San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1892-10-25
THE OLD RELIABLE"
CONDUCTORS ASSOCIATION NOW
IN SESSION IN THIS CITY.
Sight Seeing Today-A Brief His
tory - lntero sting Facts-The
Good They Have Done.

| az ''~O u CIOCh IuIS morning aOOu
$50 of the delegates from all parts of tn
United States and Canada, of the OIL
Reliable Railroad Conductors aSSocia
ton, arrived in San Antonio to hold thei
25th or silver jubilee. They were driver
from the International depot to the Men
ger hotel and partook Immediately o
| Texas best productions suitable to satisfy
the workings of the inner man. Aftel
breakfast had been served, the various
| apartments of the hotel were occupied
the conductors and their families awaited
| themselves of the opportunity of testing
San Antonio soap and water, and then
enSued promenade over the most at
| tractive thOrOughfareS of the town, Ave-
nueS Z, D and E being viewed by the
guests. The grand old structure. the
Alamo, was visited, and the history of
| same and the descriptions of its contents
at present, were listened to with marked
interest.
This afternoon, the missions, Fort Sam
Houston, Alamo Heights, West End and
other noted and beautiful spots of history
and nature will be viewed, and tonight
various places of amusement will be
occupied by the strangers, who. by the
way, are carrying faces as pleasant and
words as cheering and encouraging as
those seen and uttered by our motherSin
childhood days when we were neStledin
the sacred spot of the well fitted and
properly conducted sitting room of our
Home, sweet home"
The history of the Old Reliable aSsocia-
ton is indeed an interesting one, and one
which, when told properly. occasions
laughter, tears and feeling of gratitude
and desire to give thanks to the Su-
preme Being, who has plotted mans
destiny and who has been instrumental
In bringing about such remarkable chang
eS as will be noticed below in the brief
sketch of the origin, the advancement
and charitable work which has come to |
pass since the year 1865, when this aSSo-
citation was first founded.
In the year 1867, the conductors of the !
various railroads, having been called |
upon 10 contribute to the support of the |
orphans and widows of their beloved fell !
low workers, for years previous, the idea |
of organizing a protective and mutual aid |
anG Beneficiary society, Sprang to the |
minds of many. Letters We're sent all over |
the United States and Canada, requesting !
delegates to be sent from each railroad, 10 |
columbus, Ohio, in the early part Of 1868, /
Tor the purpose OF organizing such a So |
'lety. The matter, by the way, was first |
of during the existence of the |
old Harlem" depot which stood for so |
many years as place for the departures |
IND arrivals from and to that great city,
New York, James Marshall being the |
main inStigatOr.
At Columbus, in 1865, seventeen railroad |
from all parts of the two
lamed countries. assembled in convention |
and organized what was and still is, the
Did Reliable.
Though with only seventeen mem berS,
he boys chung closely together and with |
oyalty of heart and strong determination.
'ictory was finally gained and now the
association. at the age Of twenty-five
ears. is one OF the most influential and
charitable now existing. 1t might be said
hat the success Of tLiS order is due, to a
great extent, TO James Marshall. first |
PRESIDENT, who, by misfortune and adver-
tiles, IS no longer one of the members. |
tut who is daily performing the duties of |
lcket seller on an elevated railway in
New York
The membership of the order at present
5 about 1000. There were, at one time,
nerOuS small orders have been inaugur-
ted and naturally have decreased the
lumber TO small extent. This is a
wonderful gain for an organization whose
members as scattered from the Atlantic
o the Pacific and from the Gulf UP into
ne northern portion or Canada.
During the twenty-five years of the
XiStance of this organization there have
'een Sl.2O7 ,92S expended to aid in the edu-
alton of the children whose fathers (cOn-
IuctOrS) have been called away, to the |
upport of their widows, and to the ad-
yancement OF the grand and good cause.
San Antonio is the first city yet having
leen visited by the members of the Old
Reliable and its citizens should deem it an
honor.
In speaking with number of the Wis
tors this morning, in response to CUES
ian as to how this city was recognized. a
arge number of the conductors, and eS-
)ectaIly the veteran members of the as
ISOLATION, who have visited many cities,
poke in the highest praise of the Alamo
lily and many were more than agreeaby |
surprised.
Tomorrow the business session Of the
association will be held, and on Thursday
The mem berS will bid farewell to this |
place, and will depart for a visit through
parts of Mexico.