Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-10-29

manned Should you chance to be here
early some fine morning you will see for
midable quantities of meats, fish, poultry,
vegetables, fruits, liquors, canned goods
and Ice In process of transfer from bagga &c
cars to be slowed away in big refrigera-
tor or piled on capacious shelves. Perish
able products have to be renewed or re-
plenished daily, while Of non-perishable
material large stock is always kept on
hand
At the southern end of the building is
huge kitchen, clean and shining as pol.
ished onyx, where the larger joints and
poultry are roasted and the soups made
under the direction of an ebony Chef.
PROVISIONING A CAR.
When train of palace cars is made up
and the hour approaches for whirling it
down TO the Grand Central depot the
equipment service of silver, china, cutlery,
table linen, etc., has already been inspect
ed. The wine closet and the iceboxes are
filled and the cigar boxes checked off
Nothing must be overlooked or forgotten
and the presence of even particle of Dust
on the hinge of a folding fable could not
escape the Keen eye of Mr.. Taylor.
Into the refrigators of the car 60 steaks,
chops, spring chickens. etc.-everything
that may be broiled or fried in transit
where the big joints, the buildings and
other viands watch do not spoil by keep
ing as rapidly as bone from the stationary
to the movable kitchen When all is
ready the train is whisked down to the
Grand Central depot, the passengers get
aboard. the bell rings and the hotel on
wheels speeds westward like a thunder
bolt.
The value of the provender put aboard
Dining car for single trip is about
$500. All of it may be consumed, vet
hardly any OF it is to be reckoned as
wastage. The train hands are too sagac-
ious to let such edibles 60 to loss when they
are cleared out at the normal rate of
twentyfv cents per meal. Moreover the
commisslonary Can pretty closely guaee
what will be required for trip. He
| watches the mutations of traffic about as
closely as passenger agent does, and if
any exceptional rush" occurs he is al
ways prepared to meet it.
The barber shops and the libraries on
trains are also under the jurisdiction of the
commissionary department.
'There cannot be large margin OF
profit in this business?" said |, interrog-
atlVeiy, to MIR. Taylor.
THAT'S a secondary consideration,
was the reply. "Ihe dining service was
established as a necessary accommodation
to the travelling public. It saves human
nerves and digestion from a vast lot OF
needless wear and tear. 1t is within
reach of the purses of the million as well
as those Of the miliionaires, and it in
wolves a valuable economy of time to the
| railroad corporations"
Then Mr.. Taylor jumped to the tele.
phone to learn that supply of fruit
ordered for a private car had mlscarried
through tie fault of the expressman. In
less than two minutes the order was dup
heated for delivery at a point hundred
miles away.
One steward, four cooks and five walters
compose the crew OF the dining car. With
scarce y an exception they are colored.
The ex-chattel and ex-counterband has
proven himself peculiarly adapted to the
requirements of the palace car service,
whether as porter, cook or waiter.
He has a jolly time of it, too He lives
on the fat of the land and his tips are many.
He is not overworked, for, after he makes
tri to Buffalo and back, he is allowed
clay off, for thirty-six consecutive hours
When a meal is ordered on dining
car check must be given to the cook,
who deposits it in box provided for the
purpose. When the bill is paid dupli-
cate check is deposited by the steward in
a similar box. So, too, with the wine
room or buffet, and the various checks
must tally at the end of the trip. 1t
would be very hard matter to defraud
the company Ivy collision or otherwise. If
wine is broken because Of the swaying mo-
ton Of the cars the sealed necks of the
bottles must be produced in evidence.
If you have the money and the inclina-
tan you can charter hotel car, take your
friends along, hire a crew Of from two to
ten persons and travel at your leisure all
over the continent. The company will
furnish the commissariat if desired. The
cost of such composite car for ten days or
more, including attendance, average about
$40 per day. To this must be added the
cost of hauling, which, east of Chicago
and St. Louis. is fixed at minimum of
eighteen full first class fares, and west of
these points at a minimum of fifteen fares
Should you possess very long purse and
want to do things in the style BETTING O.
modern Cr9sus, you may procure a whole
train, consisting of dining car one or more
sleepers, an observation car, and a COM
posite car. having a baggage conpart-
ment, smoking room, library, barber
shop and bathroom.
Verify, we want the best, 'and we must
have it. IN. Y. Herald.
WISCONSIN NEWS,