Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1905-07-08
MDMENASRAIL ROADERS
Invade Stations In Indiana and
Supplant Men.
HOME CHARM GIVEN TO DEPoTs

Lake ER10 and Western Railroad
D1splaees Masculine Agents In
RECONSIDERATION Floors Scrubbed,
No Dust-Even ''BaFkeFss May Go.
Invaded by woman, and the wearers
of skirts are displacing masculine ri
walls an railway station agents in Indi-
ana, says a special dispatch from In
dianapolis to the Chicago Record-Her
aid. The Lake Erie and Western rail-
road appointed Miss Cathryn L. Dicks
a. 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
its 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 few weeks after
they had appointed the first woman on
the line they were induced to stop at
Mount Summit by the local authori-
t1es.
The railway men rubbed their eyes
when they aHghted 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 a corner. and
the waiting room looked almost as
dainty as q boudoir. The station had
ceased % be the lounging place Of viii
lage oilers and instead had become a
clubhouse to which the women took
their sewing in the afternoons.
The appearance OF the station made q
hit with the officials of the road. and
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
plants 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 a chronic Crouch" 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 1t
was found that the new agents proved
-
ronage during the excursion season,
taking more pains and exhibiting
more talent in working up crowds than
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 a loaf1ng
place and that the waiting rooms are
made inviting for travellers.
The station agents transact the bust
ness for the express companies as web
as for the railroad. and their combined
salaries amount to $45 or $50 a 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 IL is
estimated that twenty young women
are almost expert enough in handling
the key TO take charge of the entire
business OF a small station, and they
will be Installed as rapidly as vacan-
cies occur.
Il suppose Wen be seeing women
setting the brakes on freight trains IN
time" commented q 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 knOwsf But
there Is one Job that will be always
open to men. aud 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 hit with the public yet by ap-
pointing q prima donna to sing the
names OF me stations instead OF hir-
ing q man with a fog horn voice 70
-. n