The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1896-02-12
loMn roR RAILROAD MEN

Thcr,N arr mtlcSioncs along the groves
og tlnc" Whrrc tho "o'd world gocs claug-
mg on" aUU 20 Is vrll 10 call attention
tn them as We pass them by, one ot
these milcs,Oncs was that notable report
read Nv Mr. . II. Fitch, ct the ~ Y \
l. T. railway Rs chairman " coW'
mittec OF the American Society OF Rail-
road Supcrintendcnts. at their annual
meeting last October, and published IN
the Railway Age, The theme Of that re-
port was the Relation of Railroads
With Their Employees" aud the hish
stand taken in Il was simply grand.
will not. for need not. stop here TO
quote every part ot that wonderful NJ
port Your rcaders have already rcad
&, and once read it-or the main points
OF twill stay in the mind, The one
point this article has to do with Is the
Recommendation Of The committee as To
looking after the comfort and wcll-hciug
CT the men at divisions and terminals,
providing suitable places where the men
can find inviting, wholesome, clean quar-
ters FOR rest. sleep and food while wait
ing to go out on their run. The writer
OF this could name scores OF divisions
and turnout stations" where the only
place whore a railroad man can got hoapt
saloon or gambling den ov wors
place.
Not long ago was IN a railroad iowa
in Western Pennsylvania. and wanted to
hnd a certain trainman. After hunting
for nearly an hour | was told l could
fiud him over In that saloon yondtr"
No" said, he is u good white hutton
man and he would not be in a saloon"
''Oh. but that is his boarding place" said
the man. and sure enough on going into
the saloon there was my man with others
who boarded there also. These men
could 80 60 their meals ana 90 their sleep
Ing rooms only as they went through
saloon
But | am happy TO say. and this Is the
inspiration OF this article, that most
worthy and noted milestone Is being set
up as to this matter by some OF the rail
roads. II was my happy lot to be IN.
vitCd TO spend last Sunday. January ~.
at Brightwood four miles out from In
dianapolis. where the yards and shops OF
the Big Four are. Here | found an oasis
in very deed and truth for railroad men
An old tumhle-GOwn building had been
into an inviting home"
That is the word exactly. Mr Theo
Getcheil. who Tor some two years had
charge OF a railroad Y. n. e. A. building
at Handley on the =. X O.-ln West Vir-
the fostering care OF Mr.
NJ. +. ingalls,, was called from there by
Mr.. ingalls, and was given carte blanche
to so to Br.ghtwood and remodel the
old building and turn Il into a home Tor
the many railroad men who come and go
to and from there. Before the opening
Of these rooms in October last there was
no place where the men could sleep or
eat except in close proximity TO saloons
and gambling dens. To use the words
Of an intelligent fireman. he said In
fine weather We could lie round on the
grass and under the shade Of the trees 4
till the caller came. but in bad weather
We must go to the saloons"
How is It now? The following Is a .
report OF the secretary for one week.
Baths. 50. beds used l5G; lunches served. .
40; meals, lii; at gospel meeting. 6S: /
etters writtenby the men. e. This home
vas opened only last October and they
lave already nearly two hundred mem
'ers. Think OF Il, Here is n cosy.
lean. quiet. home-like place. open alt
lours Of day and night. warmed and
ighted. No matter at what hour OF the
light the trains come in. here Is sweet.
idy and safe resting place away and
part from the temptations that had be-
ore confronted them. bath and wash
ooms with warm or cold water, reading
ooms. writing desks and material.
What are the results? They can be
Did in full.
Almost every man wears white but
1n OF total abstinence The men are
roud OF the place In a large sensr
ley feel 1t is theirs This is a white
lan's place" Is the remark often heard
Ir. ingalls, Is almost worshlped Every
ian feels doing his best for the company
While the meals and beds are furnished
'r less than they can be had for else
here and are OF the best. stln II VIII I've
slf-sustainlng
The experience OF Mr. Ingalls, in estab-
shing these homes" Tor his men (for
I'VE to call them sol on the entire length
the G. & o., is so satisfactory that
lthout doubt such retreats or homes will
g scattered all along the Big Four
This. Mr.. Editor. Is one Of the mile
tones along the route Of old time that
love to point out. God grant that they
lay be scattered along the lines OF all
he roads of this nation where needed.
We call the homes railroad Y. NJ. e. A.
uildlngs' No matter abou; the nari..
le work and results are practical Chris
anity. II is giving ~" men chance
be men. They are treated as men.
nd hence they feel and act like men
nd not like mere machines. This Is a
awning Of better lay not only for the
zen but also for the companies they
srvc.
To use the closing words Of ar. Fitch
that ever memorable reDoit % the
Ociety u Su3erintenden.s, viz 2 an
itlroads are 'ls miGlf OF the Interests
your employees as you expccr them TO
P oi the interests of their companies.
ways remembering the fact that might
ever did and never will make right: then
III come the day when strikes among
le railroad men will he out of date"
! am most profoundly convinced that
le outlay by railroad companies to es-
blish such refugees or homes, or, as we
III them, Young Mems Christian Asso-
alton buildings for railroad men, would
ing most excellent returns financially.
I'd the satisfaction and advantage TO
'th officials and men would be above
ice l. c CnFEfN