The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1918-05-15
Local Manufacturers Found
to Favor Their Es-
tablishment
WOULD BENEFIT
ALL CONCERNED
Survey by Industrial Director of State
Educational Department Indicates
Possibility of Establishing Courses in
Four Trades.


Possibility of Establishing Courses in
Four Trades.
Leon H. Beach, state director of in
dustrial education, who wa. in town
last week to make a survey to deter
mine the feasibility of establishing
part time cooperative vocational
courses in the Brattleboro public
schools, has written an interesting re-
port of his conferences with local man
ufacturers. 1t is evident from this re-
nort that the proprietors of industrial
plants in this town are disposed to do
all in their power to cooperate with the
state and school authorities in estab
fishing trade courses, which would in
.lude woodworking, automobile repair
ing, printing and machine tool work.
Mr. Beach 5 report follows:
Woodworking Industry.
To me there is only one factory in
the city which offers an opportunity
FOR the training of skilled woodworkers,
his factory being the Estey Organ Co.
There are normally about $50 men and
women employed. From Is to 20 boys
are being taught the various branches
nertaining to the organ industry. There
IS now no systematic effort made to
train Young men as woodworking ex-
nertS, particularly cabinet makers. It
seems to me that the Estey Organ Co.
offers excellent opportunities for the
training of young men as expert cab
met makers. There is q great demand
| for such skilled men and men with the
| necessary skill are not now to be found.
| This shortage of skilled labor is not
wholly due to the war. There seems to
be a general shortage of skilled wood
workers and with men rushing to the
metal trades the seriousness of this
shortage is apparent for in order to
meet this deficiency. we must interest
our young boys in the excellent oppor
tunities offered them in the woodwork
ing industry.
Colonel Estey is very anxious to CO.
operate with the school board and
states that he would like to take eight
boys during the first year. The wages
offered vary from SIS to S2S per week,
the men working 30 hours per week.
Automobile Repair Industry.
There are four garages in the city
employing 40 men with no apprentices.
The wages for skilled men vary from
SIS to $50 per week All shops work
60 hours per week. All employers
stated that there is large shortage of
skilled men and that they do not know
where to secure these workers. Ap-
prentiees can be trained within the
plant providing Intelligent boys arr
available, but the boys of today who
, apply for positions cannot be depended
upon, he does not, as a rule, remain
, in one garage long enough to gain the
: confidence of the employer He de
mands excessive wages in comparison
TO the skill rendered so that most OF
' the employers do not care to bt
o bothered with the training of appren
/, tices. Hewever. the employers are al
r anxious and willing to cooperate will
l. the school board in establishing sucl
types of trade education as will fit th'
/ boys for the industries of the city.
c There is an excellent future 70
young men in this industry. The wage
offered are excellent, the opportunitie
for advancement are unparalleled, ant
the industry needs men who can see be
lyond their immediate Job. Men witt
= the technical and cultural training ar
in great demand. The trade needs ex
pert battery men, ignition experts
d carburetor and timing experts. Thi
industry offers an excellent field fo
cooperation on the part of the schoc
board.
If Printing Industry.
81 There are four printing houses en-
d ploying approximately $50 people. A
- men employed are rated as skilled mel
. their wages vary from $lS to $50 pc
y y week of 81 hours. There are now
- boys and girls who are being taugl
:; the fundamental principles and prat
20 tice of the printing industry with til
10 idea in view, that these young me
~, and women will eventually specializ
. in the various departments found j
&c. this industry, viz, monotype and lin
70 type operators, cylinder press and jo
IL press operators, hand compositors, ct
rt No effort is now being made by the en-
ployers to promote the general civ
as and industrial efficiency of the employ,
IS other than that which is Immediate
ed connected with this trade. All emplo
he ers state that there is shortage
90 skilled printers and young women a
ce now being taught certain phases of Il
nd industry with the idea of eventual
on doino tho trn,t, Nnx.- 5nna H.. -,