Evening star., 1909-03-07
AID RA|LR0ADY,
Companies to Continue Policy
of Cooperation.
PRESIDENT FINLEY TALKS
Head of the Southern Says the Work
Is Important.
WANTS TO ASSIST EXPANSION
Organization Improves the Person
mel of the Employes-Contribu-
tions to Help Pay Expenses.

It's employees from the work OF the Kali
road Young Mems Christian Association
the management of the Southern Rail-
way Company proposes to continue the
policy which 1t has pursued in the past
Of cooperating with the branches Of the
association along it's lines
Speaking in particular for the company
which he represents and in general for
the railways of the entire country. Presi-
dent w. w. Finley of the Southern rail-
way declared yesterday that the work
done by the Railroad Y. NJ. c. A. is just
as important an economic problem IN
railway management as that of the main
tenance Of the roadbed, the provision of
trackage. terminal facilities and equip
ment
Hope to Aid Expansion.
1--WE have aided in the gradual develop
ment of the Young Mems Christian Asso-
ciation work. with special reference to
the needs of particular localities" Mr..
Finley said. 'As time goes on, we hope
to aid In the expansion Of the work on
our lines. and am sure that 1 speak for
practically all Of the railway managers of
welcome the Young Mems Christion AS
ISOLATION In the railway field and wish 1t
Godspeed In its good work.
President Finley himself has watched
the growth and work which has been
done by the Railroad Y NJ c. A. along
his line and along other lines, and has
come to realize the Importance Of this
work In improving the personnel of the
employees of the company. He said that
he has found that those employees who
spend their lay over time at the Y. NJ Z.
A. return to their work In good ply sical
condition and with a clear head and that
both the men and company by which
they are employed are benefited there
by. He expressed the belief that no other
work done by the association exceeds in
Importance that done in the railway field.
Raises Standard of Efficiency.
"A railway is business institution"
continued President Finley, which can
achieve the highest measure Of success
only when every official and employe Is
giving to 1t the best service Of which he
Is capable, and when all are cooperating
intelligently and Loyalty for the best gen
eral results. The Young Mems Christian
Association is an important factor in rails
Ing the standard OF efficiency, and In
brln g1ng about that realization Of identity
Of interests which Is necessary for loyal
cooperation
Speaking of the growth Of the associa-
ton work on railroad lines President Fin
ley said:
The association is now carrying on its
work on railways comprising over 50 per
cent of the total mileage In the United
States. Canada and Mexico, with a mem
bershp, at the end of 1908, Of So 900 rail-
way employees, divided among 2A2 associa-
tons owning 174 buildings valued at
So. 569. 200.
Attitude Of Railway Companies.
'The attitude Of the railway companies
and their officials toward these organiza-
ttons and their work is shown by the fact
that the companies and individual officers
and stockholders have in many cases con-
tributed toward the expense of erecting
buildings, while the companies regularly
contribute 35 per cent of the current ex-
penses.
THAT these contributions are regarded
as money we'll spent was strikngly illus
trated In the past year. Nineteen hun
dred and eight was year of diminishing
railway gross earnings. and in some cases
OF vanishing net income. 1t was a year
of drastic economies, in which railway
managers. having saved every dollar pos
sible, looked about for opportunities to
save pennies
Pays Share Of Expenses.
"Yet. in all this reduction. in which ap-
propriatons for many urgently needed
DetteT menus were ScaIeo down or post
poned, and in which. in many cases. divi-
dends were reduced or discontinued, not
a single railway cut off its appropriation
for its proportion of the current expenses
of the Railroad Young Mems Christian
Association.
"The continuation of these appropria-
tions during this period Of depression,
said Mr.. Finley In conclusion. was a dis
tinct concession to the work of the asso-
citation in recognition Of its economic
value. That it's employees shall properly
care for themselves out of working hours
is fundamentally as important to a rail-
way company as that it's locomotives shall
be put in order at the end of a rum The
contributions of the companies to the
railroad Y. NJ. G. A. are made because il
has demonstrated its usefulness as an
agency for aiding men TO care for them
selves and increase their efficiency