Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-01-01
B. OF R. I. IS A
GIANT FRATERNITY
HAS A MEMBERSHIP OF $4,000
TRAlNMEN IN THE UNITED
STATES AND CANADA
T. r. Dodge. Vice Grand Master Of the
Brotherhood Tells of the Growth of
the order-some Figures Concern
ing the Organization.

The Brotherhood of Railway Train
men is without question the largest
and strongest fraternal organization
of railroad men in the United States
or Canada, said T. r. Dodge of Cleye-
land, o., First Vice grandmother of
the B. of R. T., yesterday when speak
Ing of his work to representative
OF the Courier.
Order Is % Years Old.
"The initial move toward our pre-
sent order was made more than 90
years ago. when body of 10 trainmen
organized themselves into protective
club, while travelling in caboose on
a way freight. From then on until
the present, our growth has been moth
ing short of astounding. We have
$4,000 members. There are perhaps
100000 trainmen in the United States
eligible to our organization, not In
Guiding switchmen. There are at
least 10000 switchmen eligible also,
making 100000. men in all. OF this
vast body of men, $4,000 are members
OF cur organization and $4,000 of these
are sw;tchmen the remaining $4,000
being brakemen, flagmen and some
ASW . VIM udNS USSA plO-
NOTED since their admission to the
order and VINO are still in good stand
ing.
Recent Growth Is Amazing.
1.-THE growth of our institution in
the last ten years alone has been
enormous. In 1897 we had a member
ship Of 10000. January 1, 1907, OUR
records will show $1,000 men in good
standing belonging to the brotherhood.
From the time of the first organiza-
ton up to 1907 we had paid out So
100000 in insurance to members of the
fraternity or relatives thereof Since
1897 we have paid out S10,000,000
more than trebling in ten years, the
amount paid in the first IL years Of the
brotherhood.
Finances Represent Fortune.
"The figures presented by our finan-
cial committee represent no mean
amount. We, as an organization, at
present carry 9. bank account of ST..
100000. The insurance of members
carried by us in the last ten years
has averaged SS70OO,0OO year. The
first z months of the year 1906 we
paid out 1888 900 to our members OF
their interests, and by the close Of this
year we will have paid out 81, 100000
or practically a twelfth part of the
total amount of premiums paid since
our organization % years ago.
The Officials Of the Brotherhood.
'There are now 754 lodges in the
United States and Canada The head
quarters of the order are and have
been for the past six years in Cleve
land, o. The highest official is the
Grand Master, or president. Undel
him Is the assistant grand master OF
vice president, assisted by four vice
grand masters. The United States
and Canada are divided into four ter
ritories, each being under the supervi
sion of vice grand master. 1t Is the
duty of the four vice grand masters
to travel throughout their separate ter
ritories, settling claims, conferring
with the chairmen Of the various
grievance committees, and attending
to such business as comes up relative
to the organization
Taking in view our remarkable
growth Of the past few years, the
favor with which we are looked upor
by the officials Of the different rail-
road companies of the United States
and Canada and the assurance which
rests with our vast number of mem
bers, it is really dubious PROPOSE
ton to attempt to give any forecast
of what our membership will be al
the close of the incoming year."