Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-03-28
FLOATING HOTELS.
Stocked with a Three Months Supply.


Stocked with Three Months supply.
Few people realize the vast amount Of pro-
visions needed to victual large ocean steamer
bound on q long voyage, such, for instance, as
those belonging to the fleets Of the Peninsular
and Oriental Company, running from Europe
to the East Indies and China. Of the Royal
Mail, bound to West India and Brazilian ports;
Of the Orient, to Australia; of the Pacific
Steam Navigation Company, running to both
coasts Of South America; Of the Messageries
Maritlmes Cast, West and South, and Union,
running to the Cape Of Good Hope and East
African ports. A passenger steamer Of one of
these companies. of from 4 ZOO to 5000 tons bur
den, may have on board some 700 or more
souls. Of these perhaps 200 will be saloon pas
sengers. few secOnd-class passengers. and
probably 800 third-class or steerage passengers
The ships company will number something over
$50, of whom there will be some eight or ten
cooks, a couple of bakers, confectioner, two
or three butchers and nearly so stewards. wait
ers and servants. The voyage out and back
may occupy some 10 or Is weeks. glance at
her provender accounts will show that the
quantities OF stores of various kinds that must
be provided will be something like the fol-
some $4,000 bottles of beer and ale,
about 1000 bottles of spirits. 1900 to 2.OO0
bottles of champagne 4, 600 or 5000 bottles of
other wines, large quantity of claret OF other
light wine in the wood together with from
5000 to $4,000 bottles Of mineral waters and
tonics. Eighty or 80 tons of ice. provided the
steamer has no ice-makrng machine, with which,
however, nearly all the frst-class steamers of
the above mentioned lines are now provided,
suggest to the traveller cooling drinks to any
extent when the tOrrid ATTITUDES are reached.
Milk Is laid In to the extent of some 600 or
1.5IO tins of the condensed article, and in the
refrigerator may probably be found from 200 to
500 gallons Of the article as 1t comes from the
COW. Quite number of the larger passenger
steamers carry cow or two on board, in order
to supply milk to the children of passengers.
About 900 pounds of tea and
TON OF COFFEE
are laid in for consumption during the voyage,
and about 5000 to 5000 pounds Of sugar pro-
vide sweetening for them. Some 2OOOO gallons
of fresh water are stored in the tanks In the
hold, and the condensers supply, perhaps, 1,5O0
gallons daily for use in cooking, washing and
drink for the animals and fowls
In the pantry store room and laZarette. the
stewards forethought is illustrated by the ample
provisions he has stored away In every aVaila-
BILE place. There will be found about $500
pounds butter, 1900 or 5000 hams. and /. 900
or 500 pounds Of biscuits or hard bread, not
such as are served to the crew, but a fine quail
ity for the passengers and officers. OF dessert
stores, such as figs, almonds, muscatels
and the like, there will be about 1000 pounds.
Fresh fruits are not taken into this catalogue,
as they are supplied ad libitum at every port
quantity as will possibly keep is laid in before
leaving. There will also be ], 500 pounds of jams
and jellies; of canned meats some 5, 900 pounds.
and 1,5OO pounds of dried beans. AS chicken
broths, nourshing soups, and beef tea are
required to restore to their normal conditions
nofo ,l,o
be deprived of the exercise of their natural
functions by the attacks of the insidons and
debilitating mal-de-mer, rice and onions are
among the necessities. glance around
this fact in mind, and that he has
provided some $500 pounds of rice and two
tons OF onions. Potatoes IN the quantity of
some fifty tons are in sight, and three tons of
flour in sacks promise an ample supply of what
the common seaman calls ''sOft chuck" In
order that the passengers shall not suffer for
want of eggs some 10000 are laid down for
their consumption while on board their floating
home. The quantity of fresh vegetables sheep
pigs, geese, turkeys and fowl supplied depend
upon circumstances. If the ship has several
ports Of call, but small quantity is taken in at
the start. as the supply can be readily replen-
ished at each port, and thus a vast amount of
room for their storage and a great deal of Dor
in their care and protection may be saved
About "a bullocks and SO sheep, with IL pigs
COuSluoTeO
FAIR SUPPLY
to be laid In when leaving the home port. The
aliusion to seasickness reminds one that there is
a.full-fedged MD. on board, whose dispensary is
as well stocked with drugs az an ordinary
apothecary shop. Among his effects may be
seen pound of quinne four or five gallons of
''blackdraught," seidlitz powders in guam
titles of Is or 90 pounds. castor oil by
the gallon, and 100 pounds Of that universal
medicine used on shipboard epson salts. Those
who have ever had occasion to 20 down to the
sea IN ships, realize with what alacrity that
physic is snatched from the medicine chest and
administered to any one who may need medical
or surgical treatment. If man falls from aloft
and breaks limb; If he is threatened with q
fever; or in fact, should he be q prospective
sufferer from any one of the thousand -and-one
ills that flesh Is heir to. the chances are that
salts will be prescribed and as promptly forced
down his unwilling throat. Among the small
stores may be found 900 lemons and q large
quantity of lime juice, the former, equally with
the latter. possessing anti-scorbutic properties
The major portion of the above-named stores. II
will be understood, are for the first-class pas
sengers. and nearly all of them are consumed
by the passengers and officers.
OF course Jack is not fed on jams. jellies or
chickens. but has to fill his stomach with the
"Dloody pound and pint" rations. in accordance
with the laws of admiralty made and provided
for his care and keeping. Salt beet and pork,
technically denOlninated ''salt horse" s.minis-
ters' faces and Jews food" are the staple
articles of his diet. varied with salt fish, pea and
bean soups, ''soft tacks," scouse, and occasional
allowances of duff" For the use of her popu-
lation this same steamer requires COO sheets.
1000 blankets. 5000 towels. 1900 pounds of
various soaps. 1900 pounds of candles, provided
she be not fitted with electric lights; 1000
knives $500 plates, 800 cups and saucers, 5000
glasses, 800 table cloths and 1900 glass cloths.
Now let the reader imagine the supply of coal.
oil, bOatswains stores and other necessary
equipment for the voyage, all furnished on the
same mammoth scale and it will readily be seen
that the fitting out Of an ocean steamer requires
vast outlay Of money.
A TRYING TEST,