and the kitchen Is also on this
avor, and the hands, To the number ofi6o, here
take their meals. This department Is shperin-
tended by Mr.. Lew 81. Pierce, formerly Of the
sth Massachusetts, regiment, aud the cleanly
appearance observable. as well as the well-cs-
ierei meals set out, give indisputable evidence
that he ''can keep hotel" 'Pg ~ -...
Outside the building. In the vaults heretoiors.
used for the slowing fuel. we find six double
sired ovens built. employing ten bakers each.
and capable Of turning out 10000 loaves per
day, but at present averaging about $1,000
Near by are two other rooms. In which eight
men arc constantly employed In making yeast,
OF which about ,l5o gallons Is mads per
day. IL ...I :.
The bakers are all under the formsnshlp Of
Mr.. John n. Sowersby, baker Of II years ex-
perience, and formerly Of Bonds celebrated
bakery at Wilmington. Mass.
The total number Of persons about the estsb.
lishment Is 100. Of which about 100 are employ
ed in making bread, II delivering u, making
,c..t. O In the cook room. 6splitting wood, In
the store room, 2 waiehmcn. ~ tsamsters.' and
ihe other, n, clerks, runners, and extra hands.
or the whole number employed. about % are
from the North, the balance being our own cit
irens. I.t rD If-"
The payroll for thclast month amounted TO
o,er 81, 900. The hands are divided ints four
classes, th. best Of which get s42 per month
with ratiOn,. and inferior ones. s3,. SIS, and
$40 each.
Too much praise cannot be ayardsd to Lieut..
Cate. to ~hoss jaignens aud experience mueh
Of the success OF the bakery is due. ~, .-.r..f
The Establishment Is attached to the Subsis-
tence Department, Of which Major BeckvitL.
assisted BY Lieut.. s, c. Green, A. A. c. 8. has :
charge. -" I'-' i'.-~i'-
The depot to which the bakery is attached is'
In the Post 0.ice building. from whence the
troops nov on this side Of the rivsr receive all
their supplies. excepting bread, which u pro-
cured from here or one Of the other minor be-
keries. Of which there are soms eight or tsn 10
the scity.-Erehsnss