The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-09-05
FEEDING The CROWD.
Church Societies in Many Cases
Supply Needs Of the
Hungry.
institutions at Fair Grounds That
Find That 1T Doesn't
Pay"

The privilege of feeding the state fair
crowds was formerly much sought for by
churches and charitable organizations,
which labored under the impression that
running a restaurant was an easy wa yto
make money for church needs. One sea-
son usually cured the people who did the
work of the idea that the work was easy,
but 1t perhaps took another season or two
for the societies to awake to the full
realization that to get donations of eat
service of many capable workers and to
buy the dinners largely in the membership
of the society did not yield any profits
worth the trouble. when a 50-cent meal
was sold for Is cents.
This year there are fewer booths feeding
people for the good of any cause. This Is
partly because most Of the churches have
got into financial position that does not
demand such strenuous labor on the part
of the few and partly because experience
has taught that in order to make restau-
rant keeping pay at the fair, it must be
done on a large scale and be put on a
strict business basis, of which most such
organizations feel incapable.
All of the larger concessions for restau-
rants and lunch stands, except one, have
passed away from the churches, but the
Hamline Methodist church still does the
largest business of all restaurants on the
grounds, feeding an average Of over 1900
a permanent building and has good
equipment. The Hamline church has be-
come expert at the business, thru long ex-
| perience.
The Linden Hills mission has one of the
popular smaller dining halls this year and
the Episcopal people have taken much
pains to hunt it up to encourage this new
church. futile Universalist church is an
other old-timer in the business that al
ways enjoys a good patronage. Other
Minneapolis churches that have been ca
| tering to the wants of the material man
for a consideration are st. Stephens, Chi
cago Avenue Baptist, Bethlehem Presby-
| terrain, Emmanuel Baptist, Nazareth Uni
versalist and Bethel Lutheran, nearly all
of which have experimental in the work
before. Experience has taught them to
temper their generous impulses with bust
ness and there is less of the something
for nothing method. A better apprecia-
ton of the value of the service rendered
and the high price Of provisions has forced
prices up quite uniformly. All Of the bet
ter places have charged so cents for dinner
and it has been difficult to find square
meal for a. quarter, formerly almost the
universal price. I: -
! The rise In prices of meals has given
an impetus to lunch stands, most Of which
are in private .haSsds, altho some dining
halls have served both lunches and meals
The favorite, most appetizing- looking an6
smelling and most satisfactory lunch fol
the money has been the sandwiches made
either Of hamburg steaks or split sau.
sages, pan broiled on griddle while yor
wait, and served piping hot after the man.
ner of the lunch wagons on the street. A
good big sandwich of this kind and
generous and hot cup of coffee banisheC
= hunger for a good while. (