Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1888-10-03
WOMEN AS TELEGRAPHERS.
They are Bright, Reliable, and as Capa
BILE as Men.

They are Bright, Reliable, ana as Capa.
bile as Men.
New York Corr. st. Louis Globe-Democrat.
There isn'ta buster spot in all New
York than the operating room Of the
Western Union Telegraph Company.
I happened in there few days ago to
inquire about a press message that had
gone astray. Manager Dealy called up"
a distant city to make the inquiry for
me, and while waiting for the reply we
fell to talking ofthe o. o operators in.the
big room. One-third were women.
There wasn't rush of business, and SO
the operators had little to do. Some of
lastly dressed. The majority looked
rosy and healthy. They all wore a
jaunty air, as well as fashionably cut
gowns. Some were busy sending or re-
ceiving messages. Those who hadn't
any messages to send were reading
books or papers. Some were engaged
in fancy work or knitting. It was a
great big happy family, and the occa-
sional ring Of a woman's musical voice
was heard above the Niagara of clicks.
"Is the telegraph business good one
for women TO engage in % I asked him.
"Yes," was Mr.. Dealy's reply. "a
woman who is smart and quick and
wants to earn her own living can do so
very comfortably if she be good oper-
ator."
"Does the supply equal the demand ?''
Eyes, dozen times over" but good
smart women are always wanted. We
receive great many applications from
women who want work. They come
from all parts of the country and are
carefully fled away. AS soon as va
cancy occurs we take the first applica-
to be that lucky heroine the first
chance. We have applications on file
now from women received full one year
and halt ago."
w hat time is necessary to prepare a
woman for telegraph operator ?"
That depends. a naturally smart
woman will learn much faster than a
woman who isn't quick and ambitious.
Much depends upon their previous ed
ucation. Women we'll versed IN a varie-
ty of subjects, who can read difficult
manuscript, who can spell correctly,
who can supply deficiencies in mes
sages; in word women who are smart
can become good operators in year.
Others require from one to three years
to become hrst-class operators. Wcm-
en- are oftener more reliable than m en-,
and we have some who are quite as ex-
pert as their brothers of the key. How
are women paid? Beginners are paid
SIS month. When they can operate
fairly we'll their pay is increased to S25
per month. Then as they improve they
are still further advanced until they
reach the average pay-irom $50 to $75
per month. according to experience and
ability. Women operators work nine
hours day, usually from A. NJ. to $50
f. NJ, " ith a half-hour at midday for
lunch. They are shown no more favors
than the men. They are required to
keep their wires clear of messages.
When they are not engaged they may
either read or sew, paint, do fancy work
or whatever else they choose. Yes, we
have good deal of talent here. An
number of our operators earn money
after their regular labor is finished.
Two write for newspapers. Others sing
in church choirs. A few give lessons in
music, and one teaches dancing class
in the evening. One of our best opera
tors is Mrs. w. E. Randolph. She is a
widow and sings in Plymouth Church
choir. She is also a very clever verse
writer, and poem she wrote at the
time of Henry Ward Beecher's death at
tracted good deal OF attention. She
has been an operator for many years,
and is good one, too.
my long experience has taught me
that In many respects women operators
are better workers than men, but alto
gether not SO useful. They are steady,
give no trouble. are absent less frequent
~ than men and seem to feel keener
responsibility. Quite number of women
operators have been with us for ten
years. Their work gives them deep
insight into human nature. They learn
to carry themselves with dignity. They
cast aside all frivolous ideas They
make good wives, and their work does
not unfit them for feminine duties.
Scandal? No, sir. Never heard of any
in all my long experience here. Their
presence has soothing effect upon
men, and many a woman has listened to
Cupid s honeyed words as she sat at her
key, and has found loving, honest hus-
band in nearby telegraph operator.
Telegraphy isn't as prosaic work as
some people imagine. There is heap
of romance about it. What a book some
of the operators could write ~
Ctono.Caryino