Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1910-06-17
YEARS FOOD FOR TRAVELLERS

Some Surprising Figures from an
Atlantic Line-cost was $4,000
000-Beer by the Half Mil
lion Gallons.
It must be the gyroscope attach
ment on the modern transatlantic
liner, or else the ball bearings on
which they run. which has reduced
the proverbial amount of sea sick
ness among the passengers. If it
shall turn out that they do not have
a gyroscope attachment and naviga-
ton has nothing to do with ball
bearings, readers are respectfully re-
quested to supply their own explana-
ton. That an explanation is due
comes to ores understanding after
only little examination of the
food figures relating to 1907, pictur-
csquely set forth by the chief stew
ard of one of the big lines.
Seasick passengers, no matter how
many of them are carried, could not
comfortably consume food of which
the wholesale cost was more than
100000. This is seen at once
when it is noted that the total ex-
pense for coal on the same line was
but $7,000,000, and of course none
of the boilers was seasick and their
consuming capacity is VIGOROUSLY
greater than any passenger, no mat
ter how good an appetite he has.
Before noting some of the figures
of food it isspleasing to observe some
of those relating to beverages. Now
as to champagne, which is said to be
an excellent cure and for that mat
ter preventive of seasickness, pas
sengers last year pulled the plugs
out of only few more than $1,000
bottles of champagne. When it
comes to claret the figures jump so
respectfully that it is seen that
man may rise thirst some where
west of Suez as well as east. Of that
cheerful and rudy beverage the first
class passengers consumed 129, 2O9
bottles. That sounds pref ~ good.
but the consumption by the third
class passengers makes 1t appear a
mere tipple by coppari-on, for those
in the steerage joyfully drank not
less than 121,297 gallons of claret
presumably of the variety known as
petit bleu, about which there is a
song which the Paris students sing
when inspired by it.
There is something observing this
Just as the Prohibitionists have NOM
mated their ticket, rather appalling
to read that of the various grades Oi
brandy the passengers consumed TO-.
GAL bottles and 1884 gallons. But
these are after all trifiing nipts when
we come to look at the igures relat-
ing to beer. for of that beverage
more than half a million gallons
were drunk. and 1t is not reported
that the quartermasters had any un-
usual police duty to perform at that
The recent installation of the a la
carte system in the restaurants of
the modern liners accounts for an
amazing growth in the consumption
OF delicacies, such as were seldom
found on even the best ships when
the business Of feeding passengers
vas exclusively table d'hote. Res
.tauraut diners on the liners whose
figures are being considered con-
sunied many, many thousand part
ridges, snipe, quails, pheasanrs,
grouse, canvasback ducks. They de-
manded literally many hundreds of
thousands of live Holsters and craw-
fish, of fresh littlenecks, b.uepoints
and softshell crabs. They consumed
such quantity of green turtle soup
pounds of fresh turtle in it's making.
, Coming around to the more sub
stantial articles of diet it is found
that of fresh beef there were used
S,311,927 pounds, and of pork and
veal and mutton about three-quar
tiers of million pounds Of each.
Potatoes to go with these weighed in
excess of 10000 tons, very fair
cargo in itself.
The passengers seem to begin the
day with hearty appetites, as well as
going to lunch and dinner in the
same blessed condition. They con-
sumed of eggs six and half million
and of calves liver and bacon an ap-
propriate quantity to supplement- the
eggs, and with their morning toast
216,503 tins Of marmalade and other
such sweets.
And if these figures were not proof
enough that Lloyd's should make a
very low rate of insurance against
seasickness these days it is noted
that besides what smoking material
passengers took on board with them,
1897, 225 cigars and packages of
cigarettes were had from the smok-
ing room steward. 1t is interesting
to note in conclusion that while the
consumption of beer, wine and spirit
uous liquor indicates pretty gener-
GUS living, figuring on the basis of
all the passengers carried for the
year each passenger consumed after
all only five-sixths of a gallon of
such cheering beverages, while the
average consumption of mineral wa
ter was full gallon. These figures
do not include 1928 bottles of steri-
lized milk, which were dealt out to
the children on board.-New York
Sun.
A railway bank has been opened
in Picking under the direction of Ii
Chintsz, a son of Ii Hung Chang.
It's special object is railway finance.
One never sees bOiSterOuSly