The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1905-06-02
THE TELEPHONE GIRL
PAY AND CHANCES OF CAPABLE
EXCHANGE EMPLoYE.
Education, Sight, Hearing and Voice
Of First Importance in Equip
ment for Such Po-
sition.

The manager of a telephone central
exchange was asked what prospect OF
advancement girl had when she en-
tered the service of the company, re-
ports the New York Sun.
"a girls progress depends altogeth-
er on herself, on her ability" he re-
piled. "Ineficiency, even if backed by
the president of the United States, has
no show here.
ITO begin with, in selecting appli.
cants for the telephone exchange, we
make the requirements more and
more difficult Girls who passed mus
ter when the concern was in it's in
fancy wouldn't stand the least chance
to-day.
"In brief, we now demand a gram
mar school education, first-class sight
and hearing, a good voice and enuncia-
ton. A bad or slovenly accent must
be corrected before girl can get en-
ployment in one of our exchanges.
eff the head of the training school
sees possibilities in an applicant she
is taken on trial for a week, at the
| end of which she is either discharged
or told that she is regularly entered
for the full course of training. Eight
cen Is the age limit now, for after
that age it is found that young wom-
an does not learn so readily, and a
factor which also counts high in an
applicants favor is refined manner
and neat appearance.
Now, about her progression. When
she leaves the training school she be-
gins at five dollars a week. and is
| placed naturally at one of the least
busy telephones, and between two girls
who are much more experienced, and
with supervisor at her back.
Sometimes at first she will only
take wire at an hour when traffic is
light, and the girl who is usually in
| that place will stand at her back and
see that she doesn't get ratified. The
girls who get on fastest are those who
are least nervous and not easily con-
| fused.
From the time she makes her debut
in an exchange an operators progress
| toward the maximum price paid to op'
erators-ten dollars week-depends
| entirely on herself. Some get there
in less than two years; others take
| longer.
after she gets there? Well, she
may become senior operator, which
means that she is practically an under
study for the post of supervisor, able
| to take the latter's place if she is alb
sent, and that she is paid $11 week
In every telephone exchange there is
| one supervisor to every nine girls
| that is, one woman who stands or
walks just back of the operator. ever
| at hand to give aid or straighten out
complication. A supervisor is paid
| $14 a week.
"At the head of the supervisors is
a chief operator, who draws from SIS
to $25 week, according to the length
of her service. The supervisors are
really her lieutenants, and she is re
sponsible for their doings as well as
| for those of the operators. Chief op
orator is about as high as a woman
| can go in this business.
'The next higher post is manager
| which must be filled by man, and
one who has taken practical course
in electricity.
Occasionally an operator will get
| job at a private switchboard, where
| if she proves valuable, she may in
time get as much pay as supervisor
or a chief operator"