Physical Disabilities
The description of the various occupations given above answers several questions regarding the schooling and necessary qualifications. Milling is entirely an indoors occupation and one which should not be undertaken by any person affected with tuberculosis. A miller should be agile and capable of endurance. Many of the occupations in the mill require considerable climbing and walking, making it a serious handicap for a person who has lost a limb (unless he has become expert in the use of an artificial leg) or for one who is afflicted with rheumatism.
Generally speaking, the loss of an eye would not interfere, nor would dullness of hearing. The loss of an arm would only interfere in certain occupations and not in all. This is true especially if the person has an artificial hand provided with a hook or other holding device and for the more simple occupations and manipulations. Stiffness of the arm and incomplete movements of the joints of the arm or fingers would, if considerable, disqualify a man for general employment in the milling industry. Men affected with shell shock might be able to do good work in a mill. Minor injuries, such us the loss of a finger or toe, or facial injuries, need not interfere with a man’s ability to do any kind of work in a flour mill. When a person has mastered the milling business he may be a successful miller, even though he has lost an arm. One of the best millers in this country has only one arm.
What training and education are required and what may reasonably be expected in the form of wages or salary?—A portion of this question has already been answered. A high-school training is the most that is essential, although many of our best millers have far less education than that. As for the other occupations in the mill a common-school education will, for the most part, suffice for all necessary purposes. The training, however, depends necessarily upon the nature of the position and the responsibility which a man must assume. To become a good head miller a man should have some theoretical training for a year or two and then an opportunity for practice. To take charge of the flour packer no great amount of training is essential. Practically no education is necessary for many of the occupations found in a mill. To be a second miller, from three to nine months’ training in a trade school followed by experience as an apprentice are required. The man with a good training would certainly have an advantage especially when qualifying for the position of head miller in a large mill.