Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-01-05
D. .M. c. 4. Growtb.
Rapid Advances Are Reported in 1907 Sixty
four New Buildings Occupied and Nearly
$17,0O0,000 Raised for Others All
Branches Show Increase in Activity.

The Young Mems Christian Association
1t has recorded any one year of it's
history, according to reports just made
from its headquarters. The organizations
in North America have increased to over
1000 with nearly half million members,
one hundred thousand of whom are boys
in their teens: $500 are railroad men;
$1,000 are college students: 10000 are in
country branches and as many more in
the colored departments. More than one
third of the members are engaged in in
dustrial pursuits. and in some of the
organizations there are thirty nationali-
ties represented in the membership.
The number of men and boys who are
enlisted directly in forwarding purposes
OF the organization is now equal to the
enlisted force of the United States army
One out of every four college students
is on its rolls and the railroad department
Is within few thousand members of the
largest railroad brotherhood in the world
It's educational classes have eight times
as many students as the largest university
In North America and its gymnasiums
have three times as many members as the
next largest gymnastic organization. Its
56o physical departments if assembled
would cover more than fifty acres. It's
1875 swimming pools placed end to end
would extend more than mile and its
bowling alleys thus placed would stretch
out for more than three miles The ag-
gregate attendance at all the associations
for this year is equal to one-half of the
population of North America.
Sixty-four new buildings have been &C.
cupfed by the associations in the last year.
the cost of which exceeded $4,000 600 The
| associations have $16 100000 in hand and
pledged for new buildings-the largest
sum they have ever reported for such a
purpose. These structures will be erected
and opened in the coming two years in
more than one hundred cities, colleges
and railroad points. army posts and naval
stations. Nearly million dollars has also
been pledged by American associations
and members for headquarters for associa-
tons in the great capitals and commercial
centers of the far east. The net property
Of the association now aggregates more
than $50,000.000. The buildings, IL placed
side by side. would fill one hundred city
blocks. and the dormitories of the assQcia-
tons If brought together would make
four hotels with az many rooms as the
| Waldorf Astoria. The association sum-
mer recreation camps would, If assembled.
make a great camp equal to ten national
guard state encampments of one thou
sand men each.
| In the last year s5,9O0,0O0 and for their
| international, state and provincial
committees work of supervision and
extension $52G.0OO more. Among the
notable features of the year have been
| the extension of the movement in Pana-
ma, where four buildings erected by the
United States government are directed by
| twelve association secretaries, and the
| movement for the betterment of the for
eign-speaking men who are met by repre-
sentatives of the associations at the ports
| of entry. Among foreigners organizations
| Rave been established in the mining re-
gions, lumber camps and quarry and mill
! towns.
There have been eighteen new railroad
association buildings and large additions
| added during the year, costing $60S, OO0,
making 175 buildings occupied by this
| branch alone, costing S3,J00,CO0. Most of
these buildings are erected on railroad