The Republican journal., 1884-07-31
Feeding the Convention Crowds.
THE ENORMOUS SUPPLIES REQUIRED BY
LEADING CHICAGO HOTELS.

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THE ENORMOUS SUPPLIES REQUIRED BY
LEADING CHICAGO HOTELS.
The Chicago hotels have never been
called upon to accommodate so many
people as during the Democratic conven-
ton, except when the Templar conclave
overran Chicago in 1880 There was
then greater crowd in the city, but it is
doubtful whether the demand on the
markets was so great, because the wealth
er was warm, and people usually ate
lightly During the Democratic conven-
ton. which, in point OF numbers, was
greater by a third than its predecessor,
the Republican gathering, there was no
obstacle in the way ot gratifying the ap-
petite. The weather being cool, no evil
results threatened hearty Indulgence.
The absorbcnce of liquids is reported
by The hotels and saloons to have far eX-
crcded that of the Republican conven-
ton. An approximate estimate of the
value of the food and liquors consumed
in five days (trom Monday to Friday by
the 30, 600 additional people in Chicago
is $50 600, or an average of 81 a day
for each person. Each visitor left here
on an average s. day for the five days,
so that Chicago was richer at the end of
the convention by S750,000 deposited
here in less than a week.
The amount Of food and liquors con-
sumed was something enormous, An
idea may be formed of the quantity by a
glance at the figures Of the store keeper
OF the Palmer house. This hotel, it Is
true, accommodated more people than
any other caravansary, but the consump-
lion Of the Grand Pacific was only a little
less The Palmer house bought and
consumed in five days, commencing with
Tuesday and ending with Friday, 1892
pounds of meat, in which was included
roast beef, mutton. veal, corn beet, bacon
and hams, lamb fish. fresh pork and ten
derloin, distributed as follows: Monday,
July Z, 5,7:}6 pounds: Tuesday, July :,
1916 pounds: Wednesday, July 9, 6,265
pounds; Thursday, July 10, 5,24S pounds
Friday, July II, 3,G25 pounds.
OF ice there was used l2S, 300 pounds
in five days; Of sugar, a barrel each OF
cut-loal, granuated, and powdered sugar
a day, or 5000 pounds in five days, and
of coffee 100 pounds per day.
II is almost incredible, but in five days
the liquor consumed in this mammoth
hotel was $50 gallons Of whisky. 800 doz-
en- bottles of native and 20 dozen quarts
OF imported beer, - dozen cases Of cham
pagne, l.J dozen cases Of claret, $50 bot
ties OF ale, and 30 dozen bottles OF soda.
in addition to this 800 bottles Of apollin-
aris and 30 bottles of ginger ale were
drank, besides 24O bottles Of other mis-
celaneous fluids. During the Republican
convention 30 gallons Of whisky day
was the greatest quantity Of that fluid
consumed. During the Democratic con-
vention the amount never ran below 81
gallons a day, and on the nomination of
Cleveland 90 gallons OF whisky were
drank
In the bread bakery barrels of flour
were made each day into loaves, biscuit,
or rolls, keeping six men and two women
working night and day, while in the pas
try shop , barrels of flour, 24O dozen
eggs, and barrels of sugar were con-
sumed every "A hours. The actual num-
Der OF guests was 5000 a day, which,
With employees, made 3,5OO people whom
the Palmer House company had to feed.
When the milk, butter, fruits, and vege-
tables are added the money expended on
) days supplies at the heaviest period OF
the convention would have fed an army
Of 30 ,0UO people for similar space OF
time on salt pork and bareback. Chi
cago Daily News.