Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-06-02
WOMENASRAILROADERS
Invade Stations In Indiana and
 Supplant Men.
HOME CHARM GIVEN TO DEPoTs

Lake Erie and Western Railroad
 DispIaces Masculine Agents In Small Towns, and Experiment. Is . Success-station Floors Scrubbed, No Dust-Even "Barkers" May Go. Another field of industry has been invaded by woman, and the wearers of skirts are tHsplacing masculine ri vals as railway station agents in Indi- ana, says special dispatch from ln- dianapolis to the Chicago Record Her aid. The Lake Erie and Western rail road appointed Miss Cathryn l.. Dicks as agent at Mount Summit, Ind, two years ago, and the experiment has re suited in such success that the road has decided to appoint women to the charge of all the smaller stations along it's route.
 The application of domestic science to the dingy little station at Mount Summit was the first work of Miss Dicks that brought her to the notice of the higher officials of the road. On their tours of inspection the officials had been accustomed to hurry by the small stations, but a few weeks after they had appointed the first woman on the line they were induced to stop at Mount Summit by the local authori- ties.
 The railway men rubbed their eyes when they alighted from the train. The depot floors were scrubbed until they glistened, the benches were free of dust, curtains were at the windows. flowers were blooming in corner, and the waiting room looked almost as dainty as boudoir Tbe station had ceased to be the lounging place of vll- lage idlers and instead had become a clubhouse to which the women took their sewing in the afternoons. The appearance of the station made a hit with the officials of the road, and a week later they appointed three other women as agents in small towns. In each case the results of the change have been the same The women have shown greater tact in dealing with tick ct purchasers than their masculine predecessors displayed. and fewer com plaints have been registered from the offices than in the previous ten years.
 On inquiry the managers of the road found that the residents of the villages liked the change. Station agents in the smaller towns, 1t is said, are generally afflicted with chronic '.grouch,' and this has disappeared since the women were installed at the stations.
 The energy of the women has also increased the receipts of the road. It was found that the new agents proved especially valuable in increasing pat ronage during the excursion season, taking more pains and exhibiting more talent in working up crowds thah did their predecessors.
 In each of the four villages patrons | have come forth voluntarily and have complimented the officials of the road on the wisdom of the new policy. The town council at Mount Summit went to the trouble of passing resolutions to the effect that since the change had been made the depot is no longer loafing place and that the waiting rooms are made inviting for travellers.
 The station agents transact the busi- ness for the express companies as we'll as for the railroad. and their combined salaries amount to $45 or $50 month
 In several of the towns young women are learning telegraphy, and with the
 adoption of the new policy by the com pany the old railroad men see the gradual elimination of the masculine station agent and the employment in time of women only. At present it is
 estimated that twenty young women are almost expert enough in handling
 the key to take charge of the entire
 business of small station, and they
 will be installed as rapidly as vacan. 1 cies occur.
 "I suppose we'll be seeing women
 setting the brakes on freight trains in
 time." commented railroad man the
 other day. They seem to have the
 men on the run as station agents. and
 some day perhaps we will have a
 woman acting as president of trans
 continental system. Who knows? But
 there is one job that will be always
 open to men. and let us be thankful for
 that. They can't employ women as
 .barkers' at the stations to announce
 the arrival and departure of trains
 Yet don't know: some road may
 make a hit with the public yet by ap
 pointing a prima donna to sing the
 names of the stations instead of hir
 ing a man with a fog horn voice tc bawi them out"