The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1884-04-06
women I'm the New Orleans Mint.
New Orleans Picayune.l

New orleans flcayune.I
Some five or six years ago, when 1t was
known that women were to be employed
in the Mint, those in authority were be-
sieged by hundreds OF applications from all
conditions OF women. As general thing
the successful ones were well chosen, both
as TO fitness for the work and their dire
need for it. Indeed, it may be set down
rs a rule that when the average woman
asks for work 1t Is because she must hovC
bread, and fuel, and home. The
ladies employed IN the Mint have,
some OF them. kept their positions
steadily through all the five years; TIE
changes have generally been the result
of some worker dropping off into matri-
mony and leaving vacancy only too easily
filed from the standing army Of applicants.
In New Orleans there are in the adjusting
room Of the Mint thirty ladies at work.
The salary is S1.75 a day. They go to
work at 8 and stop at in the afternoon.
The work requires the .strictest attention.
and is OF such a nature that It can never
become purely mechanical. There are
three long, high tables ranged down the
room; these are handicapped and pro-
tected at the edges with bands OF
leather. The workers sit in high
chairs with good, comfortable backs
TO them. The materials for work are a
pair OF scales for the weighing OF money,
sets OF tin bowls to put 1t in, and file.
The round pieces OF unstamped coins ar,
brought TO the ladies in wooden boxes
Each piece has to be weighed three times.
A mistake in the weight OF one piece. OF
even almost infnitesimal proportion, may
cause the worker to lose her position. 1t
seldom. II ever, happens, however, that
one is discharged for incOmpetency, or
worse. carelessness. An expert adiuSter
handles in day from 5000 to $500 silver
dollar coins. The condemned coins are
sent back to be melted over; some being
only trife out OF standard weight abe can
file down. For this she is provided with .
leather apron 10 catch the precious silver
dust, the loss in which can be and must
be measured by the grain. The water
in which the ladies wash their hands when
they are through fling is carefully pre-
served and filtered for the silver dust.
During warm weather il is sitting work 10
the adjusting department, since none OF
the windows can be allowed open, this sill
yer pollen being too precious to be carried
off by thieving wind. During nine
months OF last year the ladies' were re-
quired TO do extra work, which kept them
in their seats until O'Clock. For the
extra work they were paid BY the hour,
and received the small sum OF twenty.
one cents. The ladies holding positions
have accomplished their tasks with unva-
ried success, and are not often disturbed
by rumors regarding their dismissal. The
work required OF then is easily learned,
but it is none tue less sadly laborIous. The
eve tires OF its fixed gaze at the delicate
beam of the scales, but the eye must be
as accurate as the scale. There Is no time
for rest, no excuse for mistake, and, after
the fashion OF women undertaking work
at which they are competent, they bend to
the task with patience that never falters.
and with strength that never gives out
until the work is finished.