The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1919-04-03

miners, which Is now being
tried out by class in the
Morning mine, was the subject
OF investigation this week by A. c.
Callen, special agent for mining and
representative OF the federal bureau
for vocational training. Mr.. Callen is
also professor Of mining engineering
In West Virginia university. at Nor
gantown, w. Va. His department in
the university has given considerable
attention to class room instruction 10
employees in the coal mines of West
Virginia, the pupils including all
grades from superintendent down.
The interest taken by employees in
this class of instruction and the great
benefit derived from it have lei Mr..
Callen to make special study OF
vocational training as applied to min
ing, and he has had under considera-
tion the extension of the system to
include practical underground in
struction and experience. It was
therefore with exceptional interest
that he came to the Coeur d'Alene
district to make personal investi.
cation, on behalf of the federal board
for vocational training, of the work
of the first class that has ever been
organized for underground training.
Mr.. Callen was accompanied to Wal.
lace by Francis A. Thomson, of Mos
cow, dean Of the Idaho school Of
mines, director for Idaho Of mining
vocational training, and under whose
general supervision the system Is be-
ing tried out. In company with
Frank H. Skeels, under whose per-
sonal direction the instruction Is be-
ing given. they went to the Morning
mine Monday to make close obser-
vation of the work of the class and
to confer with Mr.. Skeels regarding
the same.
Looks Like Big Success.
Upon his return from the Morning.
Mr.. Callen was evidently quite en-
thusiastic over what he had seen and
the progress that had been made
within a few weeks in developing
capable practical miners out Of
class of young men, not one of whom
ground before entering the class. He
frankly stated that when he arrived
here he was rather skeptical regard
ing the practicability of extending vo-
cational training to this class Of
work, but that his observations of the
work accomplished by the class, the
they had achieved In the
short time they had been receiving
instruction, and the intelligent inter-
est displayed by the men, had con-
vinced him that this first experimental
class would be followed by the adop-
tion Of the system in other districts,
and that it would eventually raise the
standard of efficiency in the mines
and necessarily result In advantage
to both employees and employers.
The work of the class has so far
been confined to drifting, and what
has been accomplished leaves no room
to doubt that equally satisfactory
progress will be made when sinking,
raising, stopping, timberlng and the
many other tasks that come to the all
round miner are taken up.
Should Include Night School.
Mr.. Callen suggested that in con-
junction with this underground work
of the class, arrangements should be
made for a night school, or day
school If more convenient, in which
members of the class and others who
were interested would receive lee
lures on practical subjects connected
with mining. with blackboard illustra-
tions and demonstrations. Questions
would be asked and answered, follow
ed at times by general discussion
which would tend to create a lively
interest He stated that class of this
ment of the West Virginia university,
which has attracted not only miners.
but shift bosses and superintendent
all of whom recognize It's practical
value.
AS indicating the favorable attitude
Of mining companies toward voca-
tional training, Mr.. Callen stated that
some Of the large copper companies
Of Arizona, which he recently visited.
now maintained schools for the in
struction Of employees for the duties Of
shift boss, foreman and superintend-