New-York tribune., 1896-05-24
RUNNING A DINING CA
SOME PROBLEMS IN HOTELKEEP1NG AND
RAILROADING UNITED.
TOW THE CARS ARE pRovIsIoNEp AND WATCHED
TO PREVENT WASTE AND POOR sERNlpE-A
WAGNER CAR PoRTER's EXPERIENCE

TO PREVENT WASTE AND POOR sERvicE-A
WAGNER CAR poRTER's EXPERIENCE.
Every berry, every pound OF meat ana butter
every loaf Of bread. quart of milk, cream anu
item of provisioning not used or trip Is "a"
inyentoried when the train comes H. ana ''e ~
comnared with the supply that went out ana me
number OF meals served" said the superintendent
Of Pu.lman's Palace Car Company III Is only .!
rpremitt,ng care as TO details that system can W
n~eserved So far be- the train goes OUT i"''-
stocked from the NewYork markets whlc" a'c '"P
plled with the best products OF the "h''e 'o"''''
porfect rcfrgc-ators and ice used In unlimited guam
Tries make II possible TO keep fruit ana Vese'"o'eS
uriniured OF course In the case Of a buffet car
where unexpected demands are made on the supp!
and the porter needs more bread more mix o. moic
herrles the conductor buys the needed arhc'es
wherever he can but this emergency seldom occu'''
the amount needed for the average numoer Vi P"0
sencers being almost exactly guessed at Ihere are
storehouscs maintained In all the larger cities aohs
the routes for supplying the cars, ana II i
that onIv the best of everything shah be kept on
hand The main portions OF dinner are Des""
when the cook comes on board an hour or so pelore
an afternoon train starts out such as forty-hVe-
Mound roast the soups etc. As soon as the ma
ioriv OF tickets are sold the dning-car conductor
Informed OF the number and ne directs Inc qu'"'Hy
OF other food to be prepared according 10 MS Ju'h
ment II any known party OF passengers - -
he taken on at some other point, he is Informed oy
telegraph Immediately. that dinner for that mum,
Der may be got ready. Even with every care anu
tho heat Of MANAGEMENT, there Is much waste
".rhe serving of meals In either buffet or dining
car Is unprontabe. But 1t Is n necessity anu
help TO the rest OF the system. so IL must oe AeP.
IN In all standard provisions, groceries and
canned s,ufs of course. there Is no waste. bu' IN
meats and perishable articles no calculation can oe
made close enough to prevent loss Take mum
her Of roast fowls for the buffet for Instance the
number Of passengers may not be a. large as ex-
nccted and only a few are sold. The others are
good II Is true but not fresh enough 10 20 OUT on
another trip With berries and fruits II Is the same
thing also with Ash, and there always must oe 'o's
OF bread thrown away. given to the Cleaners anu
helpers about the stations. The difference between
nrst-class and second-class fare and furnishing IS
slight II Is an Intangible line that cannot he well
defined but we cannot AFFORD to cross 1t; We would
rather be on the safe side and servo no'n'hs ou'
what Is absolutely beyond criticism.
THE r,rO1-OR QUESTION ON THE CARS
rn the matter OF liquors We have to employ only
reliable porters and exercise care Almost ever!
c,a,o wa travel through has different laws In regard
IN uouor-selling In Jersey liquor can PC soiu ons
with eatab,es; when we get into New-forN' uhder
the present law II can be sold without meals WI"
license Going across into Canada II can De SOFA
AT ALL with or without meals. Michigan n"s
different law, Illinois still different one All must
- oors,der.d After July l. when the Ranes Jaw
goes into effect We shall be unable 10 serve NqioT
under any circumstances on our trains IN New
York State The Wagner Palace Car Company can
but we can't ! don't know whether the trainers OF
the law were aware OF the discrimination against
the Pullman Company not In the lis; OF tho:e
who cannot obtain licenses is included al corpora
tions organized or chartered In other States eX-
con,inr such as are common carriers This com
many has spent good deal OF money 20 prove that II
is not common carrier therefore II cannot lake oul
the 800 license. We contend that We sci seats ana
berths and provide luxurcs for the people We don't
undertake 10 convey them and their luggage from
one given point 10 another The railroad company
does that; Il common carrier and could take out
the license Two hundred dollars would exceed The
revenue from bunet liquor sales anyway 1t Is
not Il business care TO do. 30 It matters htte
whether We can sci. liquor car after jay or
not. The Wagner Company being "A Ne"-fork cor
poraton are privileged 10 take out the license.
What a good h0usckccper does once .ln six
months we do every few days" said the official IN
reference TO car housecleanng. Every time a
car comes from a trip ii is switched on TO a
side track and cleaned inside and out by competent
men and women. Windows brasses. carpets. cur
tains upholstery both stationary and movable fur
niture are subjected TO thorough scrubbing
polishing and beating. Every mattress is put out
hung ou, separately. TO be made sweet ana whole
some Any one would appreciate tbs who would
compare a car It looks when Just In from a trip
with its appearance when 1t goes out fresh. trim
and clean There Is whole array Of brushes
brooms, tubs cloths. fluids. disinfectanis, soaps.
powders and what not, kept for the use OF the
cleaners and the In charge has TO render strict
account OF every smallest detail. Otherwise there
would be no end OF waste To keep hotel In
thoroughly wholesome. good condition me manager
who is the spot. must be constantly on thH alert
II Is far difficult to insure perfect service and
appointments on train OF cars that Is out OF the
managers reach gone FOR days through the coun-
THE SPECIAL AGENTS WORK.
"You see this pile of papers? These are the re-
ports Of our special agents. inspectors who board
the various simply as passengers and note
any little imperfection OF detail or any mlsde-
meanor or oversight on the part OF porters or en-
ployes. Suci agent Is not recognized by any OF
the train people. We have many lines extending
over a large territory. II IL not possible for him
to be recognized. lie buys a meal Just IKE any
other passenger, and II any article Is not UP to the
mark In cooking or preparations II Is reported 10
US A printed list OF questions that VIII assist
him IN telling us just what we want TO know Is
furnished and he answers them all cand.dly The
questions are such as would TO any passenger
who was on the lookout for flaws and defects. II
the partitions between staterooms and compart-
ments creak when opened or closed he tells us. and
an expert is sent to ascertain why and suggest the
remedy II the carpet is worn little he makes
note OF H. II the vestibule lamps don't burn clear
he tells u.s. and rectfy the trouble speedily. II
he sees a walter or porter soliciting tip he reg
listers the fact and notes whether not the
wants Of the road socitous or Indifferent about
the passengers comfort. II the porters not
prompt in assisting people In taking the train, pac-
ing steps for their convenience. etc. We learn OF
the fact. though the place where 1t happened may
be a thousand miles away. Any surliness or negli-
cence en- the part of an employe is reprimarded at
once We demand the best attention for our
patrons II a porter hands a passenger q check
without using a salver We are told OF IT.
Are any women employed the cars?"