Milwaukee School of Engineering - EMF Yearbook (Milwaukee, WI)

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 k 'THE ll p2G E, .......... TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS OF A CONDUCTOR. Conductor 1518. The conductor is the one whom they all think leads the life of ease. The person who originated this idea could never have been farther from the true fact. Since July, the fourth, it has been somewhat easier as it is not neces- sary to kick so many rain barrels off the car. Sometimes this is quite an undertaking and is liable to end with dire results. There are many things a man must be in order to qualify as a conductor. He should know when to talk and when to keep his mouth shut. The power of mind reading and hypnotism will come in handy at times. Next, he must be an information bureau and be able to give accurate information to any party from any part of the United States. Strangers arc not the only ones who ask questions, as the amiable citizens of Milwaukee seem to be as ignor- ant about the city as anyone else. People arc just like animals. They must be told what to do. The only difference is. some have to be told more often than others. It is the common practice of the public in general, to enter the car and remain there. The men wish to remain on the rear platform to smoke; the women, especially the older ones, like to talk to the conductor and the chickens without feathers kid the poor fellow until he is weary. Any fellow who is lonesome and wishes to make a few acquaintances should apply immediately for a position with The Electric Co. 1 can say without hesitation that he will have all the friends (?) he wants in just a few days. North avenue is the best place to find them but of course they can be found any place. Sonic people have the impression that conductors arc portable banks. It is a common case for a lady to send her seven-year-old son on the car with a five dollar bill. The conductor dishes out the change and the youngster, after dropping his three cents in the box. gets off at the next corner. Men will get on and hand the conductor a dollar bill, saying. “Change please.” The conductor then asks. “Haven't you any smaller change than this?” “Yes, I believe T have.” He then reaches down in his pockets and takes out the exact change. Then they wonder why the poor conductor loses his temper now and then. It is a wonder that he is not out of sorts all the time. If it were not for the good times he has with the fairer ones, his life would not be worth living. There is one thing about the svstcm that I wish might be dispensed with. I wish all conductors would so operate as to keep themselves above suspicion, so that the “spotters.” or men hired to watch the worthy servant of the pub- lic to see that he docs his work well and does not receive more than his share of the reward would be unnecessary. When the division superintendent wishes to see you. you cannot help feeling fearful that some “spotter” has spotted you and taken your number. I never saw a time when a number meant more to a fellow than when it is placed on his uniform cap. I have a suggestion that ought to be brought before the city council. I suggest that there be placed at every corner in the city, a sign, indicating the directions of the compass. The passengers then would have no excuse for asking for a transfer west, when they meant a transfer south. I have asked passengers who made these mistakes how long they have been resi- 0 Page One Hundred Thirty-one

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—r M THE fi92Ci EMF- £IM=S S' M £— I OUR CHRONICLE It’s always fair weather, When good fellows get together, With a stein on the table And a song ringing clear. This class as a whole has followed these lines pretty closely. We have had our ups and downs, but are glad to say that we are still in existence. Mr. Sunday, a well known evangelist, said in one of the southern technical schools: “Washington, Lee and Lincoln arc great men.” It is true, but to my notion the most they did was to make their names “stick” in history; but take an engineer, he does work equally as great in his line of life and is his name stuck in the U. S. History or the history of any other country?” This class is hardly known in this school but stop and consider. If the school wanted a genius, one that does something to lift the school to the standard that she ought to have they’ll come to this particular class. Why do we say so? The school wanted a band. But who should be the leader? Didn’t they find one in this engineering class; also there was needed an ar- tist. a man that could draw and place photos in this annual. Didn't they find one in this class and so a few other instances could be mentioned? The question now arises, “What is this class which is of such unheard of importance?” This class can be divided into three parts. On January of last year part of this class decided that this is the school that they were looking for and enrolled. During the hot summer months the swimming pool had a stronger magnetic attraction than the school and but: a few of this bunch re- turned the term following the summer months. The second part of this class feared the winter in school and started in April of last year. They found that the little swimming they wished to do and school could be managed together here in Milwaukee with its great Lake Michigan and inside swimming pool and they stayed through the summer months. The third part of this class is the part that according to our estimation is the best part. These arc the boys that saw France and proudly speak of their actions on the front. After returning from the war and being released from active .service they joined with this class. We also have our activities. Last summer we decided to have a three days’ outing at Muskego Lake and those who had time and did go can tell of a wild time. Previous to this we had a smoker and ice cream party and we arc to have such entertainments this year. Are we there with the athletic stuff? Why we have supported one hun- dred per cent and are always there with our toast: You may drink to the heroes of classical fame, To the victor in tourney and fight, To radiant maiden and virtuous dame, To the noble invincible knight; But pour your Rhenish, and hold it on high, I will give you a toast that is better, A toast that will drink with a vim till we die. 'Tis the man with an “E” on his sweater. 4 Page One Hundred Thirty

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 M THE i920 EMF- 42 S ——jr dents of the city. The time has varied from six months to fourteen years. Rut if the conductor should make a mistake in punching the direction, why lie ought to he discharged. Another thing that must he spoken of. is the styles of the coming sum- mer. I understand that it will not he necessary to go to the Empress to see a burlesque. Just hoard a Farwell avenue car. The stylish costumes and “make up” of the ladies are of such a nature that it will not he necessary for the conductor to spend his spare change for a seat in front of the foot-lights. 1 might further state that the women are doing tine in saving cloth. They have shortened the length of everything, even the hose. That is all I have to say at present about our interesting occupation. Any- one wishing further information may see me privately and I will dispense my knowledge willingly. EXPERIMENT NO. 0000 B. L. S. 'fhe object of this experiment is to notice the effect of the commercial efficiency when it is connected in series with the interpolis hut with the polar- ity opposite as in the neutral wire of the squirrel cage high frequency phase splitter. Procedure :After the resistance of the fuses was measured new ones had to he inserted in the circuit and for protection a fairly heavy cable was con- nected across each of them. This also increased the power factor to such an extent that the current through cosine which was lagging the counter e. m. f. by 108 degrees in the shade went right up and consequently increased the fre- quency of 11 which immediately was compensated for by inserting a Jiffy cut- ter in the circuit. To limit the flow of current nothing higher than 25 Ampere Ammeters were used and as the circuit breakers were found to he very unstable they had to he tied to the seat. As the experiment progressed we noticed that the R. P. M.’s were moving in a counter clockwise direction which caused some of the Eddy currents to leak out and that of course hindered the brushes from making good contact and also explained a severe carbon knock. As the alternator in the laboratorv due to a frozen radiator was out of commission and alternating current of a suitable frequency was obtained by connecting to the D. C. supply lines, but reversing the leads every 1 120 second. In order to get the proper phase difference the current was sent through a vacuum cleaner wound with heavy insulated condenser laminations in which every third slot contained one or more single layered lap wound dummy coils which naturally protected the vibrator points of the slip rings from becoming pitted and consequently reduced the stray power loss to a negative value. After sending the current through a disinfector shower bath Page One Hundred Thirty-two