Official Proceedings Saint Louis Railway Club Volume 11 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1906 Excerpt: ...of the eight months' (thirty minutes per diem), course of the four boys in tin and coppersmith department will say. First, as you are aware, the boys of our department, 1 am proud to say, lead the classes, showing interest in their work. Also during lunch or noon hour, they are off to their class room, while it is common to hear them discussing having to stay at home tonight and work on projections, plates, etc., at washing up time in the evening. These boys can now draft patterns for elbows, tees, cones, etc., which they would not have been able to do had they not taken the course. They also make steam chest and dome gaskets, together with considerable copper pipe bending and brazing. Will say finally, that I consider that I have the most apt and progressive lot of boys I have had under my supervision in fifteen years' experience as a foreman, and attribute it to this manual or technical course solely. From Master Mechanic to Supt. Machinery: "I am attaching you copy of letters received from the various foremen mentioned by you, and whom the apprentices are directly under. You will note there is a diversity of opinion as to the benefits of this plan. As to my own personal views, I would say that the benefits to the apprentices themselves are of a character that would justify what might appear to be extravagant claims. Boys who became breadwinners, either through necessity or otherwise, before they had gained even a primary education, have been enabled, practically without cost, to secure an education of a kind best suited to their position. As to the immediate and present advantage to this company to offset the cost through loss of time while they were reciting their lessons and the expense of instruction, it would be difficult to determine, and might...