Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1908-01-22
MODERN STREET CAR BARN.
Shop Equipment Includes shower
Baths, Writing and Smoking


when the Twin City Rapid Tran
sit company erected their shops in this
city, corner of University and Smelling
avenues. they had in mind primarily
the establishment of place where cars
could be built, repaired and fitted up
to suit the needs of the various sea
sons, but they did not forget their en-
ployes, Notwithstanding the many other
interests to be looked after" says the
st. Paul Dispatch.
That the company planned for the
comfort and convenience Of the men as
we'll as for the housing of their rolling
stock is shown by the fact that they
have Installed shower baths for their
benefit in one end Of the buildings, as
well as by the commodious lounging
room, which is also used as a smoking
room and writing room.
The shower bath equipment is lo-
Gated III separate room. There are
four showers, each of them having hot
and cold water That the men appre-
-date them is shown by the large mum
Der who use them daily.
The lounging room, or waiting room,
however, it may be designated, is
where the lockers are located, in which
the men keep their kit of tools and
their extra clothing
The lOunging room is located in the
building nearest the corner Of Univer-
city and Smelling avenues, and occupies
about one-third the length Of the build.
ing.
The Office where the foreman and his
assistants hold forth is in the same
building and opens into one end of the
lOunging room.
The Office is a busy place. 1t is here
that all of the men receive their sup
plies, such as transfers, envelopes, trip
sheets, change and also where they
leave their cash when they are through
with their runs.
There is always some one about the
lounging room who is subject to be
called to take a car out of the barns
Non a moments notice. TIE regulars
know just when to make tAeir appear
ance, as they have regular runs The
extra men, however, are sent out when
ever and wherever they are needed
and as Their salary depends upon the
amount of time they put In, they natur-
ally spend as much Of their time as
possible about the lOunging room,
where they can be called if some one
is wanted.
A long table occupies the center o.
the Iounging room, which serves the
purpose of a writing table The table
is long enough to accommodate forty
men on a side at one time. Each of
the eighty places is furnished with an
individual electric light, and in front
of each place is a display case, in which
are pasted the trip charts and running
time Of cars on the various lines run
ming out of the barns.
There are 432 lockers in the room.
They are placed in five tiers the two
top tiers being reached by means of
a stairway which leads to a balcony.
Each locker has a special lock, SO
that every man can leave his things in
his locker with absolute safety. They
measure about thirty inches in width
and thirty-six inches high and deep.
The lockers take up one side and
one end of the lounging room, being
placed directly up against the walls.
The other side of the room is where
the windows are located. A row Of
benches is all there is on this side, so
that nothing obstructs the light.
There are no rugs on the floor or pic
lures on the walls, but these things
do not add to the comfort of the men
in any respect The main idea of the
company has been to give the men
plenty Of room, with all the most use
ful conveniences, and in this they have
succeeded.
An Enigma in stone.