The farmer and mechanic., 1912-07-30
Copyright. 1912. by Frank G. Car
penterO

(Copyright. 1912. by Frank G. Car
penter.)
Hotel Tivoli, Ancon, Canal Zone.
Panama.-During the past week L
have investigated Uncle Sans hotels
down here on the Isthmus of Panama.
He is feeding a multitude Of men ev-
cry day. and the meals served in his
hotels. restaurants kitchens are now
about 10000 per month. The cost
of his cOmmi5Sary runs into the mil
lions year. but he buys and sells so
closely that he annually comes out
little ahead. 1t is not Uncle Sam 8
idea to make money out Of the Stom-
achs of his hard-working children.
His chief aim is to give the employees
good food at just about cost. He
does this. furnishing the best board
that can be gotten anywhere else in
the world for the money
In making this statement I know
whereof l speak and that by the test
Of both stomach and brain. l have
gone through the commissary account
books with Col. Eugene 7. Wilson.
the chief subsistence officer. and have
figured the cost of and receipts from
the meals item by item. Moreover, /
have been living for a month at the
TivOli Hotel, where the board costs
SIS day. and have dined again and
again at the hotels along the line of
ed for 80 cents. and that the equal Of
many you buy IN New York for 81.
/ have also taken my tin plate and
for 9 cents have had square feed at
the laborers' witchens, and later on
have eaten with the European silver
men. where the meals are Is cents,
with all the extras thrown in.
Indeed. since l came to Panama
have lost all my sympathy with the
woes Of the American landlord. His
prices are such that he ought to be
rolling in wealth. and if he is not
making money be does not know how
to run his hotel. l am also losing
American hOusekeeper in these days
Of so-called high prices and I believe
that any woman in the United States.
if she figures as closely as does Uncle
Sam. could not only put more flesh on
the bones of her children. but lay
away much spare change in her stock
ing or in the family slot savings bank
on the mantel.
What Uncle Sam Gives for 30 Cents
One can keep alive and do goOl
work on the nine-cent meal or The
thirteen-Cent meal. but the thirty
cent meal which the government give:
is fit for a king. 1t is served thres
times day at the line hotels stu
ated at the principal settlements along
the Canal Zone. and also at TabOga
NaOs and Porto Bello outside Of it
There are nineteen Of these hotels
They are great eating houses sur
rounded by verandas and SO inclose'
in woven wire netting that there
never a fly in the butter. and tn
bald-headed man can eat without
skull cap. These eating rooms ar
equipped with dining tables like thos
of hotel. They give you fres
tabiecloths and white napkins. an
the china and glassware are first
class. They have excellent waiter
and the service is better than that c
the average hotel Of the states.
Here are some Of the menus.
have taken them at random out
the mass which is sent in from da
to day showing just what the me
have to eat. The ones selected gi,
GorgOna, the station on the cam
where the repair shops are locate
They are as follows:
Breakfast.
Oranges. Toasted Corn Flake
Hominy. Eggs to Order. Fried
Potatoes. Corn Mullins, Hot
Bacon, French Fried.
Cakes. Maple Syrup.
Tea, Coffee or Cocoa,
Luncheon.
Puree OF Vegetable Soup. Beef
Mode. Fried Liver and Onions,
Mashed Potatoes. Spinach
and Eggs. Navy Beans in
Tea, Coffee or
Cream. COcOanut,
Pie Ice Cream and Cake.
Cocoa,
Dinner.
Beef Broth. Beefsteak. French Fri
Potatoes, Green Onions. Mashed
Turnips. Buttered Beets.
Lettuce Salad
Apricot Pie, Ice Cream and Cake,
Tea, Coffee or Cocoa.
Those meals cost 80 cents.
could give you all the menus suppl
to eighteen other hotels the same d.
but it would take too much spa
Some are little better than the abO
and some perhaps. not so good. {
pending on the choice of the cook
to dishes But the meals are all