Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-04-21
TEACHING BOYS A TRADE.

cruz tnere OF which he Is also secretary. He VIII
De back here on Monday next.
TEACHING BOYS A TRADE.
The school Opened by the Master
PIunbers for Apprentices.
AsSESE IN THE sCHooI-RooN-HOw THE BOYS WE'RE
TAUGHT TO MAKE AND "wIPE" JoTSr-TALKISG
ABOUT AETALs-FIRsT LESSONS IN PLUaBrNG-THE
PURPOSE OF THE SCHOOL, ETC.
In large room occupying the whole third floor
OF the building 215 18TH street thirty boys
were ranged at work along the sides OF three long
"ork benches. 1t was evening when The STAR
reporter climbed the stairs and the room was
onsntly lighted. The attitudes of the boys all
mad the unconscious grace natural TO a boy when
no Is hard at work upon something In which
ne Is interested. On the benches were scat
tered various tools and bits OF lead pipe. 1t
was the trade school for plumbers appren-
tices, an Institution Just opened under the
direction OF the Master Plumbers Association.
Inc membership, though limited to boys regn-
Iariy apprenticed TO members OF the Master Plumb.
efs Association, Is large and growing. The school
mas been fitted up by he Master Plumbers AsSo-
citation The boys In attendance are required TO
pay dollar a month for the instruction they re-
ceive. This sum does not, officer OF the aSso-
ciation told STAR reporter, pay expenses, but II
helps and 1t gives the boys a FEELING OF indepen-
uence twice week the boys meet for instruc-
ton. They began last week, and OF course have
not yet advanced very far In the
MYSTERIES OF TEE TRADE.
Before opening the school q committee of the
Master Plumbers Association Investigated the
schools for plumbers apprentices opened in New
York, Philadelphia and other cities. The plan OF
the school established here Is modelled on that in
Philadelphia. The purpose is to give practical In
struetion. The actual work at the bench Will.
however, be varied at times by lectures on metal
lurgy and sanitary matters, especially with rela-
tion to plumbing. In the school-room are
neps on me =, various trade Journals - ana
The boys are encouraged TO read there and to
post themselves on the condition or the trade. The
nrst lesson given last week related the materials
used by the plumber Tue lesson given
when The STAR reporter visited the school
was intensely practical Each boy was given
PIECE OF LEAD PIPE,
and he had 70 dress 1t, cut II, and then join it
again, or make and wipe joint. First, the boy
took his pipe and Strengthened and smooth it out
dresser" or bringing 1t down with considerable
force upon the top OF the bench Then
he he sawed awe it, Il in two and next prepared
periphery OF the ends was first made as perfect
a circle as possible by means OF a turn-pin piece
OF hardwood neatly turned in the shape OF a
pear or top. This would be driven into the end OF
the pipe. The opening at the end OF one piece,
which was 10 receive the other was then enlarged
Py en 5ne bon In with some force
with rasp On the outside and q wedge
shaped knife on the inside. Next the
outer surface OF each piece OF pipe was
chalked for distance OF three or four inches from
each end, and then painted with black soil
When this was done an inch or two from each end
face OF the lead being scraped away, leaving the
metal beneath shining like silver The scraped
part was then creased The boy then
pipe on bricks and weighing them, so
that they were nrm and steady under the hand.
He was careful In adjusting them 10 see that they
hare w obs or fho
ders passing through the crevice into the interior
OF the pipe. Then the joint was ready to be
little square patch of ticking folded several
times.
"wrPrNG" JOINT
In his right hand he takes a ladle full of molten
solder from the melting pot. Holding his left
hand protected by the cloth beneath the Joint, he
sprinkes the solder over the joint, catching 1t
and wiping it around the pipe with the cloth.
Soon there is an accumulation of soft solder about
the joint, and he works IL with the cloth in his
lett hand until he has fashioned a symmetrical
looking and Servtceable joint
When the boys had finished working their Joints
Mr.. K G. Campbell, who acts as instructor, took a
piece OF pipe and went through the same opera
tion explaining the reason for doing various things
thai did not explain themselves. The chalk Is put
collects on the pipe, SO that the soir' viii sticK
The soil Is made OF lamp Dlack and glue. IL is put
on for two purposes The "tin" or solder Will not
adhere to the parts covered with TIE ''soil,"
and the black color helps the plumber, In
the case OF a bright new pipe, to tell when
ne has scraped the surface sufficiently.
AFTER the soil is put on the TWO ends are Scraped
for some distance, leaving an inch or two still
black with the soil. The length OF the pipe TO be
wants TO MAKE. lit is TO be plump. round ioint.
only about an inch Will be scraped. This scraped
part Is covered with grease or tallow so that the
solder viii adhere better.
THE SOLDER.
The instructor explained also the proportions of
m and hal
toned the boys against Swimming their melting
pots. As the tin floats on the surface by Swimming
the pot the plumber gets his adle full of tin only
The mixture must be stirred. Each little Incident
how to tell when their solder was hot enough by
q paper Having thrust his is'N lade Pinto into
drops OF hot molten solder were scattered
around. This opportunity for instruction was not
lost. Mr.. Campbell explained that the ladie was
wet and when he put II into the pot little globues
OF steam were formed, which, expanding, caused
miniature volcano. Plumbers, he said,
implements they put into the solder W n p sne
fectly dry. When Mr.. Campbell began TO pour
the metal on the joint, he talked as he worked
When he had got what is called heat
up" he began 10 work the mass Of
Is the point where the metal in the pipe at the
joint reaches tAe same temperature that OF the
solder, and the two metals amalgamate. Then
Tue new anu the Olu metal are worked as one
pliable mass under the hand.
The instruction for the evening was over before
10 O'Clock. and the boys took OF their aprons nut
on their coats and hats and started home.
THE ADVANTAGE OF TIE SCHOOL
A member or the committee IN charge said a
boy would learn as much In six months In such a
school as he would be likely TO learn In four years
time In shop. The Journeyman, he said will not
stop 10 Instruct the boy by his side. He has the
boy with him as helper, TO do the hard work that
he can do without instruction, while the Journey
man does the work requiring skill. The master
plumber, he said, paid the boy by the week, and
naturally expected to get as much time
out OF him as he could. SO, be-
tween the master and the Journeyman,
the apprentice got good deal OF hard work to do
but did not learn much In New York and other
cities where such schools have been In operation
boys who take the course OF lessons have a year
taken on their term OF apprenticeship. IL Is ex-
pected that similar rule will be established here
The District Commissioners and others Interested
In the sanitary plumbing VIII be invited 10 visit
the school.
Taxes and the Rock Creek Tunnel.
To the Editor Of THE EVENING STAR:
Henry Georges idea that a community has
right 10 the lana values 1t creates Is considered by
MANY to he imuracticahip hut I'm the 20 40 NJ tha