The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-12-20

the speed, etc. He Keeps within S1gnt
( or Mailing distance of all the boys UNI
der his care, and is ready at all times
| to render the boys any assistance.
THE shop instructors are recruited
from journeymen who have been in
service for some tin men who ara
familiar with all of the machines in
the shop, and thoroughly familiar with
the standards and rules, methods and
practices of the company.
He must be a man of patience, a
man with a boy-loving heart, one
whose personal character is not only
clean and elevating, but whose actions
and conversation are such that the boy
will look up to him with pride and
honor, and ende3vor to assimilate the
best that is within him. When the
boys are in trouble he advises them,
when they are sick he visits them-in
fact, he encourages them in everything
that goes to make them clean, honor
able citizens, and above all, to be first
class mechanics. The boy entering our
shops at the age of 16 is at a critical
point in life and is in need at this time,
above all others, of some strong but
patient, directing hand to guide and di-
rect him and to shape his plastic young
soul.
1.-The apprentice system on the Santa
F'e is not merciless machine moving
in certain fixed path, but 1t is flexible
ard humane from the very beginning.
The abuse of any boy, however, ex-
asperating the case may be, is abso-
lutely prohibited. Profanity towards a
boy by either shop instructor or fore
man is unknown, and although their
teachings and instructions may be ma
chanical. they are Of such a parental
nature as to remove them from the
mere mechanical
1.-THE requirements of application for
apprenticeship on the Santa Fe are not
rigid. nor do we inquire particularly
into tho 10 off,
do we require character letters. If the
boy has been through the fifth grade
of the public schools and is strong
physically. and apparently bright, we
give him trial and in the first six
months our shop and school instructors
are able to determine his fitness for the
trade he is indentured to learn. A few
boys coma to us who are really deficient
in education, boys who have had to
leave school in their tender years TO
or younger brothers and sisters, and
for these we have a night school where
the young fellows are taught the
branches in which they are deficient.
and as soon as they have progressed TO
certain point they are released from
night school and continue their work
in the regular apprentice school. While
such boys are often a little more ex-
pensive, we have really gained some OF
our best young mechanics from such a
source. These night schools are not
considered punishment and do not N
any measure reflect on the boys abil-
ity. It is splendid opportunity for
him to advance more rapidly, to learn
little more so that he can keep pace
with his more fortunate brother.
1.-THE instructors exercise a modified
military and parental discipline over
the boys; the military discipline will
insure immediate obedience and sub
ordination; the parental discipline will
assure the boys the personal interest
taken in them, and serve to teach
them the Importance of living a clean
life, and the value and Importance of
becoming an honest citizen.
"At the smaller shops where we have
but four to six boys, we have a travel
ing instructor who spends his time at
two or more places. He is both shop
from these smaller points some of our
best mechanics especially for round
house work The last year of their
time observed in one of the larger
shops where they may have the adj
vantage Of a greater variety of ma
chimes.
Each and every apprentice is re-
quired to have a standard set of shop
tools. these being furnished and sold to
the apprentices at cost price to the
company. This scheme provides first
class set of tools at reasonable cost
and with easy terms of payment. The
company also furnishes each apprentice
a tool box free of cost.
1.-THE instructor keeps a complete per-
sona1 record of each boy; the progress
he makes in shop and school, his shop
efficiency class and quality of work
performed, and his personal habits
These records are sent monthly to the
office of the supervisor of apprentices,
and here copied on his personal record.
By requiring this, the instructor must
a On oil Of ~ hnx II
the headquarters can in a moment give
complete record of each boy ON the
system.
''The greatest difficulty we have in
inducing the better class of boys to go
into our shops as apprentices is the
practical social ostracism that they
must undergo. AS a general rule, men
working in railroad shops are known
as mechanics, some of whom have lit
tie pride as to their personal appear
ance, leaving their days work with
hands and face grimy and greasy, and
oftentimes wearing on the way home
the same, overa1ls or clothing in which
they. have worked in the shop, seldom
bathing, and changing their clothing
less frequently. We have been en-
deavoring to impress upon our young
men the importance of cleaning up
before leaving their work at the shop,
bathing frequently, and changing their
clothes as often as their financial cir
cumstances will permit; to cease loaf
ing on the street or at disreputable
places. If they go to shows or places
of amusement, to select the best kind,
even if it is necessary to go less fire.
quenfly; to be polite and courteous
to everybody at all times.
THE effect of such instruction has
been noted at a number of places-in
fact, the personal appearance and so
cial conditions at some of these places
have been revolutionized. Such
| teaching has also made them more or
derby in their work, keeping their shop
tools, hand tools and jigs clean and in
| the right place, no time thereby being
| lost in hunting for calipers, scales, etc
| The apprentice boys are encouraged in
athletics and here, as we'll as in the
shop and school room, they are taught
the value and honor of clean sport
( While it may take years to accomplish
what 1 might call the social eIevating
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