The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-01-08
AtchisOn Provides a Hotel For
Its HOboes.
Gives Tramps Bed and Neal For
Short Work.
Hot AND COLD WATER
Porcelain Bath Tub For Those
Who Desire.
In Fact Every thing But a Bar
Der For Migrants.

Atchison, Jan. S-This town claims to
treat tramps better than any other city
in the United States, and also contends
that it has the hobo better regulated
than any other place. 1t is a violation
of the city ordinances here for any one
to feed tramps. They are cared for in
the city hall, where special depart
ments have been made for them, and
where meals are served three times a
day. When a 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'' at residences are also
informed Of the tramp quarters.
The tramp quarters are looked after
by the city jailer, the police department
being in the city building. When a
tramp wants lodging he appears before
the jailer, registers and deposits his
baggage, if he has any, in the Office, as
he would at a hotel. He is then es-
corted into the sleeping room. Around
the sides of the wall are hunks very
much like tourist sleeper hunks. The
hunks are two layers high and can ac-
commOdate IS dodgers at one time. The
hunks are filed with fresh hay every
night, on which the dodgers sleep, near
~ 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 artificial 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 a
hole in the floor into the sewer. The
framps have electric lights and
a stove, and plenty of coal.
A new and important addition to the
tramp quarters is a bathroom with por-
celain bathtub, and hot and cold water
The bathroom is heated by steam. and
there is a 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
the city ten cents each, and, While there
is no pie nor 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 bill of fare
often includes pickles, Sauerkraut, to-
matoes, beans, hominy, rice. etc. If a
tramp wants a, shave, he can get
razor and looking glass from the jailer,
kept for the purpose. The only prOVi-
sion is that he must shave himself, or
get one of his pals to shave him. The
police department does not furnish
barber.
In return for lodging and meals, every
tramp must work two hours on the
rock pile, breaking up macadam for the
streets. If tramp applies a second
time for lodging and meals, he must
work six hours on the rock pile, and,
if he shows up a third time, he is fined
for vagrancy and thrown into Jail for
from 20 to 100 days. If a tramp is too
dirty he is ordered to take a bath and
If he refuses a charge of vagrancy is
placed against him, and he is sentenced
to 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.
The system collects the tramps under
the eye of the law for the night
and they can not commit offenses
Those that fear to show their faces at
the police department are considered
suspicious characters by the police and
arrested. If they can not give a good
account 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 turned over to the authorities in
towns where they are wanted. Often
1aborers are wanted, and in such cases
the tramps are informed where they can
get work. During the winter months
the number Of dodgers averages about
fifteen a night. Some hoboes must
have been patriotic and enlisted in the
army, for the number registered at
Atchison has been generally smaller
since the war with Spain