The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-03-05

For some months II has been known
that the building movement at the
Railroad Department of the Young
Mems Christian association was pro-
crossing. Nothing has been said about
it, however as newspaper men have
been steadily assured that there was
nothing ready for publication
The turn in affairs came yesterday
morning. when Secretary w. w. Adair
returned from New York, with let
ter and subscription from President
Truesdale of the Delaware. Lacka-
wanna and Western Railroad COM
pany. in his pocket. The subscription,
which was made at a recent meeting of
the executive board, pledges the sup
port of the company to the extent OF
$4,000 and long-term lease of the
present excellent site at merely nomi-
nal rental The only condition attached
is the railroad department shall raise
$4,000 from other sources, which the
management is confident they can do.
The history of the building movement
of the railroad association Is quite
familiar to the people of Scranton. 1t
began some six years ago, during the
secretaryship of F. W. Pearsall, at
which time IL fund of over $1,000 was
raised among the men. This has been
augmented since by subscriptions ag-
gregating $780, so that the department
has fund of about $4,000 on hand in
cash and pledges. 1t Is hoped to erect
a building costing not less than 100000,
and the committee has resolved to in
cur no debt 1t will be necessary, there
fore. to raise at least $4,000 in addition
to the funds already on hand, If the
plans are carried out.
A BRICK BUILDING
The building will be of brick and
stone, and three stories high above the
basement. 1t will contain shower and
tub baths, bowling alleys, shuttle board
rooms. lavatories, lockers, and boiler
room in the basement. The first floor
will provide reception room, public and
private office reading room, coat room.
social room, correspondence room, and
library On the second floor will be
found the assembly hall, class rooms
committee rooms etc. These will be so
arranged that additional room will be
available in the assembly hall when
necessary, by opening sliding partitions
The upper floor will be taken up with
thirty bedrooms for trainmen. These
will be furnished to members of the
association at ten cents IA night and
will prove boon to the tired train
men.
The growth of the Scranton railroad
department during the past two years
has ATTRACTED much attention in the
association world. Less than two years
ago the department had but 2S5 men,
bers. BY three months of earnest effort
it was increased to 635. Every depart
ment of the work began to flourish ac-
cordingly, and it became the popular
thing among the men. The year just
past was the most gratifying in it's his
tory.
THE MEMBERSHIP.
A membership of LOOP was recorded
at the close of the year, and the gen.
eral work had practically doubled The
financial condition was prosperous, and
the religious work was making itself
felt on the mems lives. The manage
ment felt that the time had come to
renew it's plea for new building, which
they did, with the above result A few
weeks more will witness the passing of
the little red building at the ~" that
HIS ~ lldHS years uoIe uuLy us the
home of the department. Temporary
quarters will be rented. and the work
of building will be pushed as rapidly
as possible.
Friends of this practical Christian
philanthrophy who are willing to aid in
securing new building are asked to
send their subscriptions to the build
ing or notify the secretary and they
will be waited on by representatives of
the building committee.
A joint meeting of the committee of
and the building commit
tee will be held in the association hall
tomorrow evening at s O'clock when
specialists will be present to organize
the building campaign.
As soon as the additional fund re-
quired is pledged, plans and specifica-
tions will be received and the contract
awarded for erecting the building.