Connecticut western news., 1899-06-01
THE OPPORTUNITIES.
For Young Men in the Electrical Pro-
 fession.
Sunday Morning Oall.i

In reply to the somewhat broad ques- tion of a correspondent, 'I understand that the electrical profession is greatly overcrowded. "What chances of suc- cess has young man who adopts it?" it may be said that there has never been SO much room in the electrical field for hard workers, with brains and staying power as there is today. The aggregate capacity of the thousands of motors employed in the distribution of power-not counting those for traction purposes-in machine shops, cotton mills and sugar houses, in printing, pumping, hoisting, and ventilation. modern warships for steering and hand ling ordnance to say nothing of the ap paratus used in the transmission of powers distinct from power distribu- tion is enormous. Improvements in general methods of illumination have given . wonderful impetus to electric lighting and in 1898 more than 1,00O,- 900 horse power was employed in America in street railway transporta- tion alone, conveying more than 3.0O0.- 900, GOO passengers and earning some- thing like $125, COG, 900.
 A marked featured of electrical de- volopment in the last year has been the astonishing growth of the electric vehicle business. Within few months orders for automobiles amounting to $15. 900, 900 have been received by American manufacturing companies from Europe, and the entire cab system of Paris it is expected will be run by electricity before the end of this year.
 The expansion in the application of electricity in electro-chemical processes and in the refining of metals is almost as striking. In 1897 the output of German electrolytic alkali works alone was 20. 900 tons, and in the last twelve months it is estimated that more than 300, ,OOO, ,0OO pounds of copper were electroly ytically refined. Some 8,00O.- 900 pounds of aluminium are also an- nually produced in the same manner, to say nothing of the various products of the electric furnace.
 With the progress that is being seen in innumerable other new electrical fields, the demand for capable hands must increase. The technical schools are certainly crowded with students preparing for electrical engineering, and these have decided advantage in the struggle for place, but yet thou sands who cannot afford the regular school or college course are straining to enter by other doors. A popular method of preparation is that of elec- trical correspondence schools As to wages in the early stages of the busi- ness it is but natural that the rates should be kept down by the large sup ply of men anxious to gain footing. A good draughtsman may make from $2.25 to $5 day, bat it is common saying, If you draw we'll, be sure you do other things we'll, or you may become g draughtsman for life.'' Mechanics may get from $5 to $6 a day, while those employed in merely assembling parts may make $4 to $9 a week. Isolated plant engineers get $12 to $l5 weekly. In special cases, as on telephone works electricians are paid as much as $5 day. Armature winders average $2. 50 a day, the foreman being paid $3 to $4 day. The pay for wire men. during the eight months of the year they are likely to be in full work, il about $3.i5 a day. Erecting elec- tricians may make $75 to $1OO month. but few erectors are needed since it has become the custom for the pur- chaser to divide the work of erection among hands of his own selection. The average pay of dynamo designers is put at 375 to $100 8 month. In regard to the lines of work offering the best future for intending electricians, an authority gives the preference to water power development, alternating cur rent transmission, storage battery work, interban railway construction. cleo. tro = metallurgy, automobiles and steam railway conversion.