The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-06-21

There are approximately 1000 Wom-
en- stenographers in st. Paul. This
estimate is based on figures presented
in the biennial report of the bureau
of labor statistics for 1901-1902. The
estimates falls far short of the actual
number of persons who have a knOWl
edge of shorthand and typewriting, as
many are listed as clerks and book
keepers.
In making compilations of female
wage earners of the cities of StNPaul,
Minneapolis and Duluth, the city direc-
tories were utilized, and a mass of in
teresting information was acquired.
The object of the inquiry instituted
by the labor bureau was 10 asc&Eain,
as far as possible, the exact conditions
under which female wage-e arners
work, and to learn from their own
statements their satisfaction or disIat-
isfactiOn with their employment. The
central idea of the inquiry was to
make comparisons with the state
ments received from female clerks,
boOkkeepers and stenographers with
those of women engaged in domestic
service and other callings peculiarly
adapted to women.
To secure first-hand information,
Labor Commissioner O'Donnen ad-
dressed a letter to women wage earn
ers accompanied by an exhaustive list
of questions concerning their employ
were the following:
What is your present rate of wages. per
day or per week?
Give the highest and lowest rate of
wages for which you have worked?
Are you able to find steady employ
ment?
What number of hours do you work
Are you granted a vacation during the
year?
If so, are you paid your. regular wages?
20 you have a half-holiday during
the summer season?
They Like Their Work.
In the answers received, which were
tabulated by the department, eleven
stenographers are included. Two have
followed their present occupation for ten
years, one for six years and two for
four years. They spent from two to
six months in fitting themselves for
their work, and three of the eleven de-
clare that physical exertion is requir-
ed OF them in the pros ecution of their
employment. All agree that they have
been able to find steady employment as
Stenographers. Six dollars a week is
given as the lowest compensation and
Sl9 per week as the highest amount
The average of the number reporting is
$3.50 per week.
Daily working hours vary between
seven and nine, with half holiday
each week during the season for four
ana vacation with pay for nine.
Three stenOgraphers think that their
work produces a nervous strain inju-
rious to their health, while the testi-
mony of the others is to the contrary
The number of stenographers en-
ployed in retail stores in st. Paul is
given as f1fty-eig of whom eight are
males and fifty females. Of the total
number, five receive SIS per week, five
$l2 per week, two $11, six 50, three So,
i've 81, one Sc, eighteen SIS, and seven
81, weekly.
In wholesale mercantile establish
ments the wages run as follows: One
receives SIS, one $13, three $12, four 81,
three $40, one SO, twenty-one 81, two Sc
and six SIS, weekly.
Figures Are Misleading.
1t should be borne in mind that these
figures are based on the statements
furnished the department Of labor and
are insufficient to give a satisfactory
understanding Of the condition of
women stenographers. In the matter of
salary alone the figures are misleading,
Tor there are stenographers who receive
as much as $25 per week. This is also
true OF the male stenographers.
Talks with experienced stenograph-
ers of both sexes and their employers
by Gil e representative develop
ed fund Of valuable information con-
corning II & extensive business of writ
ing shortl:aG and operating a type
writer. AS general proposition it
may be stated that not one stenog-
rapher, male or female, in 100, is COM
petent That is to say, they are COM
petent, after fashion, in certain lines
Of work after they have caught the
tune" Of their employers dicta-
ton, memorized his vocabulary and
have his stock phrases by heart. For
example, one man in debating letters
VIII invariably commence a letter in
this way:
Yours Of the - inst. at hand and
contents noted" or, 81 have your ia
Vor of the - inst. and in reply
will say Cor state); or, TN reply to
your letter of the = beg to say" etc..
etc. Now, it does not require much
practice for the alert young stenog-
rapher, with ears straining for every
word of an employers voice, to get
these sentences down pat" and no
matter how fierce their stenographic
penmanship may be they can always
read their notes, which is really a mat
ter of memory for a portion of their
letters.
Familiarity Goes for Much.
Familiarity, too, with this or that
business, the terms, words, technical
phrases, ETC., which are more or less
employed in all business letters, soon
enables teh stenographer to make any