The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-04-25
RA|LWAYY.M.C.A. HAS
PROMINENT VISITORS
president stevens and Distinguished
National Officers On Tour OF
Inspection.
TOKENS OF HIGH ESTEEM.
Handsome Loving Cup Presented c. &
o, President and Vase to Chairman
II. O. WilIianls---Intcrestin Rail-
road Y. VI. G. A.. Facts.
By W. NJ. BICKERS.

By W. NJ. BICKERS.
The Richmond Railway YounG
Mems Christian Association on yester-
day morning gave breakfast ir
honor of President George w. stevens
OF the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway
Company, and distinguished party OF
guests, comprising several prominent
national Y. NJ c. A. officials, Mr.. c, A.
Ackerly, State Y NJ c A. secretary;
S l.. Thomas, of the local association;
L. c. S'Chcrer and other aSS0Cfdttu0
members. While the breakfast was
being served al the Railway Y. NJ. G.
a home, handsome Special train
was in waiting at the Main-Street Sta
ton 10 take the party on the first
lap Of it's journey, via the James River
Division
Mr.. Fl O. Williams. for the past
twenty -fve years chairman Of the In
ternational Railway Department OF
the Y. NJ G. A., presided at the head
OF the breakfast table and introduced
the several visiting guests--Mr John
p Mann. Mr. John f. Moore and Mr..
E. Y. Hungerford, of New York; Mr..
c. A. Ackerly, State secretary; r. T.
Jellison, r. l.. OFT, W, IT. Deal and
others. Among the members of the
local association present We're r. J.
Gordon. J. W. Knapp, p. 2. Crawford,
r. r. Bibb, j. e. Leake, +. A Norris
o l., Farrow. w NJ. Bickers
The special, consisting Of three
private cars. left the station at 9
o clock. and a goodly number Of peo-
pie were interested spectators of its
departure. The railway associations
to be visited are Richmond, Gladstone.
Clifton Forge. Hinton, Hanly. Cane
Fork. Ashland, Lexington. Russell.
Silver Grove. Covington, Ky, and
Logan, w. Va. the last named being
a cooperative association by the
Wabash and c. & 0. Railways. The
G. & 0. associations have twelve build
inEs and four hundred thousand dol
lars have been expended by the rail-
way company in the enterprise. which
has proven good investment making
for the moral, spiritual, social and
efficiency uplift of the men
\ Surprise Is shown.
\ surprise was TO he sprung on Mr.
Stevens and Mr. williams al Clifton
Forge last night and this scribe was
given the secret with the understand
ing that II he withheld until this
mornings Virgnian. The genial and
popular president OF the c & O. has
always been a staunch friend Of the
Y. NJ. c. As on his line. and II Is
chiefly through his uberality and
fostering care that they have attained
such marvellous power and develop
ment When II became known that
this far-famed friend Of the railroad
men was plating visiting all
the associations, in company with the
distinguished party II guests. the as
sociations determined 10 make him
love-offerins and very handsome
loving cup, suitably engraved, was
provided
Mr.. II O. Williams after a quarter
OF century's intimate association
with the railway associations of the
Southeastern territory and very popu-
lar with the c. & O. men, having been
transferred to the Pennsylvania lines
territory. the c & O associations de-
sired 10 tender him a loving testi-
morial and provided as the token
very handsome silver vase loving
ly inscribed The severance of the
cordial intimate relationships with
Mr. Williams Is a source OF keen re-
he will carry with him TO his new
field Of labor the loving benedictiQn OF
his long -tlme comrades and associates
Mr.. G. X. Roper, Jr.. succeeds s1r
Williams as the International secretary
for the Southeastern territory which
includes tae c. & O. lines
Interesting Statistics.
In the United States there are PA
railroad associations and 100 associa-
ton buildings. Tho railway companies
have expended four and half mill
lion dollars IN equipment The growth
and development Of this branch of
railway service has been remarkable.
and the extent and scope of the good
results to the railway companies. their
great army Of employees and the pub
lie cannot be estimated There was n
time when the crews AT iay-ov
points had no place Of rendezvous or
special comforts, and the barrooms
were alluring. The erection of COM
Portable and commodious association
buildings and their equipment with
good libraries, musical Instruments,
innocent games. athletic clubs and
Bible classes has given a black eye 10
the saloons and made for q cleaner
and better manhood. Along with this
has been the very helpful attitude of
the railroad companies generally. and
many of them particularly, against
the use of intoxicants on or off duty
on the part of their employees, Busl-
ness and booze never were patible
panions, while railroadinE and
rum makes about as bad and I'M
natural combination as can we'll be
Imagined The 'occa slonar' drinker
may find that the occasion of his i'm
hlbing was at very unfortunate
time for himself, the company and,
the travelling public. The moderate
drinker' wakes up TO a. realization
that his moderation had best be sup
planted by total abstinence, and the
"off duty" tippler he made to know