The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-08-14
IRON-CLAD HOTEL.
A Floating Citadel Where 500 Men
Are Lodged and Fed.
G. E. Graham, in Leslie's Weekly.

G.. z. Graham, in Lesies Weekly.
This hotel (The BROOKLYN kept by Uncle
Sam accommodates 500 people, including
servants, and it is only on rare occasions
that the register is not full and all the
sleeping rooms occupied. Unlike other ho-
tells, it has no regular revenue from the
bcarders, but, more to be compared with a
Utopian scheme for furthering the interests
of mankind, it furnishes free lodging and
food for those who can join its colony, as
return for service rendered.
There are no loiterers at this hotel. Those
who occupy the rooms with bath" are no
more exempt from the duties the perform
ance of which entities the boarders to the
privilege of the house, than are those of
humber mien who sleep in apartments of
lesser attractions and fewer conveniences.
Everybody does a full days work; every
Ecdy is fully repaid for that work by liv-
ing conveniences, good food. and fair,
though not extravagant salary. These sal
aries amount each month to a trifle over
$4,000, and no man, from the humbleSt
boarder at SIS per month to the highest
priced men at $3.50 per month, but fully
earns his pay.
Out of this they must purchase their own
clothes, SOAP towels. shoes and even knives
and forks while about thirty-three of
them who are interested in the active man
agement of the great hotel, although not in
it's financial output, furnish their own food,
drawing out a proportionately larger sal
airy as a ration communication
The hotel itself is substantial structure,
even toward elaborateness of detail. Its
entire cost of construction was $500 900,
and it has every modern Improvement and
convenience. 1t is electric lighted, steam
heated, splendidly ventilated, has dozens of
bathrooms, with porcelain tubs and shower
bath; large promenades for exercise; large,
airy sleeping rooms; comfortable dining
rooms; a large library; plenty of lounging
places; hospital, with attendant ply
sicians, and country store where any COM
modify may be obtained at the lowest mar
ket wholesale value.
1t is not generally sought by transients,
because they are not welcome, and its col
ony, therefore, usually partakes of the ma
ture of a huge, happy and exceedingly we'll
disciplined family. In two essentials no
hotel in the world unless built and con-
Quoted on similar principles, is so hygien-
1cally or so methodlcally conducted this.
CLEANLINESS, alleged to be next to divine
recognition, is one Of the most rigid rules
of the establishment, and healthy hours by
fixture, for sleeping, working and recrea-
tlon is the second feature. 1t keeps it's own
plumbing shop, machine shop and printing
Office. You can get Jour hair cut or your
face shaved. There is a tailor q baker and
assistants, a laundry, and almost anything
else you want; and, "Eureka," you don't
have to tip your waiter at meals:
mas no partnership agreement, but of the
five hundred men who occupy the sleeping
quarters-fair sex entirely prohibited-thir-
ty-three act as managing officials. and
twenty-five are ServantS-nOt including
cooks and kitchen attendants. 1t is with
this immense and unique hotels commits
sary that this article is intended mainly to
deal. The commoner commodities of life are
purchased or made in huge quantities and
roof, exclusive Of the thirty-three manag-
erS and servants.
In one month 5000 1oaves of bread one
pound to the loaf, are made in the bake
shop, and thirty-five pounds of yeast are
consumed in the making To butter the
bread 1000 pounds per month of the best
butter obtainable are used. For breakfasts
900 pounds of coffee are used (all items now
being for the one-month period, and to
Sweeten the coffee and other things in which
SWeetenlng may be needed 1900 pounds of
sugar are consumed, while 300 pint cans of
condensed milk are used on the tables Tea
IS not so much in favor as coffee, evident
~, Tor but 100 pounds a month is its record.
In the meat line the record is quite APP
palling for the monthly consumption. Fresh
beef heads the list at 5000 pounds, while
salt pork comes next with 1890 pounds. Salt
beef touches consumption record of 1,20C
pounds, and the other meats follow with:
1a 1nVer; SCD pounds ham, o goo pounds: bacon
300 pounds; pigs feet, 500 pounds; timed
meats 800 pounds; bologna, 240 pounds. This
vast consumption of meat does not seem to
demonstrate a partiality for meat alto
gether prohibitive, for the fish bill runs up
to goodly proportions with 1900 pounds OF
fresh fish, 400 pounds of salt mackerel and
120 quarts of CLAIMS.
Such an attack upon meat and fish might
suggest an adherence by the colony of the
principles of vegetarianism, but that theory
| that the
consumption of vegetables includes 400 bush
els of potatoes, twelve bushels Of onions,
twenty bushels of turnips, 600 heads of cab
bage and 300 gallons of beans. And then, as
little relisheS on the side, there are 24O
pounds Of cheese, 500 pounds of rice, BOO
pounds of macaroni, 100 pounds of dry fruit,
800 pounds of pickles and thirty gallons of
syrup.
Table condiments and seasoning for the
food cooked are provided without stint, and
the hotel manages to consume in that way,
each month, thirty gallons of vinegar, 200
catsup, twelve pints of fiavors, 800 pounds
of salt. thirty pounds of pepper and twenty
four pounds of curry powder.
The country store connected with the hotel
is opened once month and does very
large business, not particularly lucrative,
because it is not intended to profit by sales.
The average monthly sales at the store in
clude 1900 pounds of soap, 500 pounds of to-
bacco, 500 yards of blue flannel $50 yards
of cloth, 100 ribbons. for hat bands, so suits
of underwear, 80 pairs of shoes, % pairs of
trousers, % overshirts of flannel besides
numerous wisp brooms, scrub brushes, shoe
brushes tape, pins, needles, cotton thread
knives, scissors. spoons and forks.
This great hotel in keeping its boilers sup
piled with steam, it's electric light, ventilat-
ing apparatus and machinery in general
In moving order uses about 300 worth of
coal each month, and its incidental expenses
are about s., 400 per month. It's general
daily average of cost to Uncle SAM incud-
ing salaries, is about 81, 400 per day. and for
the first time in many years he sees himself
liable this year to get a fair if not a re-
markable, return on his investment.
The name of this wonderful hotel is the
Brooklyn, the flagship of Commodore
Schleys flying squadron. Tt is a modern
engine of war, a first-class fighting ar
mored cruiser, and the underpaid men who
are its occupants are the brave hearts who.
perhaps before this article is in print, will
have, at the sacrifice of life, returned, with
phenomenally large interest, the investment
which may heretofore have appeared law
ishly extravagant.