The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-10-14
Complete Course of Training
for Apprentice Boys.
OFFICIALS PLAN 1T.
Was Discussed at Albuquerque
Meeting.
Other Work Taken Up by Me-
chanical Department Men.

1t is the purpose of the Santa Fe me-
chanical department to put in effect a
uniform system of training its appren-
tices. according to a recent statement
of Superintendent of Motive Power q.
r. Henderson, whereby every young
man who takes up an apprenticeship in
the company's shops will be given a
complete course of training. He Will be
required to spend certain length OF
time on each machine. in case he be
machinist apprentice, and for those in
the blacksmith and boilermaking de-
partments it is proba bic that similar
arrangements will be made.
Mr.. Henderson, while he was assist
ant superintendent of motive power for
abe Chicago & Northwestern, had such
an arrangement and it worked admir-
ably. 1t is not only beneficial to the
company in that a better class of men
emerge from their apprenticeships, but
it rebounds favorably to the individual
employees who so serve their time Most
of the trades in railroad shops, at least
in this part Of the country, require their
apprentices to serve four years time
before they can be entitled to the TriVl-
leges of a full-fiedged mechanic. It Will
be seen that by dividing this time into
parts and laying out schedule which
each apprentice shall follow-the ma
chimes upon which he shall work ac-
cOrding to their Importance. and per-
haps the proficiency he must show i'll
this part of il before being advanced,
both employer and employe will gain.
Heretofore the custom in this respect
has been lax. Within the last few
months, however, comments of approval
upon the course of the Topeka shop Off
Gals have been heard in regard to the
manner of giving the boys OppOr-
tunity to get the most out Of their time
and effort exercised for the Santa Fe
In times past, it seems, the advance
ment of the apprentice boys has de-
pended partially upon the WhimS of the
fDppnan in CHARGE With the -
ment of regular system of promotion
and changing about this would be OBJ
Waited.
At the meeting of mechanical super
intendents and master mechanics held
in Albuquerque N. M, last week this
subject came UP fo' consideration, and
1t IS certain that as soon as the officials
can reach 1t the Inauguration of the
change will be commenced. 1t has Ieen
a matter of complaint on the part of the
machinsts and 9th IT or. ftsmen hat too
many appre'.tiCas were BeIrg FRA 1ua ted
from the railroad shops of the country.
a.. st'Dllatlrns ha' 2 bee~ talked of
looking to an aDDortionment of the
number. 1t has been suggested that
the number of apprentices in machine
shops be limited one to every five ma
chinlSfs. The reason for his demand
is in the fact thar it has been feared
the trade would be Overcrowded by a
large number serving their time and
by limiting that number the class OF
proved.
Superintendent of Motive Power Hende~-
son, who returned the first of the week
from Albuquerque seems pleased with the
course which the confe renee of mechanical
men took and with the general conditions
OF matters on that part of the system
The boilers of the engines which were
more or less run down by the ack of re-
pairs on them during the disafection
among the boilermakers is being slGWlyl
overcome. There is still much work Of
this class in sight but it will be all
brought up in the course of a few months.
At Albuquerque, where the company has
next to Topeka shops-thc finest me-
chanical plant on its system, arrangements
were made in advance and an exhibition
hoist was shown the officials By means
of that machine the wheels of a CONSOLE
dalton locomotive were put in place in II
minutes after the big hoist began lifting
the boiler from; its blocks. This hoist
was constructed in the Topeka boiler shop
last spring and set up here in order that
its parts might fit together properly Then
1t was shipped west to Albuquerque where
it has since been in service. It's work will
the electrical cranes now awaiting the
fluid to be turned on in the new building
here, but it is of ineStimable value as a
labor saver in such a point as Albuquer-
que.
In attendance upon the conferences were
A F. Hilton. general s.orekeener. and AS
sistant General Storekeeper Rice of Albu-
querque. The significance of their pres
epce was that with them the handling of
supplies for the department over which
the mechanical department men have ill.,
risdiction had some relation. Other uues-
lions discussed were the handling of work
in greater bulk at the larger shops: the
economy of fabrication: repairs on locorlO-
tiyes. this particularly with regard to a
systematic arrangement. and fuel econ
omy 1t is understood that the fuel bill
of the entire system runs up into an item
something like three million dollars and
It is calculated that considerable saving