Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1907-05-22
Government Fish Car.

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An interesting feature, and one of
which many of our readers may not
be aware of is the government fish
car assigned to this district and
stationed on the Illinois Central
tracks. The car is of Pullman
make, heated with condensed steam,
and is used by Captain 7. G. Pearce
and his crew the year round as their
home. Every bit of spaceis utilized.
As you go into the car, Captains
room is at your left. This is a small
square room containing a leather
couch which makes into comfort
able bed at night and regular
Pullman upper berth. There are
two windows in this room and I'M
der one is small table which holds
an Oliver typewriter. Back of the
door is small clothespress. Next
to this room is the refrigerator con-
tanning ton of ice. There is a
compartment in it where food may
be kept cool. This opens into the
main part of the car where the fish
are kept. There are twelve tanks on
each side. The fish are either put
into the tanks or in large cans which
can be set in. These tanks are
built with inner tanks so that ice
may be put around the outside to
keep the water at the right temper
ature. They are covered with heavy
wooden covers and the sides are al.
so Of wood, presenting the appear
ance, when closed, of long wooden
seats. The fish receive the air
through rubber tubing which is
placed inside and connected with
air. Each tank has it's own tube
with nozzle attachment and an en-
CINE pumps the air through with
eight pounds of pressure to each
nozzle. The water is also piped to
the tanks in similar manner. The
walls are packed with charcoal. The
capacity of these tanks is about 20O,-
GOO fry, 10000 Fingerlings or 500
adult fish. There are five men in
charge of the car under the Captain
and this main room serves them in
many capacities. On zone side of the
car above the tanks are berths and
on the other side each man has his
own locker for clothes etc. The car
is we'll lighted as it has several
windows on cash side. Their chairs,
while rather odd, are entirely COM
Portable. They are just like the
upper part Of any chair but have no
legs and are set upon the tanks. If
they desire to write, board, kept
for the purpose, is placed on the
arms of a chair and although you
feel somewhat like baby in a high
chair it makes very convenient
writing desk. Between meals the
table is hung in the passageway but
three times day it is set up be-
tween the tanks, which help do SER
vice as dining room chairs, while
their own colored chef ministers to
the wants of the inner man. Back
of the dining, dressing, sleeping,
sitting room with combined refriger-
ator compartments, is the boiler
room which is small and fairly
bristles with shining machinery
and boilers. Between the boiler
room and the kitchen and opening
into both is coal bin holding ton
of coal. The kitchen holds tiny
range, a sink with hot and cold
water faucets and part of the coal
bin makes an excellent table. There
is formidable array of knives in
one corner and a shelf cupboard in
another. 1t is lighted by two win
dows. Every part of the car is
scrupulously neat and clean and the
men are exceedingly courteous in
their explanations Of the different
parts of the car and their functions
Visitors are always welcome and
it is we'll worth ones while.
On Friday of last week the car was
loaded with rainbow and brook
trout for distribution in Wisconsin.
This will take about ten days. The
men are all licensed engineers and
the car has its own special engine.
The government has four others of
these cars constantly employed.