The Washington herald., 1906-11-04
WANTS TO RUN A LOCOMOTIVE
Young Woman Who Qualified Her
self and Asked for a Job.
She Declares She Is Strong Enough
Coal a Day, and Loves Engines.

Albany n Y. Nov. 5.-''Womeu are in
vadlng every walk Of business. Why not
the railrOad?"
This was how Miss Henrietta Snyder. or
as she prefers to be called Ette Sayder
Of Pkilmont, Columbia County. explained
her application TO Stationmaster Reese,
OF the New York Central. for a job as
engineer or fireman on the road.
I'VE have woman baggagemasters." "
said Miss Snyder. "Ethically. 1 have the
right to claim a position as fireman. and
physically. too. I'm not heavy, but every
bit Of me is muscle. l wear No. shoe
but the calf OF my leg measures fifteen
inches in circumference-all muscle. The
muscles Of my back are strong They
have never been artidclally braced by the
use OF a corset The six or seven tons
Of coal I would shovel on a trip would be
mere chiid's play. / am the champion
skater OF the village. was a capable bi-
cyClist. and now walk about six miles
every afternoon.
1T may be said that 7 would be open
10 many annOyances from men II should
become a railroad fireman. Now. ] claim
that a woman, whether she be young or
old, and I know there are many true
women who will voice my sentiments. viii
never be insulted. no matter what her
trade Is, 80 long as she is good and true,
loving her work and trying TO do right. no
matter where Il may take her or among
what people She viii always have the
respect Of the people for whom and with
whom she works If she attends strictly
10 business and acts properly.
Il have been interested IN steam engi-
neeriBg for several years but it was not
until this year that / took q course IN
correspondence school which teaches me
chanicaI engineering. [ had a hard time
getting into the school because ] was
woman. Ny application was rejected I
then made personal appeal 20 the presi-
dent Of the school, begging him for les
sons. He finally consented. and / passed
an my examinations. obtaining very high
marks. I learned all about the rules. sig
nails, coiored lights. and fuse signals or
the railroads, how 30 clean an engine;
how with the least coal TO keep a soft
coal Ere from the start 70 the finish Of
trip, also about the small and hard coal
uses and afr brakes. I have the extra
signal book or the H r R. also the
Westinghouse air-brake book and an en-
gineer's examination book. which was
loaned 60 me. These I have studied, to-
gether with my own engineers book.
Il received my diploma from the school
on April T. this year. and 7 am very
proud OF it. 7 showed L 20 Statfoa-sster
Reese last Saturday when I applied to
him for position. He was pleasant and
courteous but said his position did not
allow him TO give me work Supt. Har-
rington wasn't in, so I went 10 West Al
bany to see Mr.. Watson. the mechanical
engineer Mr.. Watson was away on
trip. but a clerk I'm his Office looked at
my papers and said they were all right,
but as I was a woman, he felt that he
couldn't give me a position.
Il haven't given up hope. Where there's
a viii there's way. Ny chief ambition
is TO preside at the throttle Of an engine.
and for that reason I am anxious TO serve
an apprenticeship as fireman I love an
engine. Whenever I ride on a train I can
feel every pulsation''
There's nothing masculine about Miss
Snyder. She is twenty-five years old, a
blonde. weighs 130 pounds, and is feet
inches in height