Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1910-12-16

&aaEszA ANITARY ENGINEER-the
E5aSSA title sounds differently
WkSYS from the old one of plumb
~ssAA er, doesn't It?
NY 1t wasn't so long ago
~ comparatively speaking
that a plumber didn't amount to much,
at least, in the public estimation; for
1t has been only recently-again speak
Ing cOmparatively-that there has been
much attention, other than the old rule
OF thumb sort, paid to plumbing, per
&c and the closely allied subjects Of
heating and ventilation. Modern con-
%titions, however, have resulted in
such tremendous advancement in build
Ing methods that there is nov room
for the exercise of the highest eff
cheney in all these branches Of the
plumbing trade, so-called. Indeed, in
these most important subdivisions of
building, the requirements are SO in
creasingly intricate and important that
The old trade Of plumbing has become
veritable scientific professionalism
Of sanitary engineering.
Therefore, when you are casting
about for a vocation for your boy, and
ne doesn't care for any Of the regular
professions or the other trades, try
plumbing of the new brand; for here
he brains he may possess, IN also to
advance as high in the worlds rewards
md esteem as he probably could in
my other line.
When the young man makes his
start, however, he will find that he
must drudge along for five years, as
\ mere helper at about $1.25 a day for
sght hours work. and without oppor-
UNITY to make substantial advance
ment till the end OF that time. But,
sven so, If he should make his begin
ming when he is sixteen. he will have
passed this probationary period by the
time he Is twenty-one, and will then
be known as a full master plumber and
earning IS or more q day, with a fine
future directly ahead of him-which is
0 enough for one to have made such
progress.
The requirements for beginning are
practically nothing. To get a job, go
10 q plumber os the new sort, and ask
him. and he will employ the boy If
1e has an opening. If he hasn't an
sther will, and then begins the boys
aalf-decade of work and learning, dur
ng which period it is up to him to
make himself just about the best
plumber in the business by the time
ae is through his apprenticeship. The
work at the start will be little more
han that of ~roustabout, for your boy
will know nothing TO the trade; but
le will soon become familiar with the
ways in which plumbers do things, and
before long will know n be told what
ae had best study at nights and odd
lours,
After this there will be steady prog
.ess, until at the end of his five years
he should have no diff Guilty in pass
Ing the most difficult examination
that a civil service or other examin-
ing board can think out. It Is the GUS
tom in most cities nowadays to require
licenses from plumbers. and to get
these more or less severe examinations
must be passed. However, they are
no more severe than an ordinarily
bright boy should be able to get
through after his five years Of appren-
ticeshfp and study.
The next step for your son, who is
how a master plumber, is a foreman
ship, which he may get very soon;
maybe at once, If his employers do an
extensive business, for. as in other
lines, the man who shows executive
ability is not at all common. Foremen
get about fifty cents a day more than
plumbers; but they have the further
advantage of being steadily employed,
whereas, ordinary workmen are more
subject to the vicissitudes of the trade,
generally losing time between Jobs, or
on account of bad weather, or having
to wait for carpenters. bricklayers, or
others to get out of the way. Also,
the foreman Is given extras in the way
Of overtime, ETC.. which may amount
to considerable in the course Of a
year.
A foreman has anywhere from q few
up to fifty Or more workmen under
him, according to the Importance of
the building or other work in hand.
In case it is important work, such as
\ large hotel or Office building, where
fifty or more men at work on the
plumbing, your son might be head
foreman, and make as much as $40 a
day, and might reach this important
position before he is thirty years old.
The next step upward Will be to a
superintendency for a big construction
Or contract firm. when he would have
70 make estimate Of cost, ETC., for the
plumbing on large work. in addition to
being the direct head of all foremen
employed by that company. In this
.ase his pay would be anywhere from
$4,000 to 5000. or even more, an
lually.
But long before this time your boy
rould have perhaps formed numerous
raluable acquaintances among large
contractors, architects and others n
aged in building operations. and have
,ienty Of opportunities to get into
business for himself. Backing would
rot be lacking: for building is one Of
ne most important and profitable lines