The Butte inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1901-1912, 1901-05-11

They Get Their Money Every
Month Just Like the
Men.--Sonle Expert
Stenographers.


working girls, and the percentage Of girls
who do work is larger than in many
cities of her population. In Butte labor
is dignified as it is in no other city
in the union.
Inn Butte the social lines are not
drawn as tightly as they are in other
places and individuality Is placed above
mere wealth.. If girl is entertaining,
pretty, or accomplished in divers ways
she is invited everywhere for the sake If
the pleasure she will give to others and
TOR genuine liking for the girls. And it is
matter for remark that there are more
good singers, elocutionists. players of
mandolin, guitar, violin and banjo in the
ranks of the working girls than in the
butterfly circles.
AS for beauty one has only to go into
the different stores, offices and other
business places Of Butte to form an
opinion.
In a Pretty Gown.
At night you meet a pretty girl
gowned in the latest mode at some swell
society function and the next day she
will attend your wants in store or Office;
the same dainty maiden. And because
OF this many girls whose fathers are
possessed Of comfortable incomes work
that they may be Independent. It does
not retard but rather seems to aid the
making of good matches for more mil
lionaires here have married working
girls than they have girls who attend
strictly to social duties.
stenography seems to be the voca-
ton the majority of girls SEEK be-
cause it offers larger salaries for compe-
tent girls. 1t has to be skilled labor in
Butte as elsewhere to command high
salaries and then where the labor Is
first-class the remuneration is much
larger than in any city in the United
States.
There are stenographers here employed
In responsible positions with the big
mining companies who receive as high
az 5000 per month and in one instance
$3.50. but there are the 'top-liners.,'
The girls possess some other accomp-
lishments in addition to shorthand and
typewriting. generally the ability to
speak, write and translate one or more
foreign languages. Others are well
versed in mining affairs. Take the re-
verse side and you will find girls work.
ing for $40 per week. And one girl, such
a pretty girl, when she first came to
Butte worked for a lawyer who gen.
erously paid her $50 per month and she
room and other expenses. In speaking
of it now she says she does not know
how she ever lived through the two
months she shaved for him. Now she
is receiving SIS with good prospects Of
a raise.
Average Salaries.
The average in Butte for salaries of
stenogra piers is $65 to SIS and in many
instances the girls are also acting as
bOolkeepers. There is now stenOg-
raphers Union which is gradually ad-
justing the scale of wages and will un-
doubtedly succeed in raising the sala-
ries of all the really competent ones
who are unfairly treated. The asso-
citation has a social side as we'll, meet
ing in the rooms of the association, 1917
East Quartz street.
There is in Butte small army of
clerks employed in the stores. Here
again the skilled labor is highly paid.
The girls who are in charge of depart
ments, who either in part or entirely
select stock receive good salaries, from
SIS to 1925 But of course there are few
such positions to fill in comparison with
the number of girls employed. The girls
behind the counter have to work for
about So per week as apprentices, one
weeks work as a green hand. AS they
show adaptablity they are. given more
stock to handle and salary increases
with responsibility. The price seems
to be sliding one, from $40 to $50 a
week. The hours are from to 6 o'clock
with from so minutes to an hour for
luncheon. The Clerks Union has ac-
complshed much for the store workers.
There are not many cashiers en-
p,oyed in Butte but in one place the
cashier receives $50 per month. in an
other $65, in another $75 and one re-
ceives $1G0 monthly.
In the millinery department the girls
have a hard time at first. In most of
the places a girl has to work six months,
three in the fall and three in the spring
as an apprentice before she will receive
salary and then she is paid according to
ability. In several stores the girls have
ito work only three months. And in two
she receives so cents per day from the
beginning if she can sew at all. After
graduating from the ranks of the ap-
prentice she is paid anywhere from S
weekly to s25 for head girls.
In Printing Business.
There are not many girls in the print
ing business. Those who do work on
the type setting machines, two of them.
receive the regular Union price of $3.50
per day or IS for night work.
There are a number of girls in vari-
Gus dressmanking establishments and
they are paid what the mistress of the
shop is inclined to allow. In the rooms
attached to the big stores salaries are
more uniform, from So to $2S. Sleeve
makers, collar makers. ETC., receive
more than the plain sewers. Many of
the best dressmakers of Butte have
gra luated from these places and are
making fine salaries for themselves by
working independently. either in the
homes of their patrons or at their own
homes.
OF course there are legions OF wait
resses and the price paid them is from
$50 monthly to 81 per day. with board