New-York tribune., 1902-01-19
SALOON SUBSTITUTES.
TRAVELLING COFFEE WAGONS PROVIDE
HOT MEALS FOR MOTORMEN, FIRE
MEN AND OTHER NIGHT
WORKERS.

One of the most interesting parts or the pro
gramme at the annual meeting of the 1hurc"
Temperance Society. held at the Church NlSS'on'
House Twenty-second-st. and fourIh-"Fe''
Thursday was the report of the Womans fAuN'-
iary's work In providing 'lunch wagons as
substitute for the saloon. The report Whlcn was
read bv Miss II. X Graham. recording secretary
said in part
In the first place. these wagons serve as chea
Of bringing their dinner in pail prefer dme VAIN arm
luncheon in the wagon There rs Is mo mo fpee lunch
offered by the saloons but for these WAGONS az
they have been successful from hnanclal pony "
view, only serves to show that they have met "a a
need and that the average workingman WIN
food in preference to taking the so-ea'eo ''eo
Dnrne the YEAR ending December 81 1901 S52 34'
10 cent meals have served in the seven wagons
Of the society and seventeen free Iced water t9nh-
taine have heen maintained from the profits Ihe
fountains are placed In localities where lhe teht-
the dreadful heat Of American summer. anu
the constant stream OF people e Wt to iber nsefui
ness New York has very few places where 1TanM 1,
records with pleasure the fact that many ch4rGhes
and private citizens are recoghlSns ma thn ro,,n
tairs where the passerhy may quench ms thirs'
The coachmen's coffee van is handsome little
wagon intended to provide refreSnmeht lot i tine
ments. The temptation TO take GTnK att AT the neaa @
est saloon while %aps IN she eSS does " not help the
coachman to handle his horses Wilh sIeauiness @
Iidng Tereshment for the men outside. and 1t has
be recognized that the CoachndH van IL
always in attendance.
COFFEE FOR MoToRMEN.
Having provided for the coaehman. the auxiliary
next turned its attention to the motoTmen. VINO no
the full brunt of the storm and who half frozen
by the time they reach the end OK their re p9Ie ne.
recording secretary, and whenever the weather de-
i;'' Ply Of hot te coffee which is given free the
motormen at different parts Of their route; tn, The
coffee is in insulated tanks, that II may De kept
hot for many hours.
The auxiliary also sends the coffee van TO the
fremen duty, having arranged with the chief
OF the Fire Department to have the van summoned
by telephone to all fires where the men are likely
to be on duty many hours.
The report states that from the wagon funds a
piano bought and presented to the free reading
room of Squirrel Inn. which has added greatly 10
the enjoyment OF the 30 men who are to be found
at the weekly entertainment given there every
Tuesday night.
TO FOUND READING ROOM
The auxiliary is now trying 10 large
reading for the eight hundred longshoremen
on the docks between Gansevoort Market and
Twelfthst. but has not Yet succeeded in the effort
The report goes to say;
The society. OF which the auxiliary is a part.
rea lies that It must wait for the day OF large
things, however much IT may & desire re- then h , oat
in every way that presents itself The mind or the
CIVILIZED world, has become awakened to The extent
and danger OF the liquor trathc. and Is seeking Tor
the best methods for restricting IL.
The idea is gaining ground that the temptation
OF the saloon can best be resisted by improved
conditions OF life. by better housing ot The poor
and by infusing into the dun lives OF the people
innocent recreation and JOY. 1t has been
stated recently by DR. Gould that in Of the
congested districts OF this city a space OF 5li
by 3.4 yards there exist las saloons. In Glasgow,
the Peoples Palace-au institution comprising "A
museum, winter garden. picture gallery and
concert hall-has been visited I'm ten months by
30, 900 people. In England the coffee house
ment has spread over the land and companies are
being formed by men OF high standing aud
reputation for the purpose uf acquiring public
houses and conducting them the lines OF the
GOthenburg system. which has been tried in Sweden
and Norway.
In Russia the government has taken complete
control Of the manufacture and sale OF vodka I'm
all the provinces east OF the trals: closed all
the drinking saloons and has substituted hundreds
OF tea shops libraries. reading rooms halls
and chelp theatres, where the people may find
entertainment without liquor The Russian Govern
ment proposes to spend $2.0o0Oo0 for this purpose
during the coming year. The holiday and Sunday
entertainments given under the auspices OF the
Polytechnic Institute have beGn largely attended
and are said to have resulted In a decrease OF 20
FER cent in absences from work due to lntoxca
its effects