The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1905-11-16

The bov who Wishes 10 learp tho plumb
er's trade must begin ~ "belper." HI
will be obliged to apd an opening for him
self by personal application At the shops Of
master plumbers until he hits upon one
who needs an extra hand. There 10 no fx
ed system Of apprenticeship, no stipulat.d d
period Of service as q. he iper, and no cast
iron rule ~ TO wages. The master plumb
er who needs helper makes such an ofIel
40 he thinks ID fair.
From fiftsen 10 eighteen years is the aye
At which boy 10 most likely to Mud an
opening, His wages the first year may be
any where from three TO ak dollars 4 week
They will depend somewhat upon his size
and strength as we'll Is upon bis apparen,
mental qualifications. A strong, well.
grown helper Is worth more than weak
and puny one; for most Of the materials
Of the plumbers trade and many OF the
tools are heavy, and these the helper is eI-
pected to carry.
The boys frst tack In the shop will be
'cleaning up" that 10, keeping the place
swept and the tools and material where
they belong. He will cut up lead ard SOL
der for the melting pots, see that fuel Ia
at band, and tina. the torches are flied be-
fore the iournevman who he serves starts
out upon his days work. BE may also
have TO nle up rough castings now and
then, and will cut threads op the ends of
pipes and screw up cap and Joint pieces
work which requires considerable strength.
When he 10 frst "sent OUT" II will be as
an assistant, or, more accurately, . SER
want, to the Iourneyman.
He win be told In the beginning what
tools and materials are likely to be needed
on tho job in hand, and mast see that they
are ready. He will also carry the kit and
materials to the Job.
While the iourneyman works, the helper
watches and follows directions. He builds
the nre 10 the old.fashioned furnace or
lights the gasoline Ia the new-fashioned.
sees that the irons are properly heated,
passes tools - they are wanted, and runs
errands for the iourneymsn.
The boy will not receive much iustruc-
tionsunless he seeks 1t. His success de-
pends. upon the intelligence vi h which he
uses bis eyes and the sense with which be
asks question. Most journe, men WI o..
swer question II teldom occurs 10 ons 80
volunteer information.
The plumbers helper may count on
'pending from one TO tso years in tbIs
way. His wages during The second year
will Usually be increased by from one TO
thres dollars . weak
Al he becomes familiar with the nature Of
biz msterials snd tho uses and care Of his
tools be vii be advanced TO better work.
So far be has attempted only "cold Jobs,
that IL, such A. do not require the use Of
solder. He will now BE- set " unimportant
shot ,bs," % ths, be may learn 10 "wipe
q joint" which used TO bssthe goal Of the
plumbers apprentice, Tut 10 such no longer
b. cau,c conditions in tie trade have chang.
ed aud ., requirements have advanced. II 10
upon proper appreciation Of these changes
that boys real mastery Of bis trade will
depend.
Plumbing touches the health Of the com.
munity more closely than any other trade,
and Ia this matter Of public health great
advances 10 knowledge have been made.
This has led msny Of the ststes TO assume
authority over the trade Of the plumber,
and to permit NO man TO work ~ journey.
man until be has passed ~ examination
and rceivet license.
The boy. then. must study drainage, the
different kinds Of trsps and their uses, the
effect Of different temperatures upon water
and other msseriais, ard ua AXE himself fam.
lila viii such sanitary laws a. sppIy 10
hi work.
How lorg II viii tske him TO do this will
DE- pend upep himself. Itwiil not be lees
than three years, and ousht not TO be more
thsn hve.
Daring the third, fourth and 9th years
be msy sgsiD expect additions TO his
wsge,. By the time he h ready 70 TAXI
bis examination be should be receiving
from twelve TO fifteen dollars . week.
Asa journey mar, Lis esr.itg, will DE-
pend partly upon bis stiil and partly upon
locality. Ip The lsrga eitIss Of New Ens.
land plumbers receive from t~o dollar,
and svsnty- Ave csnts TO -four dollars day
In New York wssss rngs fpm three 70
nvs dollars. IL CIcgo they are about the
same; 10 St. Loai,, Denver, Ban Yrspeisco
and other weste cities hey are stiIl high
ey, often aching siI dollars . day. S.-
turaiiy, 10 the smaller eitiss sDd the towns
oil over The country wages are lover.
Ths i,srpsynss's liesass h by 10 means