Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-07-23
CIRCUS TWO DAYS
Bsrnum & Bailey Will Arrive in Rock
Island Early Tomorrow
MUTniUg.
TRAVEL IN FIVE TRAINS
Immense Outlay Required to Feed the
Army of People and Animals
During Stay Here.

The Barnum & Bailey show will ar
rive in Rock Island tomorrow morn
ing. and il goes without saying that
large contingent of local enthusi-
asts will be on hand to welcome it.
There is nothing in the amusement
line that interests the general public
quite 50 much as a circus. From the
time the first Of the five long trains
Of cars used in transporting the para
phernalia of the show arrives until
the canvas city is erected and ready
there will be something interesting
to see The runs" where the cars
are unlOaded will be the first scene
of activity, but interest viii quickly
shift to the grounds, which will be
the home of the show for the next Sc
hours. The first wagons TO arrive on
the lot will be those carrying the camp
paraphcrnalia. These viii be unload
cd as rapidly as possible. and in less
than an hour the cook and dining
tents will be up and preparations I'M
der way for breakfast. There are
over 900 employees of the big show
who board at this travelling hotel,
one of the most interesting adjuncts
of the institution.
In Europe this department of the
show attracted universal attention, and
several governments detailed mill
tary officers to travel with the show
and study the methods employed in
providing for the physical needs Of
the circus army. Many of the hints
secured in this way have since been
adopted in the French, Austrian and
German military service. The Ger
man emperor being particularly i'm
pressed by the marvellous celebrity
with which this and all other depart
ments of the great show were hand
led. In fact. il was a very general
belief in Berlin that the emperor had
visited the show incoGnito, and per
sOnally confirmed the reports which
his officers had given him.
Money Interested.
1t requires a considerable outlay of
money To feed the circus army, and
this money is distributed among the
business men of the city where tn"
show exhibits. Very little is carried
over from day to day. except possibly
canned goods. The big refrigerator
on wheels, which is a necessary part
OF the commissary paraphernalia,
rarely contains at night more than suf-
fcient meat for the next days break
fast. The daily requirements of the
cook tent average about as follows:
from 1000 to 1900 pounds of meat, -
barrels of potatoes, S barrels of beets,
carrots and turnips for soup. etc. 10
pounds of coffee. from 80 to 40 pounds
of tea. and two barrels of sugar. In
addition to these generous supplies the
daily requisitOn of the chef calls for
four cases of canned goods, 600 loaves
of bread an immense amount of but
ter and from so to 100 gallons of milk
when it can be secured. All OF these
supplies have been contracted for in
advance, and they will be delivered on
the show ground Immediately after the
circus arrives.
Following the erection of the dining
tents. the big pavilion used for hous-
ing the horses will so up. There are
$50 draught horses, 40 ring horses.
and 90 horses in the equine depart
ment; and during their stay in this
city they will eat several tons of hay.
500 bushels of oats, 40 bushels of corn
and 1000 pounds of bran. The horses
tents are usually open to the public
and an inspection of the fine stock
contributes a great deal to the pleas
ure of visit TO the show.
Pavilion For the Animals.
The next tent to go up will be the
menagerie pavilion. 1t is necessary to
erect this tent early in order TO pro-
tect the animals from possible inclem-
ent weather. as well as to prevent the