Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-10-13
TRADES IN SCHOOLS.
A Feeling Prevalent That Pittsburg
Should Have Place Where
BOYS CAN PREPARE FOR LlFEWORK
The Project 3 Subject of Good Deal of
Careful Consideration.
TALK WITH A MAN WHO is POSTED

For some time feeling has been preva-
lent among certain people, both directly
and indirectly interested in the matter, that
Pttsburg should have an industrial school,
where young men and boys could acquire a
knowledge OF the useful trades, and THE
DISPATCH has been appealed to in various
WAYS, to give the matter some attention.
So lar az could be learned from careful
| inquiry, no steps have ever been taken in
this direction in this city. but a project of
this kind has been the subject OF much care
ful thought by many representative citi-
zens.
Mr.. William McConway, of the McCon-
way-Torley Company, is one of the gentle
men who has devoted considerable time and
attention in looking into the workings of
such institutions in other cities. He was
seen at the company's works, Forty-eighth
street and Allegheny Valley Railroad yard
by a representative of this paper. He
stated that some time age he made an in
| spection of Colonel R. T. Achmuty's school,
in New York, and was very favorably i'm
pressed with its workings. In this institu-
tion many trades are taught, such as carpen-
*, Ry
ing, plumbing and stone-cutting. The
classes, with the exception Of that in plumb
ing, are all taught at night. the school terms
beginning in October and lasting until
about the first of May.
ONLY BUILDING TRADES IN 1T.
Colonel Achmuty, being an architect by
profession, probably accounts for the fact
that the handicraft taught in his school are
exclusively those practiced in the building
trades.
Mr.. McConway said that the school was
patronized by young men from all over the
country He saw one from San Francisco
and another from ST. Louis, who had re-
ceived thorough instructions in architecture,
but who wanted to acquire a practical
knowledge of the building trades in order
to better fit them for their professions.
"How is this school maintained?" was
asked of Mr.. McConway.
"a small fee is charged, which pays in
part the expenses of the tutors, but Colonel
Achmuty, believe, furnishes the build
lngs and meets all deficiencies. The insti-
tuition Is not conducted with the view of
making profits, but to awaken an interest
among the pupils and fit them out for the
struggles of after life if they choose to follow
a trade
do you think there is a field for such an
institution in this city?"
"Oh, yes; not only here, but in almost
any place where young men may be growing
up without proper facilities to fit themselves
out with some reliable means of support.
''It has been urged by some that organ
lied labor would oppose any movement of
this kind"
NO REASON FOR ANY FRICTION.
''I do not see why it should. They have
no trouble of that kind in New York, and
the school has been running for some time
now"
"Have you heard anv talk of school OF
the kind being started in this city?"
"I know of no movement in that direction,
although hav. talked with great many
people about it, and the are all oil the opin-
ion that it would be very desirable sort of
an institution to have in a community like
this. There are a great many things to be
considered, however, in such an undertak-
ing. 1t might require large or a small
sum of money to establish it, according to
the ambitions of the projectors Then, the
details of study would require much atten-
ton. There is the Girard School, of Phila- |
delphia, and the Pratt School, of Brooklyn,
both the result of bequests, where the |
pupils are instructed in branches of learning |
outside of the trades. 1 have no doubt, |
however that if the subject is once opened |
up there will be any number of opinions and |
suggestions offered that will be valuable, as
it certainly has been carefully considered by |
many people in this city"
Mr.. McCouway was asked what he thought |
Of plan suggested of devoting one depart
ment of such an institution to the uses OF am
bilious young men who were blessed with
inventive talent. He replied that the sup
ply of inventors was quite large at the pres
ent time, and that the market seemed to be
quite we'll supplied with inventions.