The state herald., 1900-01-19
CITY FEEDS TRAMPS.
ArcAlsoN's HorELFoR AosoEs
Whore Knights of tho Road Arc Warmed
and Fed-Must Work Two Hours for
he'd of Hay and Tsu-Ce Brexkfast

The correspondent of the Chicago
Record, writing from Atchison, Kan.
sas, says:
This town claims to treat tramps
better than any other city In the
United States, and also contends that
1t has the hobo better regulated than
any other place. 1t is IL violation of
the city ordinances here for any one
to feed tramps. They are cared for
in the city hall, where special apart
ments have been made for them, and
where meals are served three times a
day. When tramp stops "A pedestrian
ON the street and asks for money with
which TO buy food, he is directed to
the city building, and box car tourists
who beg "hand-outs' Mt residences are
also informed Of the tramp quarters.
The tramp quarters are looked after
by the city jailer, the police depart
ment being in the city building. When
a tramp wants lodging, he appears be-
fore the jailer. registers, and deposits
his baggage, If he has any, in the
Office, us he would at u hotel. He is
then escorted into the sleeping ROOM
Around the sides of the wall are hunks
very much like tourist sleeper bunks
The hunks are two layers high and
one time. The hunks are filled with
fresh hay every night, on which the
dodgers sleep, nearly always with their
clothes on. They have blankets, which
are kept free from vermin, and, in
fact, the room Is thoroughly disinfected
every few days. The floor is of artl-
fetal stone and is so made that the
hose can be turned on and the walls.
hunks and floor washed clean, and the
water runs through II hole in the floor
into the sewer. The tramps have elec-
tric lights and n stove, and plenty of
coal.
a new and important addition to the
tramp quarters is n bathroom with
porcelain bathtIb, and hot and cold
water. The bathroom Is heated by
steam, and there is bed in the room
In which the Wandering Willie can lie
down If he Is fatigued from the effects
of water.
The meals served to the tramps cost
fhe city 10 cents each. and. while there
is no pie nor cake in the bill of fare.
the food Is wholesome and there Is
plenty OF 1t, and a sufficient variety to
satisfy the appetite. Some kind of
meat is served with each meal and also
potatoes. bread and coffee. The bill
of fare often includes pickles. sauer-
kraut. tomatoes. beans, hominy, rice.
etc. lf n tramp wants shave, he can
get razor and looking glass from the
jailer. kept for the purpose. The only
provision Is that he must shave him
self, or get one of his pals to shave
him. The police department does not
furnish n barber.
In return for lodging and meals,
every tramp must work two hours on
the rock pile, breaking up macadam
for the streets. II Il tramp applies a
second time for lodging and meals. he
must work six hours ON the rock pile,
and, II he shows up third time, he
Is fined for vagrancy, and thrown into
jail for from twenty TO hundred
days. If II tramp is too dirty he is
ordered 10 take bath, and IL he re-
fuses a charge of vagrancy Is placed
against him. and he is sentenced so
work on the streets of the city or ON
the rock pile.
Tramps are not taken care of in this
manner altogether ON humane grounds.
inc system collects the tramps under
the eye Of the law for the night. and
they cannot commit offcnses. Those
that fear to show their faces at the
police department are considered sus-
picious characters by the police and ar.
rested. II they cannot give good
account of themselves they are fined
for vagrancy and the authorities look
up their records. Several crooks have
been discovered as n result of this
method and turned over to the au-
ihorities In towns where they are
wanted. Often laborers are wanted,
and in such eases the tramps are In
formed where they can get work. Dur
Ing the winter months the number OF
dodgers averages about fifteen night.
Some hoboes must have been patriotic
and enlisted In the army. for the num-
her registered nt Atchlson has been
generally smaller since the war with
Spain.
Strange TO say, the number OF colorcd
dodgers Is very small compared 10 the