The Opelousas courier., 1896-07-04
d Noble Work.

The Young MeHlS Christian Association
has accomplished much good tnrougsGs'
the length and breadth of the land. Nc
Etatca ut the Association has garnere6
more plentiful harvest however thar has
the Railroad Branch. The good influences
that nave surrounded and good examples
that haze been set the employees of the
Chesapeake & Ohio Railway by the Y. M
@. A. workers have done wonders in i'm
proving the morals of the men.
The thousands of delegates, members and
friends of the Christian Endeavor Society
who will go over the Chesapeake and Ohio
road next Ju1yen route to Washington to at
tend the National Meeting will nave ample
opportunity to study the practical work
inss Of the Railroad Branch of the Y. NJ.
e A. at Cincinnati; Ceyington, Ky, Hand,
Forge and Gladstone, Virginia.
Back about the year 1881 or 1882, the en-
ployes of the c. q o. were furnished with
q reading room and sitting room at Hinton,
w. Va, by the Company. The quarters
were comfortable, there were good fires
ready for the men to warm by, and an
abvtiiancs Of newspapers and magazines
were always TO be found rs well as numer-
GUS games such as checkers, chess and
aupinees.
Previous to the opening Of these rooms by
the Company when the tidin tten came in on
a run or had to lay over at Hinton they went
~ 1AS SstAoSAo q tAkC1 Ao p1oSS WV
where they could go and have the advantages
Of heat for warmth and light by which to
read t~hepapers. This was particularly true in
winter time. Ever if they hadn't become
tlnhttad fdr. duty through drinking they
stayed arounu TIC saloons and lost sleep
which they should have had IN braer to
have been in proper condition to perform
their duties. The improvement in the mems
morals after the opening of the reading and
sitting rooms at Hinton was very marked.
Soon after the opening of the rooms, they
were turned over to the 7. M. G.. A., ard
& lunch room, bath rooms and other. com
forts and tohvenisrcss were added: A
small monthly fee Was thntepu, the faen
which they cheerfully contributed.
When M. E. Ingalls, took charge of the
Chesapeake Il Ohio road as president he
encouraged the work of the Y. M. c. A. in
Chesapeake 81 Ohio company guaranteed to
the Y: NJ. G. A. any deficit that might arise
from The expenses of keeping up the rooms
at Hinton, or thOs5 that might be estab-
lished elsewhere along the ,llucs. Sleeping
fooms were added to the building at HiH-
ton, and the Company erected or furnished
quarters at Cincinnati, Covington, KY,
Handley, W. Va, and Clifton Forge and
Gladstone, We. The quarters were all made
as attractive as possible for the men. They
were put in charge of officials of the Y. NJ:
e.. A. and the good work has gone steadi-
ly on.
The train-men no longer frequent the
saloons, they are always in the best possible
mental and physical condition and pre-
pared to discharge their duties in SO prompt
and efficient a manner that passengers trav-
cling over the G.. g. O.. are sure to receive
the best possible care and attention and are
as safe as at home.
The chesapeake & Ohio's passenger
equipmer is the very best to be obtained
by the no j liberal expenditure of money.
The dining tS'sr service is known as the best
in the world.
The c. & o. passes through a territory
not only noted for its beauty of scenery; bit
rich with historical Incidents of two wars;
the battletields of the last one being still
visible. Hot Springs, Natural Bridge,
Richmond, Newport News, Charlot,es-
vile, Gordonsvilie, and many other points
of beauty and interest are all on the G.. & o.
lines. The regular maintenance of the fast
schedule is due to the proficiency and alert
ness of the trainmen and this la due to a
very great extent to the efforts Of the Rail
road Branch of the Y. NJ. C: A.
SINCE the bicycle era euvelops US quite,
All the universe seems to seek safety" in
flight.
-Poston Carrier