The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1869-04-16
The .SftC Free SehoOs or Telegr0.
q ply.

The Western Union Telegraph Company
| finds 1t necessary to procure cheap operators
forcountry stations. Men, it is said, are not
only expensive, but restless under confine.
ment. When they are not busy they are
apt to stray from the lonely offices, and do
not hear the signal for message. Women
work cheaply, and remain at their post
reading or sewing, and are thus always at
hand to hear the prcmonitory click. An
experiment, we are told, was lately made
upon long line to test this matter. It
was found that the female operators invaria-
bly, answered the calls, but the men were
often absent.
| 1t has been an object therefore, with the
company, to obtain women operators, but
unfortunately few efficient ones are found.
The position requires rapid and clear hand
writing, in order to transcribe' messages,
| correct spelling, and general intelligence.
Coupled with these power of mental con-
centration is necessary, which will enable
the operator to attend closely to "a long
series efsounds, withoutmissing any. Some
experience in accounts, faculty for keeping
them. and familiarity with. commercial
terms and turns of expression, are also essen
tial. Owing to, perhaps, greater aptitude
and an education that has borne more di-
rectly upon the work, men have had an adj
vantage over women in telegraphing, and
obtained higher salaries. The pay ofgood
male operators ranges from $50 to $125 a
month, while that of woman averages
but $50. Cases occur where women obtain
800, but they are rare. +e
THERE'S no reason why women should
not make as good telegraphers as men,
The Western Telegraph Company have
combined with the Cooper Union to pro-
vide a free telegraph school for wotden.-
The Union provides room in the Institute
building, and the company furnishes in
struments, wires and teachers The school
is to be opened on the 18th instant. As
instruments occupy much space, there will
be accommodation for but twelve pupils.
An examination for admission was held on
cants nine only were received. Another is
to he made this week. rsa .r- IFS Z.
There, are two private schools for tele-
graphing in.this city, one in Philadelphia
and one in Syracuse; but although the
theory Of telegraphing is tolerably we'll
taught there in a term of six months, the
practice cannot be acquired which alone
can render a pupil valuable to an Office.
The wire of these establishments run simply
round the school room, and are not subject
to the alterations of temperature suffered
by those in the open air, especially upon
long lines. The learners, therefore, can
have no experience in arranging the "ad9us-
tiers" upon instruments necessary to full
knowledge of their duties. Wires are often
affected by other causes than atmospheric
changes. The non-conducters on the poles
upon which they are wound are frequently
broken by them during violent oscillations
created by high winds. Rural sportsmen of
ten, also, shoot at these glasses. Adjective
glass causes portion of the current to run
through the spike holding it, and thence
into the pole. Adjustments are rendered
essential by all these possibilities, and re-
quire much experience. An operator may
become valuable in a year, but not tho
roughly efficient in less than two years.
In addition to this want of completeness in
those students of private institutions that
may be apt, the greater portion develop
but little faculty for their work. Private
schools receive any pupils that can pay foy
/ instruction. 80 $
In the proposed free school branch
wire will run from the Institute to the Gen.
trail Office, which will afford moderate ex-
perienec in all adjustments, and variety of
last years messages will be transmitted in
order to furnish practice in every species of
style. The teaching will be entirely by
sound. The old method of receiving COM
munications by dots upon paper is awaited
of only where the operators are unskillful.
An instruction confined to this will not en-
able an operator to transcribe by sound,
but an oral training enables pupil to read
dots upon paper without especial study.
Graduates Of the new free school will be
expected to attend country offices and will
receive $40 month at frst.-N Y, Epen-
ing Post, Feb. 18th, 1859. - nTnt