The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-11-16
IT'S A SUCCESS.
80 TART rran -sas4ss p.
Santa Fe School fer Apprentices
Under Roadway.
One Hundred Sixty Young
Machinists,5 Attend.
f. w. THOMAS PLANS.
Purpose Is to Turn Out Good
Mechanics.
Night School for Older EN-
plOyes Also Conducted.


J Although the Santa FEES school for
apprentices has been in operation in
the local shops for but little over two
months, the results which have been
attained have been beyond the fondest
dreams of the planners of this new de-
parture in railway circles. In the school
which has been started in Topeka there
are now. one hundred and sixty enthusi-
astic students, all of whom eagerly ap-
ply themselves to duty.
I'VE do not expect to make mechani-
cal engineers out of our apprentice stu
DENTS" said F. w. Thomas, supervisor
of apprentices in talking of the prog
ress of the Santa Fe's new school. All
we want is to get good mechanics out
of our efforts" This terse statement
from the head of the Santa FEES appren-
tice schools embodies the aim of this
great railroad in establishing the
schools. While the feature of schools
for the training of railroad employees
Is not confined to the Santa Fee, the
Santa Fe is original in the field of prac-
teal and theoretical instruction for ma
chinists and shop men
The local school for apprentices was
established last September. The first
announcement Of the Establishment of
| the school was made in the latter part
of August. school room was fitted
up in the old machine shops building
of the Santa F'e and by the middle of
condition. A visit to the old machine
shop at the present time will reveal a
modern up-to-date school room equip
ped with all the requirements of me-
chanical drawing, and during class time
filled with a lively bunch of specimens
Of young manhood who in the future
will compose the army of men who Will
build the big locomotives and cars
which will carry the traffic from the
Great Lakes to the coast over the San
ia Fe's system.
One Hundred and Sixty Students.
In this school room every day are
gathered the one hundred and sixty
students of the apprentice schools.
Some come in the morning and receive
two ours instruction in the theory
and graphic representation of mechani-
cal work. The students are taught now
to reproduce on blue prints graphic
sketch of every component part of
locomotive, car, shop tool and every
thing with which they will be expected
to deal Another portion OF the stu
dents report for class room work In the
afternoon for two hours Here they are
under the tutelage Of c. M. Davis, a
competent instructor In railway work
At other times they are in the shops
putting the, knowledge gained in the
class room into practical service under
the direction of skilled mechanics. APP
iprentfces from all the different depart
ments of the local shops, not only the
metal workers, but the wood working
apprentices and even painters are given
free instruction by the Santa Fe.
Everything in connection with the
Santa Fe school of apprentices is abso-
.lutely free. A handsome set OF draw
ing Instruments is furnished the ap-
prentice and he is paid for his work.
The time allotted for apprenticeship In
the local shops is four years, no more
nor no less. No apprentice is taken
who is not of good moral character ana
Of sound and robust health. common
iS rnr n
prentices must be between the ages OF
sixteen and twenty-five years. The
average age of admission is a little
over sixteen years, while the average
age of all the apprentices is a fractlon
over eighteen years. After they have
completed their four years apprentice
ship they are given positions as jour
neymen mechanics and command the
same pay as full f1edged machinists and
other mechanical workers.
In the personnel of the apprentices
there can be found a large percentage
of the young men who are sons OF san
ia Fe men. These young men are given
the preference as they will be more
likely to remain in the service of the
company Sons of engineers, machin-
lists and other employees of the mechan-
ical departments are preferred to 9TH |
ers as apprentices. Young men who live
on the Santa Fe system are also pre-
ferred to those who live on other roads. |
The latter it is thought will be more |
familiar with the Santa Fe and more |
Iikely to continue Indefinitely in Santa |
Fe service.
Given Thorough Trial.
An apprentice is given probation. |
lasting about six months. If |
he proves himself not adapted to a GER |
tain kind of work he is tried at some |
thing else and given an opportunity to |
show talent in some kind of work. II |
at the end of six months he fails he is |
tajn D1Jrf
an apprentice receives dollar |
a day for his work. Every six months
after that he is given fifteen per cent
Increase. However during the last year
he receives twenty per cent increase.
AS an added fnducement to finish his
five cents per day dur
ing the first year, ten cents during the |
second year and fifteen cents per day
during the last two years of his ap-
is held out and given to
the apprentice at the time when he
completes his apprenticeship. In case
he fails to complete his time the amount
held out is forfeited.
1.-THE instruction which we give our
a pprentices Is aimed at the practical"