The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1915-11-04
San Jose, Calf, Oct. 26. 1915.


lied the railroad dining cars think what they
represent in the operation of railroad, or the
magnitude of the work connected with them.
To properly manage this department of the
railroad requires a c0mmissary where the sup
plies are kept and distributed as required, and
the best way to give some idea of this bust
ness is to show the quantity of supplies that
pass through a commissary. Take for ex
ample that of the Union Pacific system at
Omaha, Nebraska. which has been given for
one year, as follows:
Potatoes, approximately twenty-five car
loads.
Flour, twelve to fifteen carloads Tin addition
to which 100000 loaves of bread is purchased.)
fresh meats exclusive of smoked meats)
approximately 100000 pounds.
Coffee, approximately $4,000 pounds.
Tea. approximately 5000 pounds.
Butter, 10000 pounds.
Sugar, 1926 900 to $50. 600 pounds.
Cream, lac. 600 quarts.
Milk, 100000 quarts.
Cigars, approximately $50, 600.
Chickens, 100, 600 to 175,000 pounds.
Eggs, approximately 100000. besides the
fish, spices, ketchups, sauces, fresh and canned
fruits and vegetables.
To handle this requires thorough organic
alton, thorough system and careful supervis-
ion. with perfectly organized force for buy
ing, storing and distributing these supplies to
the best possible advantage.
In addition to the main commissary the
Union Pacific has branch commissaries at
Kansas City, Denver and Ogden, with their
superintenoents, their assistants, general
storeKeepers and accountants. There are also
extensive linen repair and mending depart
ments, and an extensive laundry maintained
at Ogden, where the solled linen is assembled.
The main commissary carries hand a
stock valued at from $75,O 900 to 100000, which
in total value represents but little more than
one months issue.
The dry stores are purchased in carload lots.
Chinaware, silverware, glassware and linens
are purchased under contract, and the linens
made expressly for this service. All meats
are obtained under careful specifications. and
beef is properly aged at the packing house be-
fore delivery. The best of fruits are procur-
ed from the various States in their season and
handled in refrigerator cars, while all perish
able supplies are obtained daily from the best
sources, fish being shipped regularly. Water
and milk are the two most important items,
and that they be absolutely pure, all water
used for drinking and for the tea and coffee is
fir, m the celebrated Rocky Mountain Springs
at Granite Canyon. Wyoming, and is distribut
ed over the entire Union Pacific System in five
gallon glass bottles, SO that patrons use the
same table water for the entire trip. The
certified table milk is supplied at Omaha from
herd of the choicest Ayrshire cows, kept es-
pecially for supplying these cars. The pota-
mately one pound each (Which are considered
best for baking purposes) and are stored in
potato cellar provided expressly for the pur
pose.
To bring the Union Pacific Dining Car en-
ployes to the highest standard of perfection,
each employee entering that service must
pass a rigid physical examination, and must re-
port periodically thereafter for additional ex-
animation from time to time.
A school to instruct managers, cooks and
walters is maintained and each individual en-
ployee 10 periodically examined, coached and
drilled in car equipped at the commissary for
that purpose. Special attention is paid to
teaching courtesy, politeness and attention to
patrons.
The working force on the dining car depends
upon the size of the car and the service re-
quired Upon the busy runs the crew usually
consists of the manager. three cooks. one dish
washer, and six walters.
When looking at handsome homes in our
American cities an entire place. land and house,
costing from ten to twelve thousand dollars, is
considered very fine residence. and the aver
age homes will come below those figures, yet
one of these palaces on wheels, it is said, costs
from fifteen to twenty thousand dollars to
build and equip ready to go into the service,
and when it is considered that nearly one hum
bred dining and buffet cars are required to
supply the demands of the passengers for a
system like the Union Pacific covering T. 791
miles of tracks, it shows the vast amount of
money invested by the railroads of the country
in these cars alone.
When one thinks of the amount of money
that is paid out annually by the railroads of,
the United States and Canada to build and
equiv dining cars and commssaries, the amount
Of help employed. and the cost of provisions
used to give the American traveller the best
living that can be procured, they will then
begin to understand more fully what the din
ing car represents to the railroad and what it
means to the people who patronize them.