The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-08-19
F. w. Thomas, Engineer of
Tests, Will Be Supervisor.
EMPLOY 5 TEACHERS.
A Arrangements Being Made for
a Thorough Course.
instruction in Drawing Will
Also Be Given.

railroad, through the efforts of Vice
President J. W. Kendrick and Super
intendent of Motive Power A. Lowell.
will establish in the local shops of the
Santa Fe, commencing September 1,
system of instruction for the ap-
prentices in the shops. Announce
ment to this effect was made this
morning.
F. w. Thomas, who is at the pres
ent time engineer of tests, will be ap-
pointed to the position of supervisor
there will be five instructors taken
from the experienced employees of the
shops whose duties will be to look
after the fnstructing of apprentices
structed in all the different classes of
work. One instructor will be in
charge of twenty-five apprentices.
There will also be a drawing school
started which will be located in the
old shop building. This building is
located in the midst of the shop build
1ngS and Will be within easy reach of
al the shops. The room which will
pc used for this drawing school is
fifty by fifty feet and will be eoufn-
ped with blackboards. drawing in
struments. tables and the necessary
requirements for instruction in draw
ing.
1t is the present intention to have
the boys report here two or three
times every week where they will be
taught in the art of mechanical draw
ing. practical arithmetic and the rudi-
ments of mechanics. The school
hours viii be from to a. M and
from to p m, after which time
they will report to the various fore
Throughout the day.
The apprentice school will COM
prise machinist. blacksmith. boiler
maker; Patternmaker. timer. painter.
a1ld aI,. an the metal working apprentices.
Ihere are at the present time one
hundred and sixty apprentices In these
departments in the local shops
May Be Extended
The school will be started in the To-
cal shops and as soon as it is under
leadWay and IN good working order
IN the local shops the system will be
gradually extended to other points on
the system and in a short time it is ex-
pected that there will be schools or
ganized in the shops all over the Santa
Fe including the Gulf and Coast Lines
This will afford all the boys who are
now working as apprentices in the To-
car SHOPS better opportunity of
learning the art of drawing and will
educate them to be good mechanics
At the same time it will benefit the
santa Fe as the road will in this man
ner acquire better class of mechan-
ical workers
The establishment of such an insti-
tuition in the shops of the system is a
NCAS 0ApSHSlN0 Undertaking the
part of the Santa Fe. In the local
shops alone it will cost in the neigh
borhoOd of thirty-five thousand dollars
ever year.
At the same time that the school in
ducements are offered to the appren-
tices the company will increase their
pay All their text books mechanical
drawn" apparatus and other articles
needed in their apprenticeship will be
furnished by the company. This will
enable the company to get a good
class of young men for apprentices and
will make them entirely independent
of home or other outside methods of
support.
On Six Months Probation.
All the apprentice employees are
taken with a six months probation
provision. If at the end of that time
they show themselves to have a me-
chanical turn of mind they are kept
and allowed to serve out their appren-
ticeship, If they are lacking in me-
chanical instincts and show strong
qualities which could be utilized in
other lines of service they are cared
for. otherwise they are turned loose.
Evidences of good moral character
are required of all employees Those
who are lacking in morals are not
wanted. The instructors will be re-
quired to look after this phase of the
life of the apprentices and will not
only look after the apprentices from
the standpoint of an instructor. but
Will maintain as far as possible a
fatherly and fraternal interest in the
apprentice and help in this way the
pursuance of good healthy habits.
As an inducement to the apprentice
TO finish his apprenticeship of three
years. the practice now in vogue will
De maintained. During the first year
the company holds back five cents per
day in the pay of the apprentices.
During the second year ten cents is
held back. and during the third year
fifteen cents is held back When the
apprentice finishes his three years this
money which is held back is returned
TO him together with the interest on
the amount at the rate of six per cent.
This gives the apprentice a neat Ift-
tie sum at the expiration of his time.
The sons of Santa Fe EMPLOYEES will |
be given the first chance to secure
apprenticeships. However the amaze
ity of the schools in the shops is ex-
pected to be large enough to accom- |
modate others and anyone who can
satisfy the authorities of good moral I
character and other requisites viii
probably have a chance.
When the three years apprentice
ship in the shops is served the former |
apprentices will Immediately be giver, |
positions as journeymen mechanics /
and will receive the same wages as !
others in these positions These em- |
ployes will always remain preferred /
employees of the system as the men |
who have been made by the Santa Fe
will be able to give them better serv-
fee and will be mechanics of a great |
deal higher grade and skilled in the |
mechanical demands of the Santa Fe |
First Trial I'm the West.
While the installation of these |
anhooIa will be an entirely new move