Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1905-03-29
THE OCEAN STEAMERS
FLOATING CITIES WITH A VARIETY
OF OCCUPATIONS.
The Diversion of Industry ana the
Trades md Professions That Are
Represented In the Crew of n Great
Atlantic Liner.

lhe Inversion OF Industry and the
Trades md Professions That Are
Represented In the Crew of n Great
Atlantic Liner.
The great Atlantic liners have often
been described as floating cities, and
IN at least one particular the compari-
son Is entirely acculate-that is to say,
in the variety of occupations represent
ed on shipboard. y big steamship will
in her fight from land to land carry u
population of perhaps 2,0c0, of whom
the majority, of course, are passengers
people of all professions and lines
of business Leaving passengers out
of account, however, and considering
only the 500 or thereabouts who go to
make up the liners crew, one will cas-
lily find representatives of nearly all
the trades of thriving community
ashore.
This diversity Of industry represents
an evolution-Or, rather, n revolution
that has come along with the develop
ment OF the gigantic modern steam
ship. In the old days of sailing ships
all the members of the vessels crew
were sailors and performed one part or
another of sailors work. Even the
redoubtablc cook was usually much
better versed in matters relating to
spars and ratlines than he was in the
secrets Of the culinary art. But today
the status is different. Navigation Of
the big Atlantic tiiers Is complicated
task, and the number Of men required
to carry it on is ten times greater than
on even the biggest ships of a century
ago. The variety of their vocations
has of course been multiplied to corre-
spond with the increased compleXity.
The sailors are in small minority
nowadays. True, you will see num-
Der Of seamen on the big ships, and
these still have their duties to perform,
duties which, however, have nothing
to do with the handling of sails, for
not in n number of years has canvas
been spread on any of the big liners.
But common sailors seem few in COM
parison with the men of other trades
whose usefulness on shipboard the sea
captain of generation or two ago
would have found hard to explain or
even understand.
Some of the greatest changes in the
conditions of service have come about,
naturally enough, through the intro
duction of steam machinery. The pres
ence Of machinery means that the liner
must carry not only a number of engi-
neers, but also several machinists to
iy,n ln al
ism of pumps and blowers and deck en-
gines which big vessel carries. Then,
since every great passenger ship is pro-
vtded throughout with modern plumb
ing system, she must have in readiness
a. nuali nlin,isos sSrs,ns.t >lnrstt-
| clan is also needed to look after the
electric lighting plant, a refrigerating
| engineer for the cold storage plant and
number of other representatives of
different branches Of the engineering
profession.
Instead Of the ancient cook with his
very limited accomplishments the up to
date liner has an expert chef, besides
bakers, confectioners and also the other
| gastronomic specialists to be found in
the big fashionable hotels ashore. A
| ships butcher cuts the roastS and
| joints and takes general charge Of the
meat supply, and there are several
storekeepers, who, it is true, do not sell
goods, but who keep as exact account
, Of all the groceries and other supplies
issued for the use of passengers and
crew as though their livelihood depend
ed upon 1t.
Besides these, every liner carries {
barber, for passengers long ago gave
up the habit of going unshaven from
beginning to end of the voyage. The
barber has comfortable little shop
and next door to him perhaps is in
stalled the barkeeper, who from thu
nature of his clientele is required to b'
adept in mixing the drinks Of all M
tions. Still more surprising to the mex
perienced traveller it will perhaps be tt
learn that the big steamships carr!
four or Ave bootblacks to keep the pas
sengers in shines.
OF the learned professions the onl.
one regularly represented is that o
medicine. Every liner carries n sur
geon, who not only attends to pas
sengers or members of the crew win
may fall i'll, but who is also charged
with the general supervision Of tn
health and sanitation Of the vessel
There are usually plenty Of .'sea law
yers" on board-not that there is an.
demand for legal services-and If clergy
men are not among the passengers til
. captain or purser is qualified to rea'
the service ON Sundays.
The issuing Of paper containing tele
!. graphic news involves of course an ed
. tor and wireless telegrapher. Th
editorial duties are assumed by tn
purser, and the wireless operator no
only receives the news for the ship
paper, but takes and transmits mes
sages for the passengers as well. Th
ships printer prints not only the ship
{ newspaper, but the daily menus an
concert programmes as well.
, Most Of the liners carry one or NOR
: musicians. Some have fully equippe
bands that furnish daily music, an
: those liners which do not include
l complete musical outfit have at leas
y one or more buglers to sound the call
, for meals and for inspection.
Every liner has on board carpente
o who makes necessary interior repair
' and looks after the boats tanks an
. wells, and there are to be found anon
I the stewards and seamen handy men {
= other trades. All of which goes
show that the modern floating city
is very cosmopolitan and, If need b