At the end of 1 year pupils are required to serve 3 months as apprentices at a railway station, after which they are appointed to the staff of a railway, provided they produce a certificate from the railway administration with which they served as apprentice stating that they fulfilled their duties in a satisfactory manner, and further provided that after their apprenticeship they pass a satisfactory examination on the work of the school. The school thus organized has been in actual operation for 13 years, and has supplied annually to the railways about 200 employees, who form the nucleus of a staff of employees well trained for responsible positions in connection with the commercial service, the telegraph service, and the traffic departments of Hungarian railways. For the mechanical department, where special scientific training is required, reliance is placed upon the technical high schools, at which the minister of commerce has established 40 scholarships, given to young men with the understanding that during the summer holidays when the high school is closed they must serve an apprenticeship in the State railway workshop, for which they are paid at the rate of 2 florins per day. There are also special schools for apprentices in the workshops, and the general management of the Hungarian railways has created a considerable number of institutions to promote the welfare of their employees, and to provide general educational facilities for their children. 8. ENGLAND.-Perhaps the most notable illustration of the attention that is devoted to the education of railway employees by the English corporations is that of the shops and schools of the London and Northwestern Railway. Three institutions organized along similar lines are established as follows: (1) The Mechanics Institution at Crewe, especially designed for the locomotive department of the service; (2) the Viaduct Institute at Earlestown, for the wagon department; (3) the Science and Art Institute at Wolverton, for the carriage department of the service. The chief mechanical engineer of the London and Northwestern Railway, Mr. F. W. Webb, is the president of the Mechanics Institution, and similarly the wagon superintendent and the carriage superintendent, respectively, are the presiding officers of the institutions at Earlestown and Wolverton. The Crewe Mechanics Institution is managed by a council of 31 members, 3 appointed by the directors and 28 elected by the adult full members of the institution from among persons nominated by the directors and members. The directors retain practical control. Any person over 13 years of age may be admitted to membership upon payment of 7s. 6d. per annum as full members, 5s. as library members or news-room members, and 1s. 3d. per half session as class members. A payment of £5 constitutes a life member. A gymnasium, reading rooms, game rooms, hall, and smoking rooms are provided in addition to the evening classes, for which the school is specially organized. Courses are offered in all elementary English studies, in French, music, shorthand, mechanical drawing, physics, chemistry, electricity, higher mathematics, mechanics, physiography, and hygiene. Courses begin in September and continue through to May. All full members are admitted free. Examinations are held and prizes offered. Scholarships are also provided. At the last distribution of prizes, which took place at a public gathering largely attended on November 28, 1900, addresses were made by Lord Stalbridge, the chairman of the railway company, by Mr.Webb, the president of the institution, by the Bishop of Chester, and by Sir William Preece, the well-known authority on the subject of electricity, all speaking in the highest terms of the practical value of the thorough work done by the institution. The total cost of this institution for the year 1899 was between $8,000 and $9,000, of which the railway company paid in apprentice premiums about $2,500, the balance being made up of income from membership fees. This institution has been very successful, and from it the company has had no difficulty in selecting young men for any class of work carried on at its shops in Crewe. This was the primary object of the railway company when they established the institution in 1846. There is besides in the town a technical institute, which is under the control of the town council. The railway company prefers to keep entire control of its own institution, and therefore does not accept any grant of funds from the town council. The Viaduct Institute at Earlestown and the Wolverton Science and Art Institute are conducted in very much the same manner, and are intended to be of practical value along general educational lines as well as to have a direct influence upon the personnel of the railway staff. 9. GERMANY.-For the higher technical education for the engineering corps of railroad officials chiefly engaged in the construction departments and maintenance of way departments of the German railroads, reliance is had upon special 1 See discussion "Eisenbahnschulen" in Röll's Encyklopädie, Vol. III, p. 1295, ff. courses in the engineering schools, technical schools, and universities, which are Government institutions. For the higher administrative officials, the general staff, and the rank and file of superintendents, and others engaged in practical railroading, the problem of a suitable educational training, apart from the experience gained in practical service, is just as real and pressing one in Germany as in other countries. There are those who recommend special schools, railroad academies, etc., to be conducted in connection with the technical high schools, and those who recommend special courses on railroading in the universities. Both these plans have been tried. The requirements for admission to the special schools are pretty generally understood to be the same as for admission to the technical high schools; that is, a good general education, and in the conduct of the schools, the preference is decidedly in favor of having the lectures and instruction given by practical officials in the railway service. In connection with the Prussian State railways special classes and courses of study were already provided by some of the railroad directorates as long ago as 1866. These were for special classes of officials and such instruction was formally organized by ministerial decree of the Government dated March 11, 1878. The plan comprises meetings at the principal railroad stations once or twice a week, in which most of the officials participate. The office and station officials, trainmen, shopmen, freight employees, enginemen, and others take part in specified courses. Attendance is optional for the majority of the men. For some officials who have to pass periodical examinations it is compulsory. The instruction covers the rules and regulations, the principles of machinery and its operation, signaling, custom regulations, rates, railroad geography, etc. Also railroad law and the organization of railroad officials as State officers is taught. For the office force there is usually a greater number of lectures provided in half-year courses. In 1884 in Württemberg courses similar to those in Prussia were provided. In 1882 the Rhine Railroad Company founded a technical railroad school at Nippes, which is a State institution opened to all employees in administrative work, and intended to prepare for the position of superintendent in the various grades of railroad service. There is also, in connection with this school, a school for apprentices in the lower grades of labor. A number of other such schools exist throughout Germany. Such schools were established at the principal shops of the Prussian railways by order of the Government, dated December 21, 1878. The period of instruction covers 4 years, and the entire training is intended to turn out a first-class mechanic. Pupils are admitted at the age of 14 and not older than 16 years of age. In a few exceptional cases the maximum age is fixed at 18. Pupils must have completed the courses in the elementary public schools. Instruction is free and the discipline is strict. The chances for permanent employment for those who go through these courses successfully is good. During the period of instruction pupils are paid a daily wage, beginning with 80 pfennigs. or about 20 cents, in the first year, and after that subject to an increase of 10 pfennigs every 6 months, with the exception of period in which the increase is 20 pfennigs, so that during the last half year of the course they receive the daily wage of 14 marks, or about 36 cents. Pupils are also permitted to participate in the sick benefits to which regular workmen are admitted. At the end of the fiscal year 1899-90, the number of apprentices in such Prussian State schools was 1,745. Similar schools exist throughout the various German States. The following account of the railway school at Breslau, as described in a German periodical, is given by Mr. Eaton: The railway school at Breslau opened in October, 1897, under the control of the Royal Railway directors, teaches theoretical science and prepares candidates for appointment as secretaries and superintendents in the traffic and freight departments, and also gives employees already in the service opportunities for attending courses of lectures. The teachers are railway officials and appointed by the railway directors. The discipline of the school is the same as that on the railway. Lectures take place between 8 and 11 a. m., and on 3 days of the week from October to the end of March. Frequent oral examinations are held. The courses are prescribed as follows: 1. Constitutional law of the State and the Empire, organization of the departments of the State and the Empire, executive government of the Prussian State railways, internal regulations of the offices: Thirty lectures. 2. Principal provisions of the law, or procedure of the law, as to the tutorial functions and jurisdiction of the administration, discipline, law, and the regulations applying to officers and employees: Fifteen lectures. 3. Geography: Ten lectures. 4. Officers' benevolent institutions: Ten lectures. 5. Workingmen's benevolent institutions: Twelve lectures. 6. Political economy: Ten lectures. 7. Cashier's department: Twenty lectures. 8. Account keeping: Twenty lectures. 9. Arrangements as to fares and freight rates for and additional pay to the train staff: Six lectures. 10. New lines (laws dealing with railway undertakings, preliminary works, compulsory purchase, survey, regulations as to construction): Seventeen lectures. 11. Stores department: Eight lectures. 12. Workshops department: Six lectures. II. Technical Education of Railway Employees in the United States.A. THE PRACTICE OF AMERICAN RAILWAYS.-In reply to the question: Is the technical education furnished by the railroad to its employees? If so, to what extent and to what grades of service? Replies were received from 40 roads in the United States operating 112,353 miles of line and employing 633,023 employees. Twenty of these roads replied that no technical education was furnished by them. The replies received from the other 20 roads operating 55,662 miles of line and employing 380,302 employees are as follows: IS TECHNICAL EDUCATION FURNISHED BY THE RAILROAD TO ITS EMPLOYEES? IF SO, TO WHAT EXTENT AND FOR WHAT GRADES OF SERVICE? 1. No, except in the way of reading rooms supplied with general and technical literature. We also encourage the use of the privileges afforded by the technical correspondence schools. 2. (a) Special technical instruction is given all men engaged on locomotives or trains, or having to do with the train service. They are required to pass certain frequent examinations. (b) A car fitted with every modern device for the particular technical education which they need, and under competent instructors, is moved about the system. 3. The company furnishes no technical education to its employees. Employees in all grades are encouraged to acquire a knowledge of the technical principles involved in their work and facilities are put in their way for obtaining the same outside of working hours in reading rooms and Railway Young Men's Christian Associations, where instructors are provided. 4. Technical education is afforded employees of the transportation department through the medium of instruction cars equipped with necessary apparatus and charts. These in charge of competent instructors visit division points on the line periodically. 5. No technical education is furnished by company, but all employees are encouraged to acquire such knowledge outside of working hours. 6. No. They are encouraged to take tuition in the Scranton International Correspondence Schools and other similar institutions upon favorable terms. 7. In the transportation and machinery departments: Apprentices to the trades of machinists, blacksmiths, boilermakers, tinsmiths, carpenters, and painters are taken at the principal shops of the company and serve a term of apprenticeship, varying from 3 to 4 years, according to age, being released on attaining their majority. Some of the machinist's apprentices are given special instructions in mechanical drawing as a part of their apprentice course, but aside from the foregoing no technical education is furnished by this company. In the road department: No. 8. Technical education is furnished by the company to employees in practically all grades of the service with the exception of officials. 9. Technical education is encouraged among employees engaged in the machinery and locomotive departments. Air-brake rules and appliances are provided for the instruction of enginemen. 10. There is practically no technical education furnished to employees, although some literature has been furnished engineers and firemen from time to time. 11. In train service the technical education furnished by this company consists of special instructions to trainmen in regard to the use of air brakes and air signals, for which purposes we have fitted up a car to be used especially in connection therewith. In reference to apprentices in our shops, if special ability is shown, they are promoted to our drawing office, where they receive technical experience in mechanical engineering. 12. Firemen for locomotives are furnished documents for study, and, if they are successful in passing first, second, and third year examinations, are qualified as engineers and assigned to special or regular service, civil service governing. Aside from this class of employees and apprentices in shops, technical education is not furnished by the company. 13. For instruction in the use of certain appliances, such as air brakes, we have working models at various places, with instructors to explain their operation; we employ traveling officers to ride on locomotives to instruct enginemen as to proper methods of firing and handling the engine, and have established reading rooms at the division points, where employees may have access to current railroad literature. Many of our men are members of railroad technical correspondence schools, and we foster in every way such plans for their educational benefit. 14. Yes. This company takes apprentices in its shops and makes them thorough mechanics; also in train service educates them in the use of air brakes, steam heat, light, etc. 15. The company does not furnish any technical education to its employees, although such an education is considered very beneficial and generally proves to be a great advantage to young men entering the employ of the company in certain lines of service, particularly in the engineering and motive-power departments. 16. Technical education is furnished machinery-department apprentices, for whom a regular night school is maintained at the company's machine shops. 17. In train service, yes, in connection with the operation of air brake and signal appliances. In electric service, no. In many positions in this department a technical education is necessary. In air-brake work only. 18. 19. Technical education is encouraged among employees engaged in the machinery and locomotive departments. Air-brake rules and appliances are provided for the instruction of enginemen. 20. Technical education is given in the handling of air brakes, steam-heat appliances, appliances for lighting passenger cars, etc., by the use of instruction car, under charge of an instructor, men are first instructed and then examined. Should a man fail to pass satisfactory examination, he is again required to attend car for instruction, and a second examination given. If he is then unsatisfactory, he is either dropped from the service or put in some other grade of employment. This instruction covers all men engaged in train and yard service of every grade. * From these replies it will be seen that very little in the educational line outside of what may be called the apprentice system is undertaken by American railroads. Mr. George B. Leighton, president Los Angeles Terminal Railway, St. Louis, in his report to the International Railway Congress, says: "The education of railway employees and managers in the United States is at present undergoing a state of marked revolution. With two exceptions, * * there was no effort on the part of railway companies in the United States to offer special education for the training of young men and apprentices until within the past decade. There are now, however, a number of schools throughout the country which have added a course for mechanical engineers, adapting their students to the work of the mechanical department of railways. The courses in these schools are being extended and developed yearly." A list of 28 principal technical schools in the United States, in many of which tuition is free, is given in Mr. Leighton's report. The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad opened a technical school at Mount Claire, Md., February 1, 1885; 150 pupils took the examination for admission, and 40 passed. Mr. Leighton gives the following account of this school, and also of the Brooks Technical School, opened January 15, 1883, in connection with the Brooks Locomotive Works, at Dunkirk, N. Y., and intended for the benefit and use of the apprentices in the employ of those works: (a) The Baltimore and Ohio Technical School.—The literary training at first consisted of algebra, geometry, and elementary physics, with free-hand and mechanical drawing. There was a great deal of shop work, the instructor accompanying the boys into the shops, directing their work, and examining them there to see how well they understood what they were doing. The instructor also taught them the use and care of tools and machinery and the nature of the material used. The boys at first were trained as machinists, brass finishers, carpenters, steam and gas pipe fitters, molders, upholsterers, draftsmen, painters, bridge builders, and engineers. In President Garrett's order establishing the school, which is dated January 15, 1885, an examining board, consisting of three instructors in the school and two medical examiners, was provided for; the different classes of apprentices were established, and the pay for each class was given. The students were required to wear uniforms, the first suit being furnished free, and renewals at the expense of the students, the payments being arranged in installments. Apprentices were graded, according to ability and intelligence, into three classes, and the road exacted the privilege of keeping in its service such apprentices as were competent for at least 3 years after graduation. The school was closed in the autumn of 1887 on account of the financial condition of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. (b) The Brooks Technical School.-The officers of the works at the inauguration of the school stated that it was their intention to institute a high degree of excellence among their apprentices-first, by refusing all unfit applications, and second, by using special endeavors to afford them every advantage to become not only skillful and competent workmen, but also to educate them in the principles underlying mechanical construction and afford them opportunities to study and practice elementary mechanical drawing. Hence, no applicant would be accepted until a full investigation as to his character and elementary education had been made. To the school was assigned the entire third floor of the new office building, the room having been fitted up with all modern school furniture and appliances. Competent instructors were employed, text-books, drawing instruments, and all |