The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-06-18
General Superintendent Rap
ellie Says New Jobs
Aren't for Men.
HURRY POISON ROAD
Flathead Branch to Be Con-
structed as Rapidly
as Is Possible.

The Northern Pacific can and will
provide employment for any men who
apply for jobs but during the war only
women will be employed in such
branches of work as they are cana bic
of doing, according to a statement
made by J. NJ. Rapelie, general super
intendent of the road, who came to
Missoula on special train last night.
Mr.. Rapelje is making one of his
periodical inspection trips. and spent
yesterday in the Bitter Root valley.
Mr.. Rapelje's special will leave this
morning for n trip down the Occur
d'Alene branch Of the Northern Pa
cific.
Women Workers Succeed.
The Northern Pacifcs war time
policy of employing women is proving
a gratifying success. according to NJ
Rapelje. About $50 women are en-
ployed in various capacities between
st. Paul and the coast. half Of them
in the shops at st. Paul. No attempt
Is being made to GUST men from their
positions. and there is plenty of work
along the road for all who wish to
work, said Mr.. Rapelje. but women
only will be employed as clerks
stenographers. wipers and helpers
around the shops. The foremen have
instructions to be careful not to as
sign the women workers to any labor
that is likely to prove injurious to
them. said Mr.. Rapelje, and none will
be required to do any heavy lifting or
any work that might prove too much
of a strain.
Law Up TO Lawyers.
Mr.. Rapelje said that he did not
wish to be quoted as to his opinion of
the liability Of the Northern Pacific
under the eight-hour laws for women
in this state. saying that the counsel
department had entire charge of this
matter. According to other officials.
railroads claim that the eight hour
laws for women do not affect them.
because they are interstate commerce
carriers and as such subject to federal
laws only.
Will Push Flathead Line.
The war will not be allowed to in
terfere with the business of the North
ern Pacific, according to Mr.. Rapelie.
There will be no policy of retrench
ment. and the construction work that
has already been begun will continue.
Everything is progressing fine alon"
the F'lathead branch from Dixon to
Poison, said Mr.. Repeiic. the whole
job being in the hands of the con-
struction department with orders to
finish up as soon as possible.
There is no foundation to the rumors
that the Northern Pacific is con-
templating taking off any of its
through passenger trains. All the
trains running now are needed to
handle the traffic and none will be
taken off until orders making such
action necessary arc received from the
war department.
Will Do Much War Work.
Mr. Rapeljc believes that the North
ern Pacific will be called upon to
handle the greater part of the govern
ments freight traffic during the war,
hut does not think that the road will
be saddled with all of it. The North.
ern Pacific is land grant road. he
explained. and carries tho govern
ment's freight at half price, and for
this reason will be called upon to do
most of tho military hauling. ~
Car Shortage Relieved
The car shortage which has existed
in the northwest, especially ON the
coast. for some months, has been re
1ieved, he said, and all the shippers
are being supplied with all the cars
; that they ask for. Although there was
a shortage of cars at times along the
road. none Of the shippers suffered
severely as an effort was made to sup
ply all with an equal arportionment
of the cars that were available, said
Mr.. Rapelje.
1.-THE eneral outlook for the North
ern Pacific is very gratifying at pres
cnt" said Mr.. Rapelje Though Il long
siege of war may make tremendous
changes. But we arc going ahead with
business as usual, and will continue to
do so until We receive definite instruc-
tons from the war department."