The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1884-08-29
Short Talks with the Boys.


Short Talks With the Boys.
81 am strong, healthy boy, 10 years old,
and have fair common school education:
I must make my own way In life, What
trade would you advise me to learn"
Advice would do You no good. We
will give you some facts and figures re.
garding good manytrades, and you
can see what they offer. In present
ing these figures we are guided by
what is paid in Detroit. They may be
somewhat higher in Chicago or New
York and somewhat lower In other
cities, but, taking the country over, the
average will be about the same.
If you want to become a butcher you
must serve q three years apprentice
ship. The rule is to board with your
employer. and the first year you may.
II handy and willing, get $25 or $50
above board. During the first yearyou
will drive cart and do the rough work.
After the third year you will get all
the way from 81 to GA per week.
There Is one butcher in Detroit receiv-
| ing $50 per week, but there are plenty
working for less than $14. In most
cases the apprentice sets up for HIM
self after his term has expired, and few
butchers travel on the trade.
The apprentice to harness maker
must serve the same time. The best
boy will not get over IS per month the
first year, and the majority only $3. 1t
Is all shop work, and used to be con-
sidered good trade, but of late years
so many state prisons have gone into
the business, and machinery has had
so much to do with it, that harness
makers are discouraged. In the aver
age shops journeymen can be hired for
SO to $40 per week. 1t is doubtful II
the very best men, working on fancy
harness, can make over $15 per week.
If you would be shoemaker you
must also serve three years. You
would get what is called aboard and
clothes" the first year, which means
board and about $25 in cash. The
second year you would get board and
about $50, and third year board and
800. During this apprenticeship. If
you were the right kind of boy, you
would be allowed to earn considerable
change for yourself by odd jobs OF
cobbling. The wages of good journey
men shoemakers are from $l2 to $15
per week, and good man is never out
of work. There Is no lost time, and
weather which Is bad for other trades
is good for the shoemaker.
The timers apprentice serves the
same period. The wages given are $50,
$75 and 800 per year, with board, but
If your employer is the right kind of a
man he will allow you to earn dime
occasionally by mending leak. Many
timers are also plumbers, but in cities
. the two trades are kept separately. Any
. one of them can, however, work more
or less with other tools. Roofing and
sheet-iron work should 60 with the
trade. The wages of good journey
man are 50 per day, but more are re-
ceiving $40 per week than above it.
, Labor-saving machinery has sadly in.
terfered with the journeyman during
the last six years. The pans, pie-tins,
: cups and several other articles he used
to cut by pattern and solder together
, are now stamped at blow without
, seams.
, The baker business takes no regular
, apprentice. Boys are taken to work
, and are allowed to learn how to bake
: but there is no agreement as to time
!, The greater portion of the work can bt
, learned in a year, but bakers who have
: followed the trade for twenty years
. can still learn something new. Th,
y wages are from 81 to $12 per week. 1
q is fancy baker who gets the latte
8 figure. ~ ,Ea.
: The apprenticeship to plumber i
for three years. A boy will get abou
So per week. without board, the frs
year, and So to Sc the second.
:. plumber who is also q steam-ftter ca
= count on from SO to $3.50 per day an
= steady work. The wages paid to eitho
y n plumber or gas-fitter will averag
q SIS per day.
= The apprenticeship to cabinet-mai
u er is for the same term, but, owing
!. labor-saving machinery, penal labo
J and other causes, it is perhaps tn
poorest trade u /, can learn. Goo
. cabinet makers are working for les
!, | than So per day, and the very bes
: hands won't average over $13 pc
week. An apprentice would be pai'
about So per week the first year, bu
without board. Gt.t
o In cities of any size painter mean
a craftsman who paints buildings. ID
q does not pretend TO NEEDLE with any
p thing further, or at least should not
u An apprentice would serve about on
g year at, say, IS per week. After tha
y be could draw pretty fair wages, bu
L the average pay is not over 81 per day
% and there is q great deal of lost time.
Q Paper-hanging and decorating hav
7, come TO be an art Men with taste an
i skill can earn from $2.25 to $3.50 pc