Williamson Free School of Mechanical Trades - Mechanic Yearbook (Media, PA)

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22 THE. MECHANIC Qgrltulture 12 GRICULTURE is recog- nized as the most im- portant industry in the world today. QP! :fa It has not heretofore 55x2 i been given proper recog- nition because of the bountiful supply of products which in many instances exceeded the demand. The world war has placed this in- dustry at the head of the list in importance. Every available acre of land should be plowed and cultivated, and the production increased two- fold. The responsibility of winning this present war has been placed upon the agriculturist's shoulders and he must eventually meet this responsibility. With this thought in mind, a course has been outlin- ed to prepare us to meet extreme demands. At the present' time with new ideas in agriculture and bigger crop yields, more study has to be IQMWEY R- Bum given to the subject, so a beginner Instructor 111 glgggsltgtlellelmartment of in the course is given a good prac- tical foundation. The subjects, soils and botany, are studied during the Freshman year, accompanied by a series of farm talks which cover the use of farm tools to the best advantage. During the junior year, farm mechanics, breeds of livestock, feeds and feeding, veterinary science, hacteriology, and butter-making are taught. With the Senior year the student assumes some one responsibility. Each month he is placed in a different department, and is responsible for the up- keep of that department. After he has managed every department the stu- dent is put in charge of them all and must manage them to the best of his ability. The Senior academic work includes farm management, rural law, agri- cultural chemistry, drawing, laboratory practice, English, book review, and mathematics. At the time of graduation, if the student has used his training in the best possible way, he can manage a dairy and poultry flocks, breed animals intelligently, operate milking machines, make a good grade of butter, feed growing calves to the best advantage, kill and dress a hog for market, oper- ate a two-ton truck and a ten-twenty Case tractor, etc. In behalf of the Class of 1918, I wish to thank Mr. Harvey R. Burr, our instructor, and Mr. -Tohn Sheerin, the farm superintendent, for the interest they have shown in our development during our training at Williamson. ALBIN H. NORSTIZDT.

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WILLIAMSON SCHOOL 23 Zgnnklapmg ,U c HE average person's idea of a bricklayer is that he 'iS is a man who can simply spread mortar and lay bricks. This, however, is ' - only a small portion of the trade. The real bricklayer is the full-Hedged mechanic whose technical knowledge enables him to meet and solve those innumer- able perplexing problems which his daily work is bound to bring. This knowledge, as well as the skill in practical trade work, is what XVilliamson aims to give. The Iirst step in our trade was to make us acquainted with the various tools. A trowel was giv- en to each of us, and we were taught to spread mortar with the least number of motions possible. Various walls were then built, ranging in thickness from four to twenty-five inches. JOSEPH H. SHISLER. Our second year's work consist- Instructor in charge of Bricklaying ed in Constructing Walls Contain, D ' r r. . . . . GDM men mg designs. also all the different kinds of arches to be met with in the building field. Reinforced concrete, telegraph poles, and fence posts were also constructed, giving us practice in placing reinforcing rods. In our Senior year, an addition to the power plant and two pump houses were built, experience in setting water tables, copings and concrete arch keys being obtained on these jobs. Boiler setting was taken up in an exercise for that purpose, while lining the cupola at the new foundry and repairing the boilers in the power plant gave us experience in firebricks. Instruction was given us concerning limes, cements, sands, and various materials connected with the trade, also instructions concerning excavating and estimating. Experience with the builder's level was obtained in laying out the various new buildings. Our last exercises consisted of two long walls built two stories high, representing the liner classes of brickworkg as, fancy cornices, arches, and designs. ' On behalf of the bricklaying class of 1918 I extend our thanks to our instructors, Mr. Joseph H. Ellis, Mr. Paul P. Sultzbach, and Mr. Joseph Shisler, for their efforts in fitting us for the building industries. FORREST XV. NACE.