Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-06-22
WOMEN LIKE WORK
AT DU PONT PLAN
Powder Company Secs Duties Are
Light and Their Surround.
ings Pleasant

Eight hundred and fifty women at the Du'
Pont company's plant at Carneys Point
work and play and rest amid conditions
that show how a great organization may
map out the work shifts and idle hours 81
its people SO that happiness and efficiency
will each strengthen the other. Though the
women now are fractional part Of the vast
number of employees at this powder plant the
Du Pont company employs thousands Of
others and will need yet In plants
scattered over the country.
Conditions among which women at Carr
neys Point are working show. with slightly
varying points, the characteristics in all
other Du Pont plants.
Realizing the Importance of pleasant sur
roundings for the feminine being. whether
she he my lady in her hours Of ease or the
woman of business, the assistance of social
welfare workers who have made cor1pre-
hensve study of such matters and domestic
science specialists were called into service
and are important factors in the foundation
work Of the plant beyond Wilmington.
While many workers live in the village
adjacent to the du Pont buildings. the ma
jority of the women employees reside in the
dormitories, each of which houses ninety
four. Three more dormtories nearing
completion and when finished will have the
same capacity: they will also be presided
over like the FIVE others by two matrons
each
Mrs. Meta NJ. Kellogg, supervisor OF
womens employment; Miss Edna NJ. Thomp-
son. supervisor OF wOmenS dOrmitOrteS, ana
Miss ThompsoT's assistant Miss Cassidy,
are types of the women in positions of man
agement at the plant. Cheerful, young
enough to have the viewpoint of their asso-
ciates. most of whom are young women
tactful and sympathetic, each is a pleasant
and responsive companion for the women
over whom she has supervision
Before woman can be accepted for EN-
ployment at the powder plant, she must sub
NIT to physical examination. In one of
hnitdippS fhat dot
covered with gray houses is room set
apart for this purpose. A woman physician
is in charge. Her examinations determine
not only the physical soundness Of the APP
pcant, but her grade of work. M
In the A grade are placed girls especially
strong and robust. grade girls are not
stationed In rooms where the odor of ether is
strong. because Of its overpowering quality.
No great amount Of muscular strength n
needed in the work of the women. Girls
working on the presses in one stage of the
powder-making process carry large buckets
short distance. but these are not heavy.
The work here. in other departments. is
steady but not arduous. &S%
A fresh-loolSing girl looked up from her
work as a reporter from the EVENING
Ledger passed near her yesterday and
smiled brightly
This is not work." she said "it is really
nothing but play. ! just love it,"
Above the din in house where the ma
chinery was operated more swiftly than In
the rest, another girl was singing as she
worked. 1t is rare that two workers are.
seen chatting. a word two Is EXCHANGED
occasionally. but that is. all. Yet there n
apparently no restraint. The work is as cu-
crossing hemstitching drawn work,s
and not of the knitting type, to be done with !.
out attention.
Danger Ia virtually nil.
In fact. few accidents occur nowadays 81.
the powder plants. Not in a year has an
accident Of any moment happened at this
place. In the houses where the women are
at work on sinokeless powder there IL said
to be no more danger than II lighted match;
was dropped among papers. There woul4i
be greater flare but not an explosion u
Carefulness and attention to detail ~
| feminine characteristics The women III
| their bloomer costumes OF khaki with trim
| plain shirts to match can hardly he Imagined
| as handling their tasks SO that ever a fare-
UP would ensue. ts
Buildings are small and separated so that
| in the event OF confagration the trouble
could be stopped before It made much head
| way Not more than six women are employed
| in any of the houses. &
Work is arranged In cfgh'lhour shifts: 4
shift train conveys the workers at the be-
ginning and end of their work from the
| dormitories to the place of employment and
| back again at the end OF the shift free or
charge. Comfortable rooms are provided
for the woman worker to return to at the en4
| of her task, or she may go to the Y. w. c. A..
| gymnasium. n
While there are hundreds Of women will
| ing to help win the war by personal service.
many are hanging back because they do not
| know that in industrial work is an oppor-
| tunity that gives tremendous dignity to the
| task. Some also do not know that the pay
| received for the work Is satisfying detail,
| Women earn from thirty-four to forty-fve1
and fifty-four cents an hour at Carney
Point. Expenses are small. 4k.l sfl
when first decided to go to work." sai6s
iaunty. khaki-cad girl who Is the owner
| of two diplomas. my idea of releasing Z ma&.
from the front to take the place ~
some ladylike person who sat at HIS deoH
all day and looked wise. iEaE
1T happened TO dawn on one day TIT
| there are few jobs like that left today ~.
| the newcomer in the business world Au4
then ] came to the conclusion that dIdnX
want that kind of job anyway. I've eeatG'
| strong pair of arms, and like to feel thGf
| / am using them. In the meantime. thefal II
lot of good material going to waste amCu(E
| girls that like I was at first. looking to(5
| soft snap that anybody could manage. AM
| there lot of women stagnating. fo4<
| that could be having bully time out heF9
making powder for our boys. l wish thcy}oU
knew about what fun it is." tf}