The Washington times., 1917-11-06
WOMEN CARRIERS
BEGIN DUTY WITH
35-POUNDLOADS

"GoOd-morninE, Mrs. Postwoman. Z
Bright and early today the nrst
two women mail carriers In the Unit
ed States, Mrs. Nellie n. McGrath and
Mrs. PsrneliG Campbell. started out
on their rounds in northeast Wash,
ington.
Packs OF mail Weighing about thIr-
ty-five pounds each were swung on
their backs and the regulation car
rier's cap sat jauntily On each fair
head, fastened securely with an In
strument not mentioned in the regu-
lations-h hAtpin.
\ An interested crowd OF early morn
ing workers watched the start Of the
new carriers. an event that may prove
epochAl in the annals OF women in
industry.
Greeted ~ . wsrksr.
One elderly woman. sweet-faced
and smiling. who was herself on her
way to work. pressed forward from
the crowd and warmly shook the
hand OF Mrs. McGrath.
Il want to congratulate you," said
the elderly woman. who looked a. if
she might have q soldier boy Of her
own. You women are doing your
paIlF Ou are the
places OF the boys at the front"
The two women will have to walk
an average distance OF nine miles a
day.
Afraid we can't stand it? Not a
bit OF IT," said Mrs. McGrath: I've
had three years Of work in q hospital.
and many is the day I've walked
farther than that"
Mrs. Campbell. who is OF sliEhtsr
build than Mrs. McGrath. said moth,
ing in reply to the question, but her
teeth snapped shut In q do-it-or-die
manner as she shifted her heavy pack.
Mrs. CAmpbeirs first piece of mail
was delivered in one OF the offices
OF the Union Station. Mrs. McGrath
handed out her nrst letter to Miss
Elizabeth o'Brien. 10 Fsnton street
northeast
Mrs. McGrath-s husband, Maurice
p, a letter carrier, IL with the Dis
trict national guard in Alabama. She
has two children at home. Mrs.
Campbelrs husband. Robert L.. was
a letter carrier at the time OF his
death, about q year ago.
They will sure need all their
gameness." said q veteran carrier,
who has handed out mail TO Washing
ton patrons for thiTty-one years. "As
long as I have been in the business 1
still have trouble with my feet"
strong Man's job.
On some days their packs will be
much heavier. especially at times
when the magazines come out. Some
OF these weigh a pound apiece or
course, machines help us all they
can at such times, but even then Il
IS a strong mans job
The women started out on the
Ightest day OF the week. according to
the old carriers. People do the most
letter writing o. Sunday, and Mon
day Is a heavy day, but Tuesday the
packs are light
Mrs. McGrAth's pack weighed a
trIns over thirty-nve pounds. Mrs.
CAmpbelrs pack was about the same
weight. The cap and the badge is the
only part OF the regulation uniform
that the women will wear at present.
Soth were dressed today in comfort
ABLY hitting blue serge suits and they
wore esnsibly-buIlt shoes.
AZ 10 usual when q postman new
70 route covers IL for the nrst time.
the old carriers went the rounds to-
gay with the women, J. r. Cook with
hrs. McGrath. on Route No. 17o. and
9. 7. Hughes with Mrs. Campbell, on
Route No. 1T.
Too bad. 1 don't like Ice cream"
said MrA MeGrath when Mr.. Cook
told her she had an ice cream factory |
on her route.
Mrs. MeGrath's route begins At
North Capitol and Fenton streets
northeast and takes in the 100 blocks