The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1884-03-22
INDUSTRIAL TOPICS.
New Occupations Suited to Persons
OF Intelligence, Mechanical
Skill, and Good Habits.
The Relations Between the Farmer
and His Help----SnOw as
Protection.
NEW OCCUPATIONS.

Inc general INTRODUCTION OF steam
power for propelling machinery and
the invention of machines for doing
many kinds Of work have produced
wonderful changes in the trades of for
mer times. Many can remember when
it was customary to have hats made
to order and when every considerable
village contained a halter as well as a
carpenter, blacksmith, cabinet-maker,
shoemaker, and cooper. The carpen-
ter worked out all his material by the
use of hand tools. The blacksmith
fashioned on his anvil almost anything
made of iron and steel from the blade
of pen-knife to a ships anchor. The
shoemaker often went ON house to
house making into shoes and boots the
hides taken from animals slaughtered
on the farm and tanned in the neigh
borhood. The cooper made barrels for
holding cider, vinegar, pork, and beef,
butter tubs, water and milk pals, wash
tubs and sap buckets. He made his
slaves, heading, and hoops by hand,
and put them together in his shop with
out the aid of machinery. The cabinet
maker received orders for everything
in his line, from cradles to collins.
Nearly all his work was done with
hand tools. At present the carpenter or
householder obtains windowsashes,
frames and blinds, doors and door
frames ready-made, and has nothing
to do with them except to put them in
position. He also purchases prepared
flooring, siding, and many other ar
ticles employed in the construction of
house The cooper of the present
time simply "sets up the slaves that
are manufactured by machinery. The
skllful blacksmith has dcgenerated
into horse-shoer, and he buys the
shoes and nails he uses. The village
shoemaker has become cobbler. Boots
and shoes, hats and caps, all kinds of
furniture and tinware are manufacture
ed in large establishments by the use
of machinery operated by steam power.
While numerous mechanics have
found their Occupation gone, ;" it is
gratifying to know that several new
ones have been created as the result of
the new order of things. Among the
new occupations is that of engineer of
large buildings in cities and towns.
The construction of residence flats,
large office buildings and warehouses
has called for new class Of engineers.
The person competent to take charge
of one of these large buildings must
understand the construction and oper-
alton of steam boilers. the working of
freight and passenger elevators, the
principals of steam and furnace heat
ing, the various methods of ventilation,
the operation of electric bells, the use
of gas and electricity for lighting build
ings, the employment of stationary and
portable apparatus for extinguishing
incipient fires, and the construction
and employment of apparatus for sup
plying hot and cold water and dispos-
ing of that which is impure. 1t will
be seen that considerable scientific and
mechanical knowledge is required to
fill the position of building engineer in
satisfactory manner. a building en-
gineer should be competent to make
ordinary repairs, to take charge OF
electric batteries and to change the
position of electric and gas burners.
He should be not only intelligent and
skillful, but honest, temperate, indus
trlOuS, anu attentive 10 DuSlHtSs- ne
position of engineer of a large building
is one of great responsibility. He is
res ponsible for the safety of the build
inn and its contents, and is also charged
with the convenience and safety of the
occupants. AT present a very large
number of public and private buildings
are being conslrus,ed that will require
the services of engineers. This new
occupation promises TO be sufficiently
remunerative TO induce young men 10
prepare themselves in special reference
to il.
There is already limited demand
for electrical engineers, and as cleo
tricity is applied TO the movement of
machinery as we'll as the production of
light, the demand for them will in
crease. A school for the education of
electrical engineers has been establish
ed in London. There is demand for
farm and drainage engineers in vari-
Gus parts of the country. The system
attic drainage of large bodies of land
makes the service Of men who thor
oughly understand the business very
desirable. As farm property becomes
more valuable many owners will desire