Los Angeles herald., 1907-11-11

and hereby agree to conduct myseil u, -
gentleman while enjoying any of the priv
ileges of the club.
This Is the only certificate Of member
ship to be required Of the men VINO Will
use the chain of club houses that the
Southern Pacific company is building
along It's lines in Nevada, California, Ari-
zona, New Mexico and Texas.
Railway clubs are no new thing, out
the Southern Pacif1cs are dinerent.
There Is nothing of the severe or the
hideous about the club houses. No ex-
pense is spared to make them beautiful
as we'll as useful and comfortable, potn
without and within. Usually the style
of architecture is determined by the sur
roundings. There will be hint OF old
Spanish architecture In one anu Oh the
log cabin in another.
The reason why the company is spend
ing thousands of dollars on these clup
houses Is simple. The expenditure mlght
properly be charged up to Improvement
of service and safety appliances. Modern
railroading requires men with clear
heads and strong muscles. The company
believes it will be more likely TO Keep
its men In this condition If 1t provides
comfortable quarters for them, with OPP
portunities for healthy recreation and
companionship.
Beds immaculate
The bedrooms of the clubs, arranged sc
that they may be darkened during the
day for men who have night runs, are
spread with immaculate linen. The Datn
rooms, toilets and wash rooms are models
of inviting cleanliness. There are caro-
iro foh l.
lard. pool and lounging rooms, all artis-
tically furnished. Mr.. Hartman is the
Carnegie of the Southern Pacific Railway
clubs. which are supplied with books as
well as with periodicals and daily papers.
The fiction department of the library
which contains practically every current
book of Importance, is operated on cir
culating system that gives to each club
the benefit of a large number of volumes
Club stationery is furnished members
and an effort is made to induce the men
to keep in touch with their families
and to continue home ties, however
much their employment may keep them
away from their own towns. Oppor-
tunities for study are offered and every
inducement is made to the men to take
advantage of these opportunities to I'M
grove their education.
In competition with the railway
clubs, the saloon, Whlcn was lorHei -
the only place the men had to go, has
proved a failure, the best testimony tt
this effect being found in the consist
ent opposition of saloon keepers wher'
ever clubs are located, There is the
same freedom in the railway club thai
the men formerly found in the saloons
and a great deal more comfort. Nc
ironclad rules are made. The men meet
in the clubs on equal footing. There
are no membership fees and no deduc-
tions from the pay roll for club main
tenance. Trifling fees are charged for
beds, bath and billiard room-aboui
enough to cover wear and tear and nc
more.
A Southern Pacific official who has
from the start >been closely associated
with the establishment of the clubs
sums up their purpose in this way:
"The object is to raise the tone and
character of the men by offering oppor-
tunities for healthful and moral recrea-
ton, and to make them feel that their
own success, the success of the COM
rany and the safety of the people who
are served depends on each individual
doing his part well, not because he has
to do it or is paid to do it, but because
it is right"