The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1903-02-03
Railroad Y. NJ. c. A. Work in India.

Railroad Y. NJ. c. A. Work in India.
There Is a movement now on foot
to send a Young Mems Christian As
sociation secretary from this coun-
try to do special work among the
$50, 600 railway men of India, and as
the field is white to the harvest our
association is asked to contribute
s75 toward the sending out of such
secretary from this country. We
deem this a rare privilege to bring
the work that has done so much good
to railroad men of the United States
and Canada, that is, the Young Mems
Christian Association, to our broth
ers in distant lands. Our association
had the privilege of contributing the
first amount toward the first foreign
work undertaken. that of the organ
ization of the present association in
Mexico City, and we would like to
have the same honor and privilege of
being the first to contribute our as
sessment toward the work in India.
There are 35O,177 railroad men in
India according to recent reports, of
which 5,367 are Europeans and 1926
are Eurasians: the rest being native
Indians. The plan is to first begin
the work among the English speak
ing railroad men of India. OF this
class the Europeans and practically
all the Eurasians speak English,
while all Indians in the higher grades
of service virtually use this language.
These may be found occupying the
following positions: Supervising
staff, civil engineers, permanent way
inspectors, many engineers, or driv-
ers as they are called in India, and
firemen, foremen and filters at shops,
many station masters and guards,
also clerks. Thus the work which
would be started among the Euro
peans and Eurasians would spread
naturally to the Indians.
The %, 600 miles of railroad in India
are owned almost altogether by the
government. The officers are made
up of men from the regular govern
ment staff, others are state railway
officials, and still others are employed
by the railway companies which work
the lines for the government. These
25, 600 miles are divided as rule into
divisions of 200 miles in length,
which gives 125 division points
throughout the country, where the
men largely reside. The largest
number of men are found at central
points where locomotive shops are
operated, and it is likely at such a
place as this that the first work will
be started.
There is work now being performed,
administering to the physical and
social needs of men, called Institutes,
but these are for the railway staff
and mot the rank and file. These
have been built by the company and
the work is entirely secular, consist
ing of reading rooms. baths, rest
rooms, tennis and other out of door
sports, also dancing, etc. The work
is carried on by the men themselves,
approved by the companies. The
district officers of the company, as a
rule, are members ex-officio of the
committee managing the Institutes
Like our work there is a regular
membership fee charged for use OF
the privileges. On some roads there
are churches-the church of England
While the large majority of rail.
ro ad officials are not Christian mer
yet there are found here and there
earnest Christians among the official:
who would gladly, cooperate in any
movement toward the establishment
of the work of the Y. NJ. c. A. Ii
fact many of the officials not Christ
ians would lend their influence anC
support to such movement. TIL,
attitude and opinion of prominen'
railway and government officials to
ward the work of the Y. NJ. C. A. il
the United States, Russia, Canad;
and France has had its influence upol
the officials controlling the roads il
India. The way for the work to ge
started will be to get the consent ant
support first of the higher official
consisting of the Secretary of Stat,
for India in England, the Board o
Dire ctors in England and the Vicero,
heads of Public Works Department
in India. The International Com
mittee knows how to do this and vii
secure the open door. the proper sup
port and encouragement from thos
in authority, so soon as the Railwa
Associations of the United States an
canada make it possible for them t
send a man to our needy brothers i
India. This honor and privilege o
being the first railroad secretar
sent out from this country to tn
men of India is one that is covete
by some of us and we pray that tn
right man may be secured to begi
this work. Our part in it at presen
is to make possible the send forth c
such man. We ought to have frol
our two hundred members 100 me
, who would each give US sl.00 towar
this work. There are others VIII
: want to have the privilege of givin
a larger amount and as we are nC
limited in the maximum amount I
be given, we will be glad to receiy