The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-05-29
Y. M. (. As Railroad
 Branches Strive Hard.
CHRISTIAN EFFORTS FOR MEN
Great Traction Systems Invest
 Much for Employees.
Successful Endesvors to Save Thsm From Evil Inhuenees--Field of Labor is Being widened
 Rapidly.

New York, May 2s.-If there has been any great decrease in the mem bership of the railroad branches of the Young Mems Christian Association. the fact has not been reported to the In- ternational Committee, which has its offices in this city. It was to be ex- pected that there would be a consider able loss when the great systems of the country laid off men right and left. II was even feared hat the work might be crippled and some of the fine build ings devoted to this work forced to close.
 The outlook is more optimistic than any one dared hope. The business de- precision has so far laft no mark upon the railroad association work. Build ings are being forced along as would be the case upon an easy money mar l<et. extensions of the work being carried out and associations started in fields where none has been known. The latest report of this sort comes from Monterey, Mexico. where half the railroad employees of every sort have joined since 1t was determined to make a separate organization for the trafiic men They are said to have rooms on the Calzada between the Central and National stations.
 Another bright spot has been the opening during the present week Of S35,000 building for the men of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. The struc- ture was paid for by the road. making noteworthy addition to what the company has already done Brunswick. Cumberland. South Chicago Newark and Holloway.
 The new Baltimore building is of brick construction, 36 feet wide by 100 feet long. It is two stories high, with an attic and a basement. The nrst floor contains a reception hall game room and reading room. On the second | floor is located the assembly room and 1 one class room. four bedrooms, ladies' | retiring room, buffet kitchen and two | toilet rooms The attic win be taken m by one large dormitory. In tho basement are located two bowling all leys, a locker room and general toilet room. The locker room is wainscoted l and finished in marble throughout. The management of the road has taken much interest in the Young Mems | Christian Association work. consider l ing that 1t fits the men for good and | careful service, and in this respect is especially beneficial to the trainmen- The same Christian work fs done by the New York Central and it's affiliated l lines. there being along It's tracks for ] tv Fluctuations. with over 10000 mem 1 hers occupying buildings valued at | about s2, GOO. 900, nearly all of which 1 has been spent by the roads themselves. | There are no locks on the doors or | these club houses as they are not clos | ed night or day. Two hotels Tor etn- ployes. formerly operated by 1t at De- | Witt and Minoa, hSye recently been tranaferred to the Associations man | aReynent the roads tendency being | more and more toward giving all its welfare work Into the hands or tne | r. M. C. A.
 Along with the erection of the big | shops and offces as 8 part of the yaro equipment in the new lake terminal ok | oibson, nd. where several thousand men win be employed, Is a big associa1 ton buiuding. This was erected ana thoroughly equipped by the company at | q cost of 93O, 900. Another building lately secured is at Rochester. This
 was bought by the employees of the rail- l road without the assistance of the com pany. Railroad employees pay from ee to 80 per cent of all operating expenses. The current price for the use of clean
 had in a warm room at the end of a
 run is from IS to 26 cents, and Tor
 memship $5 a year.
 The travelling secretary, John F.
 Moore, in his annual report, snoWeq
 that the beds had been used soo,oos
 times last year, and that 6OO,OOo iuncne.
 were served. while the attendance ai
 
 ROO a day. Tn the emergency hospi-
 taIs O0O cases were cared for. Men
 are prepared and trained in the Asso'
 ciation schools to render first aid ser
 vtces to the injured. In every depart
 nnent of the shop one man Is desig'
 mated to be called upon to give imme-
 diate care to all minor accidents. Scores
 of lives and limbs have been saVeo OS
 their prompt action.
 Out at the freight yards at Spring g.
 field, Mass. where formerly the only
 place a man could go to spend his leis-
 ure time and to find shelter and meal
 was to the saloon hotels. the company
 has switched off four coaches. one or
 these is fitted up for lunch room, two
 for dormitories and one for a readins
 room. These are crowded with men day
 and night Some of the associations
 are each month cashing the pay checks
 for the men, much to the discomhture
 of the saloon business.
 The thirty-second anniversary of the
 railway association at Columbus, Dr.,
 has been reported here, the progress in
 that time having been most marked
 The association started in a room on
 the ground floor of the old Union De-
 pot. but later moved to the second floor
 and. still later, to the third. Owing
 to the limited space in the depot while
 locnted there. the work was confined
 mostly to running reading room and
 the holding of Gospel meetings. Seven
 teen years ago the association moved
 to the High Street quarters and began
 keeping the building open day and
 night. and meeting in a larger way
 the every need of railroad men. Here
 they have a large dormitory, equipped
 with forty eight beds: an excellent bath department, reading room. lee
 ture room, where meetings and enter. tainments are held. and rooms for edu'
 cational classes"
 Instruct for Bryan.