The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1910-12-13
ANITARY ENGINEER 1.-The
title sounds differently
from the old one of plumb
er, doesn't It?


er, doesn't It?
nv 1t wasn't SO long ago,
comparatively speaking,
that plumber didn't amount to much.
at least, in the public estimation; for
it 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
Sc and the closely allied subjects of
heating and ventilation. Modern con-
ditions, however, have resulted in
such tremendous advancement In build
ing methods that there is now 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 PROFESSIONALS
of sanitary engineering.
Therefore, when you are casting
about for a vocation for your boy, and
he doesn't care for any of the regular
professions or the other trades, try
plumbing of the new brand; for here
is opportunity for him to exercise all
the brains he may possess, and also to
advance as high in the worlds rewards
and esteem, as he probably could In
any 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 day for
eight hours work, and without oppor-
tunity to make substantial advance
ment till the end of that time. But,
even 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 full master plumber and
earning SIS or more a day, with a fine
future directly ahead Of himwhich Is
soon enough for one to have made such
progress.
The requirements for beginning are
practically nothing. To get job, go
to plumber of the new sort, and ask
him, and he will employ the boy If
he has an opening. If he hasn't an
other will, and then begins the boys
half-decade of work and learning, dur
ing which period it is up to him to
make himself just about the best
plumber In the business by the time
he Is through his apprenticeship. The
work at the start will be little more
than that of roustabout, for your boy
will know nothing TO the trade; but
he will soon become, familiar with the
ways in which plumbers do things, and
before long will know and be told what
he had best study at nights and odd
hours.
After this there will be steady prog
ress, until at the end of his five years
he should have no difficulty in pass
ing the most difficult examination
that a civil service or other examin-
ing board can think out. 1t 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
bright boy should be able to get
through after his i've years Of appren-
ticeship and study.
The next step for your son.. who is
now master plumber. is 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 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 few
up to fifty or more workmen under
him. according to the Importance OF
the building or other work in hand,
In case 1t 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 VIII be to a
superintendency for big construction
| or contract firm, when he would have
| to make estimate OF cost etc, for the
| plumbing on large work. in addition tc
being the direct head of all foreme1
J! employed by that company In this
case lis pay would be anywhere from
| $4,000 to $4,000. or even more, an
| nually
But long before this time your boy
would have perhaps formed numerous
valuable acquaintances among large
contractors, architects and others en-
gagged IN building operations, and have
plenty Of opportunities to get intt
business for himself. Backing would
not be lacking; for building is one o.
the most important and profitable lines