Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1919-12-20
Guarding Welfare of
Women Employees

In The December Bulletin issued by
the United States Railroad Administers
ton is an interesting article entitled
Guarding the Welfare Of Women Fm-
ployes The article SAYS IN part
The Women's Service Section Of the
Division of Labor Of the United States
Railroad Administration Was created
by the director general IN September,
1918, when it became apparent that wo-
mon were beng introduced into the ser
vice in large numbers and that there was
need OF giving attention TO the special
problems growing out OF their employment.
Miss Pauline Goldnark was appoint
cd manager
The number OF women employees had in
creased from 81 los on January to l0l :
7S5 on October, |, 1918, owing to the
shortage OF men. who had either been
called into military service or attracted
to other occupations. This shortage be
came acute in the summer of 1915
As TO these occupations, statistics show
that seventy percent went into clerical
work The distribution in other classes OF
employment was AS follows: Approx
mately FIVE thousand, respectively, in
the shops and in signal service, including
telephone and telegraph operators block
ing trains and handling train orders The
same number were employed AZ coach
cleaners and in other forms OF cleaning
RoundhouSes, warehouses and docks EN-
pIoyed about one thousand each, and
somewhat less than 3 thousand We're en-
gagged IN trackwork.
The Momen's Service Section WAS
created TO give consideration TO the
employment OF women Oh railroads under
federal control II organized q small stall
of field agents and began inspections at
once. with twofold purpose first, to
look into the physical conditions OF work
and ascertain whether the necessary health
and comfort provisions were provided,
and second, to discover whether the women
were employed for work which was suit
ed to their strength or whether they We're
in unsuitable occupations which would
result in physical oyerstrain or injury, or
were otherwise exposed to unsuitable
environrnent As = result Of their inquiries
the section was soon III y position TO ad-
wise necessary changes and the best method
of putting them into effect
1t soon became apparent that not only
toilets and washro0ms should be easily
accessible bat that rest and dressing rooms
are needed for both indoor and outdoor
occupations. To make such provision Tor
women In railroad service is more dIiflcult
than III factories, because many occupations
are performed out of doors and employees
are scattered IN groups III different shops
and yards. IL has been possible as a rule
however, to make proper provision and
also to secure a couch or cot for Use IN
emergency, or in case of temporary IN
disposition When eases were reported
where no proper care was gwen 10 the
needs Of women and girls who we're sick
were found lying on the floor, II was only
necessary 10 draw the attention of the
higher officials to these conditions 10 Sc
cure the ece8sary equipment
II has been found good policy To have
rest-rooms not only for use in ease Of
illness but also to furnish place for eating
luncheon instead Of in the offices and
shops
Since il first began its work, the Wo-
mems Service Section has been constantly
advising with officials and suggesting
methods of meeting the needs OF the wo-
men employees more fully. 1t has uniform
" met with full cooperation on the part
of the railroads. 4 number of roads have SO
fully realized the value Of oversight and
care Of women employees that they have
appointed a woman supervisor to deal ex-
supervisors recently reported thai she had
secured the installation of eighteen rest.
rooms during her eighteen months Of ser
vice, and that there was uniform testi-
nony as 10 the good results obtained
Among the first matters necessary 10
take up was proper housing for women
employed as telegraph and telephone
operators in signal service, working in
towers and blockhouses along the line
Whenever they are located at too great
distance TO reach their posts from towns
or neighboring homes, they are supplied
with housing accommodations, especially
in mountain regions and on the prairies,
where the towers and blockhouses are en-
tirely isolated.
Apart from its activities IN securing tie
Improvement Of conditions Of work, the
N0mcns Service Section has been called