Omaha daily bee., 1909-02-01
SCHOOLS TRAIN MECHANICS
Union Pacific Started systsm Taken
Up by Many Roads,
BUSINESS COLLEGES HELP SOME
Schools where Telesrsphy and Prac-
teal Train D~ispatchiRG Are
Taught n Recruits
TO Railroad Ranks.

The Union Pacific was the pioneer in the
matter OF having schools and apprentice
ships in order to provide skilled mechanics
for the highly technical work Of operating
its lines and now there are flfty-five rail-
roads in the United States which have
adopted some form or another. The rail.
roads nave found that it pays to educate
their boys. Besides educating the boys In
the shops the Union Pacific Is working in
conjunction with some Of the omaha busl-
ness colleges which have Geographic de-
partments In which the young men are
taught to use the instruments.
The most highly developed apprentice
ship system is that Of the New York Cen
trial lines. This company has established
schools for apprentices at nine points on
the system. There is an apprentice depart
ment under the direction OF Mr.. C.. W.
Cross. who has an office at the Grand
Central station in New York. The present
plan was put in force in 1906, although for
nearly twenty years there had been some
attempt to give boys training in the shops.
There are so many young fellows who
want to go into the company's schools
that there is a waiting list at hte begin
ming OF every year. and many OF the pros
pective apprentices TAX places as helpers
or wlpers in the shops and round houses
while waiting. A better class of boys has
been secured than ever before went to
work in the shops.
Under the system of instruction the boys
get into touch with the actual work at
once. A class is gathered in the : schoo
room, an old steam pump or cylinder with
piston is brought in and connected up with
pOnnTpgsaH air Oinpz The hOpq Nuatch II
work, then they take it apart and examine
it, make drawings Of the different parts,
measure everything and make calculations,
and finally are sent into the shops and
shown how to make and repair .,arts of
the mechanism.
They are instructed in drawing. and I'M
der special foremen are put through the en-
tire shop with which the school is con-
nected. They are paid for their time, but
instruction is what they are there for. No
attempt is made to get their pays work
out Of them.
Although practical familiarity with the
tools and the machines and the trade of
railroading is the first thing they learn,
they are required to attend classes in arith-
matte, geometry, mechanics, draughtman-
ship, simple bookkeeping. etc. Al the end
- 1N ~ . NHN a.
of the company to send some of the bright
est boys to technical schools to finish off
their training and prepare them for posi-
lions requiring expertness.
The establishment of the apprentice
schools has had a good effect on the older
men in the shops. Many of them have re-
quested permission to attend some of the
classes when held in the evening, and at
certain shops evening classes for the men
have been established. the men gathering
for an hour after the whistle blows to
stop regular work.
Officials of all grades are we'll pleased
with the system, from the gang boss to
the superintendent OF motive power. The
self-respect of the boys is encouraged by
the officers, who, by common consent, re-
move their hats while in the instruction
rooms and put them upon the same plane
Of dignity as college classes.