Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-07-20
DEPOT LIVING.
The Conven.en at the Railroad Depot
for the Public.

for the Public.
+ Unless a person has made special exarnina
ton into the arrangen. eDt OF conveniences a
the new depot for the commodation OF thu
travelling public, he is not likely to form al
adequate idea concerning then. A mer'
passing glance or general view does hot COZ
yey correct idea of the matter. Thers' !!
probably no depot more conveniently
arranged. It is the verdict of tourists
from the East that the Sacramento
depot, while less elaborate than some, is one
of the very best in the entire country in its
general arrangement and its convenience for
the travelling public. It is large, airy,
roomy, and its interior appearance pleasing
to the eye. The general architectural fea-
lures of the depot and its size have already
been stated in these columns, but since its
completion and occupancy no sketch of its
internal arrangements has been given.
These are simple and do not involve length
ened description. The depot nave can &C.
commodate under shelter on its four tracks
six ordinary passenger trains, and it is not
unfrequent to see four or five made-up trains
under the shelter at once. At both the east
and west ends the back spaces are large and
the baggage reserves ample. The south CEN
ter Of the structure contains the rooms and
apartments which are specially devoted to
the public. On the extreme west is the bag
gage room, and ON the extreme east the por-
ters rooms, Beyond these either way the
depot building is open, with pillared supports,
as has been before described in the RECORD
UNION, but between the two-completely
fitted.up and neatly finished apartments
\ tod +tar
partment, and as these are the main features
of the inciosed section, to their description this
account will be devoted. The apartments
compose what is known to the travelling pub
lie as the Silver Palace Dining Saloon, which
is under the proprietorship of Bernard Stein
man, who conducted the establishment of
that name located in the old depot, formerly
on Front street. The entire management of
the dining and lunch-rooms, wine-rooms,
bars, etc., is under the personal supervision
Of Mr.. Steinman, whose acquaintance with
the business and the demands of the travel
ing public is the result of many years of e2-
perience and close application to the business
of catering First, on the west, the visitor
comes to the lunch-room, a neat apartment in
which is kept large stock of prepared pro-
visions, cooked, canned, ETC., with bottled
beverages in variety, baskets, cases, ETC., for
the preparation of travellers luncheons for
use in the cars On this department Stein
man prides himself, and declares that he can
prepare an outfit to suit any passenger
by a glance at his face, which gentle
fiction can be pardoned the caterer. Cut
off from the lunch room is the new telegraph
office of the Western Union Company.
Upon the east side of the lunch-room is an
alcove opening upon a soda fountain and
fruit coulter, which is situate upon the north
of the ladies' waiting room, an apartment
next east, 80 by 25 feet in size, and fitted
with comfortable settees for the convenience
of ladies awaiting the arrival or departure of
trains Broad folding doors open from this
room upon the passengers platform on the
north, and like doors protected by wire
screens open on the south into the dining
room. In the northeast corner is an alcove
window opening into the depot ticket office.
Back of this Office, and on its south, are stu
ate the lunch counters, which inclose large
space between the ladies' waiting room and
that for men. AZ these counters luncheon of
any desired kind can be served, and
the passenger has free choice to dine
here or enter the dining-rooIns beyond.
In the first place he can accommodate himself
or herself with meal at such price as desire
Dictates in the latter case the more elaborate
meal is served in the dinipg-room for seventy
FIVE cents, figure which travellers bear tes-
tiynony to as being exceedingly reasonable.
The waiting room for men Is the counterpart
Of tina. for women. Out of both these rooms
and either side of the lunch-counters open the
broad doors to the very. handsome dining
room, an apartment go by 40 feet in size,
and set with tables to accommodate 150 per-
sonss This room is cool and airy apart
ment and desirably lighted. The windows
sire fitted with inside blinds and wire insect
proof screens, like screens also being fitted
upon every door and opening. The tables are
Of varied sizes, to accommodate large or small
groups. are spread with new and neat ware
and handsome substantial crockery and fit
tings, and the service is by experienced wait
ers under the supervision of steward OF APP
proved ability. Six double gas hangings
light this large apartment at night. On the
eastof the diningroom and connected with it
by two sets of double doors behind large oval
screens, is the kitchen, which is model in all
respects It is large admirably ventilated,
aud SO roomy and so well fitted that the work
of the place is carried on with the utmost
dispatch and without the slightest confusion.
The range in this kitchen is one OF the largest
and best in the country, and there is no ap-
pliance known to the best character Of ranges
that is not applied to the one-in question. A
drying-cven warning-eloset are here to be
seen, and washing sinks aad dripping shelves,
etc., OF tns Hiosb tiPpfoFeu ciaiacter. LII tiiis
department " Joe Daniels, one of the best
known cooks in the country, presides. The
kitchen, under his supervision, is as clean as
" my lady's parlor," and the most scrupuldiis
regard for neatness is observable in every
nook and corner, as well as the infsxible en-
forcelnent Of the rule, A place for every
thing and everything in It's place" On the
north Of the kitchen is the pastry-room, de-
voted entirely to the work which its name
implies. Passing ont Of the kitchen on the
east and north is the yard where the birs,
storage, provision racks, ETC., are found.
Here, too, is the store house, a large and we'll
arranged building for the stock neces-
sary to answer the constant demands
of the restaurant. Adjoining this apart
ment on the north is the butcher shop for
cutting up of meats as needed for the tables.
In this shop, where the same neatness pre-
walls as throughout the establishment, is a
large refrigerator, constructed on plan
original with Mr.. Steinman. When one en-
tiers this refrigerating room from the warm
atmosphere outside he is chilled by the sud-
den transition to the cold air. Game, fowl,
meats and other perishable provisions are
kept sweet and in prime order in this cham
Der for week. Returning through the
dining room and entering the mems waiting
room before described, and passing to the
front or north side, one enters the bar and
wine room, where liquors and cigars are kept
at retail, or for passengers packages
as required. This wine-room and bar
is stocked with liquors and tobaccos
of fine brands, which are selected with
special care. All the California wines come
from one of the most approved vineyards in
the State, where neither pains nor money is
spared in the culture Of the vine, the extrac-
ton Of the juice of the grape, and the proper
preparation of wines. Were there rooms for
lodgings attached to the establishment thus
hastily sketched, it would be complete
hotel, as in all other respects, table service,
kitchen and other appointments it is of the
first-class order. Above the waiting-rooms
and the ticket Office is second story, APP
preached by outer stairways-aH beneath
the general roof of the great nave
which lead up in the east and
west to hanging balcony, opening off
of which are the offices of Superintendent
Pratt and White, the train dispatcher's
rooms and other offices, all being finished uni
formly with the lower apartments, and ad-
mirably adapted to the use to which they are
devoted. This, in brief, is sketch of that
portion of the new depot in which is EN-.
braced the department, a visit to which at
dinner or lunch time, or indeed any other
time, will explain what is meant by the
head line of this local, .Depot Living"
INDEPENDENT ORDER OF RED MEN.-The
Grand Stamm of the U. o. r. NJ, or Inde-
pendent Order of Red Men, will meet in this