Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-08-16
Railway Campaign
TRANSPORTATION COMPANIES
GIVE ASSISTANCE TO THE
GO
Y. M. c. A. ase

New York. August 13.-If there has d"
been any great decrease in the member"
ship of the railroad branches OF the
Young Mems Christian Association the
fact has not been reported to the inter-
national committee. which has its offices
in this city. 1t was to be expected that
there would be considerable loss when
the great systems OF the country laid
off men right and left. 1t was even feared
that the work might he crippled aud
some of the fine buildings devoted TO this
work forced to close. "
The outlook is more optimistic than
any one dared hope. The business de-
preston has far left no mark upon
the railroad association work. Build
ings are being forced along as would be /.
the case upon an easy money market. !
extensions of the work being carried out
and associations started I'm fields where
none has been known. The latest re- p
port of this sort comes from Monteress r.
Mexico, where half the railroad employees :
of every sort have Joined since it was
determined to make a separate orgahir
cation for the traffic men. They arctic
have rooms on the Calzada between the
Central and National stations 49,.
Another bright spot has been the OPEN
ing recently of a $4,000 building for ff'e--
men of the Baltimore and Ohio railroad-z
The structure was paid for by the roads,
making a noteworthy addition to what.
the company has already done In Bruns7'
wick. Cumberland. South Chicago. Newark
and Holloway. 81
The new Baltimore building is of brick
construction. 80 feet wide by 100 feet
long, 1t Is two stories high. with an attiql
and a basement. The first floor contains
ha11
room. On the second floor is located the
assembly room and one class room, four.
bedrooms. ladies' retiring room. bunet
kitchen. The attic will be taken up BY,
one large dormitory. In the basement are
located two bowling alleys, a locker room !
and bathroom. The locker room is wain-
scoted and finished In marble throughout y
The MANAGEMENT of the road had taken !
much interest in the Young Men Sn.lSsli,
tan Association work, considering that-s1r
fits the men for good and careful serviGe.
and in this respect is especially beneficlH
to the trainmen.
The same Christian work is done by
the New York Central and its affiliatedf
lines. there being along Its tracks terty
associations with over 10000 members
occupying buildings valued at about "
100000. nearly all of which has oeen-
spent by the roads themselves. Thspa.
are no locks on the doors of these chut-
houses, as they are not closed night or
day. Two hotels for employees. Formerly
operated by 1t at Dewitt and Mlnear
have recently been transferred to the fHf--
sociation's management. and the road
tendency being more and more towatd
giving all its welfare work into the HANGS.
of the Y NJ. c. A. i n-
shops and Offices as a part of the Ward
equipment in the new lake TERMINAL Of
Gibson, Ind, where several thousand msn-
will be employed. is big ass9ciat,gfs
thoroughly equipped by the company.
at a cost of $4,000. Another building
lately secured Is at Rochester. ff,ee-
was bought by the employees OF TIE
railroad without the assistance. of Itr
company Railroad employees pay frong
90 to so per cent Of all operating expenseSy
The current price for the use or cfean
bed in a warm room at the end or run
is from Is to 25 cents, and for Membership
IS year. III
The travelling secretary, John F. Moors.f
in his annual report showed that the beds
had been used 300, 600 times last year. and
that 100000 lunches were served. while lie.
attendances at the buildings at the 80
centers was 3. 500 day. In the emergency
hospitals 900 cases were cared for. Men ;
are prepared and trained in the assoeta.s
ton schools to render first aid services to-
the injured. In every department of the:
shop one man is designated to be called.
upon to give immediate care to all sfA[
nor accidents. Scores of lives and liRbA.
have been saved by their prompt actiop:,-,
Mass. where formerly the only place
man could go to spend his leisure time.
and to find shelter and a meal was to thee
saloon hotels, the company has switched
of four coaches. One of these is fttld
up for a lunch room. two for dormitories
and one for a reading room. These are
crowded with men day and night. Some
of the associations are each month cashs'
ing the pay checks for the men. .5cl..
The thirty-second anniversary OF the
railway association at Columbus, OHIO.
has been reported here. the progress IN
that time having been most marked. Thes
association started in room on dfre
ground floor of the old Union depot, hast,
later moved to the second floor and stu
later to the third. Owing to the limited
space in the depot while located there the
work was confined mostly to running "a
reading room and the holding OF gospel
meetings. Seventeen years ago the asSo-
citation moved to the High street quarters
and began keeping the building open DAY
and night, and meeting in larger way
the every need OF railroad men. Hefs
they have a large dormitory, equipped
with forty-eight beds. an excellent bath
department. reading room, lecture robrA.a
where meetings and entertainments are
held, and rooms for educational classes-yrf
Y.swT