Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1911-01-13

EANINM one that probably comes
MSRA nearest to deserving the
VIZ dignity of being called
profession is that Of loco
motive engineer Formerly this was,
like carpentry and mechanics and
other manual occupations, little more
than trade; but the complexities and
Importance of railroad transportation
have become so great as gradually to
have elaborated the training of the
engineman until they are considered
competent to run a train only after
years of hard work and scientific
study.
So, when your boy manifests symp-
toms of wishing to be locomotive en-
gineer, it may not be wise to dissuade
him on the ground that he would be
learning a trade. He is sure to look
admiringly and longingly at the man
beside the throttle; almost every i'm
aginative youngster does. If this at
traction Is more than fleeting, then
probably he is aspiring to an honor
able occupation which may give him
opportunity to reach the highest
places in the great business Of rail-
reading.
The logical place for your son to
make his beginning is as fireman,
where he is to serve his three years
apprenticeship. The preliminary re-
quirements are an ordinary common
school education, good physical condi-
ton, especially in eyesight and hear
ing, and, of course, good habits. HAY
ing these qualifications" to quote
from railroad bulletin, advancement
will come to those who are consci-
entious in the discharge of their du-
ties and who devote some Of their
leisure hours to study"
AS soon as your boy Is employed as
fireman he Is on the same technical
basis as the oldest and most expert
enced fireman on the system; for the
pay is the same, $2.75 for every hun
dred miles travelled, reckoning hun
dred miles as days work.
This does not mean that he will be
assigned to fast express or even any
passenger trains. Newcomers are put
on the extra list, which means that
they will be employed only half time
or less. according to traffic demands
and the supply of firemen. Trainmen
are promoted and considered strictly
on a seniority basis. with, of course,
regard for efficiency, the oldest men
in the service, If competent, being
| given the choicest and most remunera-
tive runs.
When your boy is employed first as
fireman, he will be given a list Of
| questions on which he will be ex-
amined at the end of the first year.
This is a rigid custom on a famous
eastern railroad and is generally fol-
lowed by railroads throughout the
country:
Explain the principle Of the steam
gauge. What is the source of power
| in a steam locomotive? About what
quantity of water should be evapora-
| ted in a locomotive boiler to pound
of coal? What is steam and how is 1t
| generated? What is combustion?
What is the composition of bitumin-
Gus coal? In what condition should
the fire be In order that the best re-
suits may be obtained from the COM
bustion of the coal? How should the
fire and water be managed in starting
| from the station? What is the pur-
| pose of a safety valve? When and
why should you wet the coal in the
| tender? And many other questions
| covering a wide range of knowledge
| of the fuel used in locomotives and
the care of the engine itself, Also he
must explain what should be done in
| a wide range of emergencies and acci-
| dents
BY the end of the first year, if your
boy has done his best to acquire
knowledge, he should be working
pretty regularly on freight engines
and earning probably as much as $50
or SEQ a month, and, if he passed his
! examination, he will be doing fairly
we'll from then on, by the end of the
| second year increasing his monthly
earnings to SIS or so which will prob
ably grow to $50 or 500 soon after
| ward. At the end of the third year he
has completed his course, and after
passing a particularly rigid examina-
ton is given a certificate of engineer
ing. This other examination Is along
the line of the first, except that 1t is
more advanced and carried out In
greater detail. It also includes COM