Omaha daily bee., 1906-08-19

things are all generally appreciated by
the employees. Speaking of this feature
Of factory life, Manager Roberts said:
"It would be a hard matter to state Just
what results have been accomplished
through the lunch room conveniences, but
our experience has been that II is a good
thing and that the end justifies. the
means"
NJ. e. Smith Compnny's Plans.
Present conditions at the M. Z. Smith
factory. one Of Omaha's largest manufac-
turing institutions, are such that space
cannot be spared for lunch room, but
the management has taken up the idea
seriously in connection with their new
building to be erected on Ninth street, be-
tween Farnam and Douglas. The Smith
factory at Eleventh and Douglas streets
now has 800 girls and 20 boys and men,
and the needs of a lunch and rest room
have impressed the officers Of the COM
pany to the extent that they sent Mrs.
Doebeck, one of their forewomen, to the
east to investigate the lunch room feature
In eastern factories and report on her
findings. II is understood that Mrs Doe
becks suggestions will have much weight
In arranging for the lunch room in the
new M. f. Smith factory.
At present the Smith company furnishes
free tea and coffee to the employees and
local institutional workers hold short noon
day services at the factory and bring books
and reading matter. Arthur c. Smith,
president Of the NJ. e. Smith company, is
convinced that the lunch room feature 10
wise provision, giving the employer
call on the better class OF help. He said
there are no particular philanthropic mo-
tives involved but merely a desire on the
part OF employer to make the employed
comfortable and thus better the service.
1t naturally makes the employees more will
ing and agreeable.
Y. w. G. A. "CentraI station
The Young womens Christian association
lunch and rest rooms, though largely OF an
institutional character, takes up the work
where 1t is left of by the private institu-
tions and performs a work that is appre-
ciated in popular way. Tho association
lunch room is patronized by hundreds of
girls and women who work in Offices and
stores and the good that results is far
reaching. The purpose kept in mind by
those in charge OF the Young women's
Christian association rooms is to furnish
the members OF their sex home-like place.
where the noon hour may be spent amid
cheerful surroundings. where a lunch or a
cup or tea or other drink may be secured
at practically cost price and the mind re-
freshed for the afternoon session OF work.
The place is one OF the busiest lunch rooms
in the city during the noon hour
The association lunch rooms are open
from 11:S0 to 1880 each weekday and $50 to
on Saturday evenings The main room
Is a commodious one, facing Farnam street,
and equipped with twenty-six tables, having
seating capacity of IT'S Each day at IL 30
line Of girls and women may be seen
waiting for the door to swing open, for
Miss Bertha NJ. Davis, business secretary
Of the association, is a stickler for punctu-
ality and sees to 1t that the rooms are open
during the stipulated hours. order, one OF
heavens first laws. being in vogue at the
lunch rooms
When the door Is opened each one takes
astray from a table near the door, passes
inside rail- is given a strip bearing num-
bers from 1 to IS. walks along to the va
rious departments-such as coffee and tea,
desert and salad. meats and vegetables
receiving each article OF food or drink as
ordered. As the patron passes out of the
kitchen department her order is indicated
on the strip. which Is handed to the cashier
upon going out. The girls assemble at the
tables and aid digestion with table talk
and friendly association.
The average sale amounts to about 1:
cents, many being less than that sum
Many bring their lunches and buy only
drinks at the room, while some buy hearty
meals. The average daily attendance al
the rooms during May was 55l, while fol-
the year ending March 81 the average was
$50.
When a reporter ventured into the asso.
citation lunch rooms during the noon ses-
sion the following menu was posted uI
over the large receptacles OF steamins
viands: Roast lamb. Z cents; meat pie. 4