THE MILKMAN 31 



occupation provides steady employment at pay rather above that 

 of unskilled workers because of its exacting nature. On the farm 

 room and board are frequently provided. 



The milkman should understand horses if he acts as driver of a 

 team, or motor vehicles if he has to drive a truck. He must usually 

 be well and active and able to withstand exposure in severe wea- 

 ther. If employed on the farm he should be familiar with the feed- 

 ing and care of cows and with the handling of milk in the dairy. 

 He should be intelligent, courteous, trustworthy, and able to 

 handle such money and accounts as may be necessary in his daily 

 work. He represents his employer to the customer. The small 

 dairyman may deliver his own milk; the large distributor may 

 employ many milkmen. 



16. THE TEAMSTER 



The teamster is a driver of a team of horses, mules, or oxen, where 

 such means of hauling are still in use, as on the farm, in lumbering, 

 railroad building or other constructive work, and in transportation. 

 In the great cities and their suburbs the auto truck has largely dis- 

 placed the team, but it has not yet done so in the country districts. 



The work of the teamster is arduous in most cases. It usually 

 involves the care of the team before and after hours of hauling, and 

 frequently heavy lifting in the loading and unloading of wagons. 

 There is danger of injury in handling heavy articles and from acci- 

 dents in the stable or on the road, as well as from exposure in 

 severe weather. The driving of a team, however, is to many men 

 an agreeable occupation, and in many cases the articles carried are 

 not difficult to handle. The work keeps one in the open air, and 

 may be followed late in life, since skill in the handling of a team is 

 a permanent asset to the worker. Very frequently helpers are em- 

 ployed for loading and unloading and the teamster does little but 

 care for and drive the team. His earnings are above those of the 

 unskilled laborer. 



The chief requirements for this occupation are fair health, 

 strength to meet exposure and to do hard work, a decided liking 

 for animals and an understanding of their right use, sen 7 control, 

 good judgment, and power to bear responsibility. 



