Daily Kennebec journal., 1908-12-11
Railroad Men Confident Of
g Y. N. C, 4. Building. l|, =
Rouslng Meeting al Which
Fine Progress Is Reported. =
Employees Hard at Work and citI.
zens Promise Their Aid.

A rousing meeting was held last
evening at the Knights of Columbus
hail, when a large number of railroad
officials and employees and also many of
the citizens met to talk over the NIT
ter OF the construction of a branch Y
NJ c. 4. building for railroad men.
Previous meetings have been held but
none in which the citizens took so
much interest as they did last evening
Nearly every department of the rail-
road was represented and many of the
leading business men of the city at
tended to learn of the project, also to
lend assistance in the matter of sug-
gestions and contributions The rail-
read men are confident that their plans
VIII work satisfactorily and they will
take up the work with increased efforts
from this time until the completion of
the building. Great interest was mani
tested. The collections from the rail-
road employees has greatly increased
since the last meeting and many sub
Scriptions from the business men were
added to tho fund.
The meeting was called at s o'clock
by f. E. Sanborn, division superin-
tendent of the Maine Central. The rec
ords of the preceding meeting were
read by E. G. Woodward and were ap-
proved. MIR. Woodward reported for
the trainmen. His report showed that
during the past week $220.90 had been
added to the amount already collected,
making total in their department of
S72S67 and there are 113 more trainmen
yet to he heard from. F. H. Ramsdell
OF the shops reported that since the last
meeting S24.30 had been added, and
some more pledged. Mr.. Southworth
of the roundhouse stated that since
the last meeting $136.79 had been col
lected, making total of S579.19, with
1875 more employees to hear from. S. j.
Cunningham Of the freight department
collected $3.50 since the last meeting,
making total of $35. The grand to-
tai already subscribed is $2196. Consid-
ering that this has been collected dur
ing the past two weeks, the men are
encouraged in their efforts.
F. F. Sanborn before calling for
speeches, gave few statistics in re-
gard to early railroading. He stated
that in 1854 all trains stopped at Wa
terville; in 1870 General Grant came to
Bangor and rode in passenger car No.
II, which is at present on track near
the roundhouse. In 1881 there were very
few passenger trains, those of the
greatest importance were Nos. IL. g. l,
16, 25, A, 12y and 13. The oldest con-
dIctor now living is w. F. Bodge, who
last ran on the "Scoot." In 1886 the
Maine Central Relief was started. In
1887 Trains Nos. 107 and 10S limited be-
tween Boston and Bangor were consid-
cred the fastest in the world, as they
made but very few stops and Port
and was a flag station. 1t had the
longest run, covering 1913 miles without
a ston The conductor on this train was
Henry T.!-Judkins of this city. Mr..
Sanborn stated that at present five day
and three night shifters are employed
ut the WaterviIle yard and that sou
railroad men center here. Between 14Oo
md 1900 cars pass through this city
every day. He thought that the en-
ployes were on the right track ana
were sure to make success of the pro-
iect.
Mr.. Sanborn called on the following
Of the department for a few words:
Engineers, David Staples; trainmen.
George Kelley and conductor, J. l."
Quincy. All stated that the interest
among the men of the road was IN
reasing and that the project would go
through if the interest continued.
H. r. Durham spoke a few words of
Encouragement to the boys and gener'
ously contributed $25 towards the
amount. E. J. Wilcox, representing the
L. Fl. Soper Co., gave $50. Hon. w. T.
Haines in a bright and witty address,
kept the audience laughing from the
start by his remarks. He took up the
matter in a more thorough manner
than his predecessors and said that
when the time came he would contrib
ute his full share. Among others who
spoke were: Frank Redington, DR.. +
c. Whittemore, George Foster, P. G.
Smith and others.