Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1900-01-05
A HOTEL FOR H0BO[S
Atchison, Kansas, Maintains a Host
lery For Exclusive Use Of the
Iramps
Two Hours Work Exacted For Lodg-
ing and Ten Cent
Breakfast.
A Commendable Way of Meeting
the Tramp Nuisance-How
1t Works.


claims to treat trsnnps better than any
other city in the United States, and
also contends that il has the hobo bet
ter regulated than any other place. 1t
is a violation OF the city ordinances
here for any one to feed tranlps They
are cared for in the city hall, where
special apartments have Seen made FOR
them, and where MEALS are served
three times day. When tramp stops
a pedestrians on the street and asks him
Tor money With which 10 buy food he is
directed TO the city building, and box
car tourists who beg hand at
residences are also informed of the
tramp quarters.
The tramp quarters are looked after
BY the city jailer. the police department
being il the city building. When a
tramp wants lodging, he appears be-
fore the jailer, registers. and deposits
his baggase,is he mas any. in the Office,
as he would Ut a llatei. He is then es-
earicd INFO the sleeping room. Around
the sides Ok the wall are hunks very
much like tourist sleeper hunks The
hunks are two layers high and can ac-
coinmodate thirty-five dodgers at one
time. The hunks are flied with fresh
hay every night, on which the dodgers
sleep, nearly always with their clothes
on. They have alanlSets, which are.
kept free from vernlin, and In fact,
the room is thoroughly disinfected
Revery feW daNs. This floor is of artificial
stone aud is so made that the hose can.
be turned on and the wallis, hunks and
floor washed clean. and the water runs
through a hole in the floor into the
sewer The uamps have electric lights
ard 4 stoye, and plenty of coal.
\ new and Important addition to the
tramp quarters is a bath room with
porcelain bathtnb, and hot and cold
water The bath room is heated by
steam. and there IS a bed in the room
III which the Wandering Willie can lie
doWn il he is fatigued from the effects
III water
The meals served to the tramps cos,
the city 10 cents each, and. while there
is no pie ifo, cake in the bill of fare, the
food is wholesome, and there is plenty
Of it. and a sufficient variety to satisfy
the appetite. Some kind of meat is
served With each meal, and also pota-
toes. bread and coffee. The bin of fare
often includes pickles. sauerkraut. to-
matoes. bans, hominy, rice. etc. If a
tramp wants shave he can get q ra
zor and looking glass from the jailer.
ksit for the purpose. The only provis-
iafl IS that he must snavc himself or
get one of his pals 10 shave him. The
police department does not furnish a
barber.
In return for lodging and meals, every
tramp must work two hours on the rock
rile, breaking UP inaeadam for the
streets. Ii q tramp applies a second
Tine for logging ard meals he must
work SIX hours on tho rock pile, and. If
he shows up a third time, he is fined for
vagrapcy aud thrown into jail for from
twenty 70 100 days. If tramp is too
dirty he is ordered to take 4 bath. and If
he refuses a charge Of vtgrancy is
placed against him, and he is sentenced
10 work on the streets Of the city or on
the rock pile.
Tramps are not taken care o. in this
manner altogether on humane grounds.
The system collects the ramps under
the eye of the law for the night. and
they can not commit offenses Those
that fear 10 show their faces al the po-
lice department are considered suspi-
cious characters by the police and ar
rested. If they can not give a good ac-.
count of themselves they are fined for
vagrancy and the authorities look up
their records. Several crooks have been
discovered as a result of this method
and turred OYER TO the authorities in
towns whore they are wanted. OFTEN la
borers are wanted, and in such cases
the tramps are Informed where they can
get work. During the winter months