Grants Pass daily courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1919-1931, 1919-01-10

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Among the training projects of the
various branches Of the government
that have grown out Of the war, the
United States shipping board an
nounces the launching Of one that has
the distinction Of novelty.
II Is a technical school, or college"
for merchant marine firemen. Holding
that the marine fireman's Job is more
than merely shoveling coal on fire,
the shipping board has prepared for
intensive. scientific training of its fire
men before they are placed behind the
shovel on our bridge Of ships to Eu-
rope.
One aim in this training is to secure
conservation Of coal. II Is believed
that a fireman who knows the heat
value Of the fuel he is handling, the
laws Of combustion and the principles
of operation Of the boilers under which
he maintains fires, can save at least
a ton Of coal a week, as compared with
the unframed man, or one who has
been trained only by "rule of thumb
As there are estimated to be 7,O0v
American and allied ships In service
at this time, the Importance of this
principle of saving is apparent.
Use Hotel as School.
The Chicago school for firemen was
decided upon as means of employing
to the fullest the high-grade material
which was coming into the fire-room
service Of the merchant marine In the
middle West, in common with other
sections.
In order that the young men should
have proper care while studying, the
Idea of an official community was
adopted. A dlsused hotel, in a down
town section, was secured and fitted
up on the lines of a seminary, with liv-
ing quarters for 500 students, and O
spacious lecture hall, all under one
roof.
Here, under the direction of instruc
tors and proctors--the latter are kind
OF glorifed master-at-arms-the stu
dents lead busy and wholesome life
1t is case of plain living and higt
thinking with them, for their time Il
limited at the school to one month al
the outside, and there is much fol
them to learn. Some of the men having
fired boilers before attending the
school, find the instruction a valuable
postgraduate course.
The main subjects are: Materials
Of Combustion" Process of Combus
tion." TYPES of Boilers" Boiler
Parts and Accessories" and "Oil Burn
ers for Marine Boilers"
Get Practical Experience.
There are also talks on fire-roon
practice and the relations of the fire
man to the engineers, oilers and water
tenders with whom he works at sea
Part of each day is devoted to actua
firing. Some Of this firing is done a
power plants, and some on lake steam
ers, making short trips.
When a student has absorbed tn,
book learning" In the Chicago cours,
ne Is sent 10 seaport for fina
course of instruction and to "get hi.
sea legs" on enc Of the shippin,
boards u training ships.
Volunteers are being signed up ii
every state in the Union. Candidate,
accepted are from eighteen to thirty
i've inclusive, and must weigh at leas
l4O pounds. The board will pay tn,
fare to Chicago of volunteers from
Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Wis
consin, Minnesota, the Dakotas, Ne
braska, Iowa. Missouri and Kansas
and thence to seaport, and also Civ,
them their board at Chicago. TIL,
fare Of men from other states will b,
paid direct to seaport. where the.
will be trained. In either case the vol
unteer will receive $50 month train
ling pay. When he gets behind tn,
shovel at sea he will be given SIS ,
month, with 30 per cent added for voy