The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-01-31
CORNELIUS TISDERBILI'S GIFE
A 81 90, 900 Addition to the Railroad Branch
of the u. NJ. Z. 4.

/
| The members OF the Railroad Branch OF the
Young Mems Christian Association celebrated
the eighteenth anniversary OF the orEaniza-
ton last night 10 tho hall Of tho club house at
Madison avenue and Forty. 9Th street. and at
the Same time the new addition TO the build
ing was dedicated.
Cornelius Vanderbilt presided. and on tho
platform with him were the Rev. Dr. David II.
Greer. Chauncey NJ. Depew President J. G..
Mccullough OF tho bennington and Rutland
Railroad. Nics-Presidsnt II. S. Haines OF tho
Plant Railroad system OF the South and Sec
rotary Il. A. Wsrburton OF the Eailroad
Branch. DR.. Greer offered prayer aud then
Mr.. Vanderbilt made a short speech.
lie said the present marked a new epoch in
the history Of tho institution. There had been
two distinct periods in its life. The first was
from 1873 to 1887. when il had its home in the
basement OF the Grand Central station. In
1881 1t moved into It's present building.
The third epoch began with the building Of
the new addition. which was begun about six
IDEA OF the application OF the Young Mems
Christian Association movement to the needs
OF railroad men was at hrst wholly pGoDlematI-
The movement took hold. and in 1879 there
were az members. alter the question to.
came one OF IeImanent accommodation. and
the erection Of the homo for the organization
resulted. And tho events have since shown
that the organizers were wanting either in
lAltn or IN foresight.
The growth Increased so that II was once
more necessary to enlarge the boundaries OF
the organizations home TO provide Tor the
lie then declared the new addition omen.
The new addition is forty 10y eighty feet. lust
tho size Of the old building, which It adloins
and cost with its furnishings SlOo.uOli which
Mr. Vanderbilt paid. The old and the new
The united basement OF both buildings il to
sS sa and nd s.h Tho sr %
FREQ and easy place. where the men can read.
smoke. play checker or the riano, and other
wise while away the time between trains
The room has two large nreplares in IT, and
ON the second floor is large lunch room
ON the third and fourth tioors are bedrooms
where more than forty men can DO 'oumo-
Secretary Warhurton said that IN the new
house man may find bath. bed and a
Bible" The attendance during the year has
There are 3745 members During. the year
there have been 200 religious services. with
been furnished, and 1900 baths have been
given.
had mSds this country the happy hons
OF 10000. 600 people. He said the re-
cent cataelysm. or panic OF whatever
every employment than previous panics
but he commented upOn the fact that where
investors and men in other businesses had
suffered the railroad man had suffered lea st
OF any. At the present time 40 per cent. OF the
mills and factories n the country wero closed
and 2ooouoO people win lu"Wh.HH lhrIud-
ing them selves. dependent upon them, were
during the hard times seyentv-threo rail-
roads went into hankruutcy and $1,000 miles
OF tracks aud 500. 600. 900 OF stock and bonds
passed into the hands ot receivers.
Yet. he said: nine -tenths o. me men on tho
roads were still employed, He declared that
the most reliable aud steadicst OF all occupa-
lions in the country was the railroad service.