Arizona weekly citizen., 1890-12-20
RAILROAD LIBRARY.
A Fins Institution of Tuossn of
 Which Little is Said.

In the grove near the railroad op
 posite the round house is the railroad
 library and bunk house, a pleasant
 home:like place with broad verandas
 an institution of Tucson, which in {
 quiet way is doing good untold fol
 those for whom it was intended.
 The building was erected and the
 library instituted in 1885, the railroad
 company donating the land and house
 the books about 200, being presented as
 foundation of the library.
 As the name and situation would i'm
 ply, the place is chiefly intended foI
 railroad men, who here find everything of home, except wife and larder- a business and pleasure resort.
 The whole place presents great i'm provenents over five years ago in every | department. Instead of some 200 books, 25OO volumes fill the shelves, besides many of the best periodicals, including New York Clipper, Leslie's Weekly and Monthly, Harper's Weekly and Monthly, Century, Scribners, American Machinist Scientific American, Breeder and Sports nan, Puck, Toledo Blade, St. Louis Globe Democrat, St. Louis Republic, all the railway magaZines,San Francisco. Los Angeles and Tucson dailies. The place is furnished with everything con- ducive to the comfort of the men. The front room is of good size, containing books, tables, an organ, billiard table and desks. 1t is not adequate to the needs of the institution, however, and will be enlarged Tn a short tune, in accordance with plans which have been submitted
 The building surrounds a pretty court, and four bath tubs furnish ablu- tionary refreshment for the men as they come in from work, dirty and tired Hot water for the baths IS furnished f. om the boiler at the round house. Towels nd soap are supplied by the management, a late measure, as up to short time ago the men furnished each his own. Twenty eight double hunks, four in each room, furnish lodgings for 56 men, as each is occupied alternately by men running opposite" while one is at the other end of the division the other occupying it.
 Much of their time is spent at the library by the men, as it is a resort fur furnishing them pleasures conversa- tlonal, musical, literary and in games, saving them much expense, as for the benefits conferred, if obtained from the outside, half their wages would be paid out. An ordinary evening this week the main rsom was occupied by g men. Four were playing billiards, eight cards, one the organ, two harmonicas and the balance reading. Billiards are especial ly the favorlte pastime of the men, and the table Is not alone, so the secretary reports, ten minutes in the day, from eight in the morning until ten at night
 The library management intends in- cooperating in about two weeks under the name of Southern Pacific Employ ee's Association, with the present of ticers, elected few days ago, consisting of the following gentlemen: R. w. Gray, president; J. s. Noble, vice president; E. Ebert, secretary; H. w. Drew, treasurer; G. F. Kilt, W. N. Best, $. R. Porter, J. E. Mclean, J. s. Hing worth, J. Waddell, T. NJ. Edmunds, and J. $. O'Brien, directors. Many changes will be made in the place, and among oth- CTS dues will be reduced from 50 cents a month to 9 cents month.
 Mr. Ebert, the new secretary in charge speaks very highly of railroad men In general, and states that they are a gen class of men, hearty and good hearted. If in their games they are little noisy they will take no offence Tn being requested to be quieter, comply ing always good naturedly.
 The place is a credit to Tucson ln gen eral and particularly the Southern Pa cific railroad, and as it has prospered since starting, so may it ever prosper.