The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-04-01
Higher Glass of Rooming Places
Are Being Improved for Dis
eliminating Customers.
NO MORE ROOM FOR "HoBoEs."
Second Street Quarters Are Reno
waited and Increase in Prices
Applies to All Grades of
Cheap Lodgings.

Tia prosperity has permeated every So
cial stratum IN s.. Louis. even unto the
class Of persons who p%atronize cheap
iodgins-houses, Is emphasized by the i'm
provements made and prices raised IN the
latter institutions. The Scent lodging
house has disappeared.
II Is now impossible to find n retreat in
the city like the one which was formerly
located on Market between Main and Sec
ond streets. whore the men laid fat on an
alleged pallet and rested their heads on a
rope for q pillow. The rope was also sery-
iceable for awaking the dodgers: a Jerk on
one end gave the sleepers a shock that is
said to have suggested a sudden attack Of
spinal meningitis
| In the cheapest places n system Of poking
the sleepers in the Ribs to prevent awaking
Others who desire to sleep late has been
adopted Where the dodgers occupy little
fartitioned stalls. called rooms. the porters
use long poles and a step Ladder FOR the
poking process This saves knocking on
The doors, Other provisions for the COM
Tort OF dodgers. heretofore unknown in the
cheaper class OF houses. are being provided.
place OF abode OF this character. To-
being renovated. Yesterday paInters were
engaged in putting up new signs. which
proclaim the, TACT that rates are now ID and
The increased rates apply to all grades of
lcdginS-houses. The comparatively high
toned places. TO be found principally on
Sixth. Seventh apd Market streets. which
formerly charged from % to % cents a
night. have advanced the schedule to 3
cents minimum and 81 maximum.
SOME ARE ATTRACTIVE
These places are being put in such condI-
ton that they approach the dignity OF hotels
and will be DatrOnized by thousands OF per-
sons who would have preferred to walk the
co~mmodatiOns under the old regime. Al
ready the houses are beginning to take care
larly true OF several on Sixth between Olive
and Market streets. and IN Market from
Sixth street to Union station.
The medium grade OF clearinghouse. and
also the most numerous. formerly charged
from 10 10 s. cents a night The new prices
range from 20 TO 50 cents.
On the Ievee and along Main and Sec
ond streets. from Washington avenue down
70 Chouteau avenue. the disappearance OF
cents is now the prevailing price. and for
particularly choice 'kips." az the dodgers
cali their lowly beds. as much as l. cents
Is asked and obtained.
a proprietor OF one Of these places. the
atmosphere Of which reminded one. OF
somebody shoeing q horse" was asked II
season when 50 many OF his class OF Gus
toners ind lumber piles on the Levee at
%tractiye resting places.
He stated that there are so many working
men In st. Louis who ind II necessary 70
spend n night or more downtown that he
can now IN up his house with a desirable
class OF customers.
PASSING OF "BUMs."
The day OF the lo~dging-houso buns is |
passing" said the landlord. Most OF our
customers are men who have just come to
81. Louis looking for work. The find a |
Job In n day or two and then get a perma- |
nent room In the residence part Of town. i
large class are Worlds Fair Ia 4
bOrers and railroad gangs. who come in ]
once I'm awhile to see the sights. |
These men can afford to paw 10 and IS |
cents for a bed. and we can afford to say |
10 the scent hobo or CRATER. on your /
way Soon all % the old, cheap lodgings |
be cleaned as they were never cleaned
before. We will be able to keep them clean |
keeping out some OF the great I'M
washed" |
In this connection proprietors OF dozens
Df lodgtnE-houses visited by a Republic |
reporter stated that the demand for lodg-
ng IS so great that they can choose their
/
Though the prices have been raised TO 10
cents along the Levee. no evidence was
OF any attempt TO improve the quail
ty Of the Lodgings This was explained by
he fact hat the patrons there are al
most exclusively river roustabouis who have
lever made any claims TO aestheticism.
II tho r~oustabouts do not happen TO prefer
/ bed to something TO drink or eat when
he last dime Is fingered. they have the al
.ternative OF sleeping IN muskrat fashion
somewhere along the the Levee-
Lees saloon. at No. 400 North Levee. pro-
tdes free lodging. On the upper hoor the
lay as close as spoons in a
and sometimes when the place closes
he bar e filled with sleepsrs. Other grog-
cries offer the Same Grimy. dark and
moke-laden quarters until south winds blow
he inmates into the open air.