, 1900-01-18
FEEDS TRAMPS.
A1cHIsoN's HoTELFoR HosoEs
where Knights of the Road Are Warmed
and Fed-s. ust Work Two Hours for II
Bed of Hay and IA Ton-Cent Breakfast

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
il has the hobo better regulated than
4 any other place. IL is "A violation of
4 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
4 where meals are served three times n
4 day. When II tramp stops n pedestrian
\ on the street and asks for money with
which TO buy food. he is directed to
| the city building, and box ear tourists
. who beg handouts" 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-
4 fore the %jailer, registers. and deposits
his baggage, If he has any, in the
1 office. as lie would at Il hotel. He is
/ then escorted into the sleeping room.
i Around the sides of the wall are hunks
very much like tourist sleeper hunks.
The hunks are two layers high and
can accommodate thirty-tive dodgers mt
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
4 are kept free from vermin, and, in
fact, the room is thoroughly disinfected
4 every few days. The floor is of arti-
fetal stone n Is so made that the
hose can be turned OF and the walls.
hunks and floor washed clean, and the
water runs through n hole in the loor
into the sewer. The tramps have cleo
tTic lights and a stove. and plenty of
coal.
y new and important addition to the
tramp quarters is n bathroom with
porcelain bathtab, 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 tramDs cost
the 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 it, 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. saucr-
kraut. tomatoes. beans. hominy. rice.
'''. II lihilp NHulS II SlINt, ne can
get II 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 hoes not
furnish II barber.
In return for lodging and meals.
every tramp must work two hours on
the rock pile. breaking up macadam
for the streets. If Il 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 lined for vagrancy. and thrown into
Jail for from twenty to a hundred
days. If a tramp is too dirty he is
ordered to take n bath. and if he re-
fuses n charge of vagrancy is placed
against him. and he is sentenced 10
work on he streets of the city or on
the rock pile.
Iramps are not taken care of in this
mn altogether on humane grounds.
II system collects the tramps under
the eye of the law for the night, and
they cannot commit offenses. Those
that fear to show their faces at the
police department are considered sis-
picious characters by the police and mr.
rested. If they cannot give a good
o of themselves they are fined
for vagrancy and he authorities LOOK
up their records. Several crooks have
been discovered as n result of this
method and turned I'VE to the au-
thorities in towns where they are
wanted. Often laborcrs are wanted.
and in such cases the tramps are in
formed where they can get work. Dur
ing the winter months the humble of
dodgers averages about fifteen n night.
Some hobOes must have been patriotic
and enlisted in the army. for the num-
Der registered mt Atchison has been
generally smaller since the war with
Spain.
Strange to say, the lumber of colored
dodgers is very small compared to the