The New York herald., 1921-08-01
WOMEN NOW ENTER
ALL RAILROAD WORK
10000 on the Payrolls Of
Companies Throughout the
United States.
Special Despatch to THE NEW YORK HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau.
Washington. ID. c.. July 81.

Special Despatch to THE NEW YORK HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau.
Washington, d. c., July 81.
Women workers in large numbers are
invading the field Of railroading, until
recently regarded as the last stronghold
of the male, according TO reports made
to the Interstate Commerce Commission.
Approximately five per cent. Of the
100000 employees Of the roads are
women, it is shown. The Interstate
Commerce Commission is making a spe-
cial study of the employment of women
by the railroads, with a view to deter
mining the extent to which they are in
vading this field and the conditions of
employment.
Nearly 10000 women are now on the
payrolls of the roads, it is estimated.
and the number is increasing daily. In
a study Of the situation made during
1920 the commission found that the
number of women employees was in ex-
cess of $1,000.
Generally the women are paid sala-
ries not as high as those given to men.
The reason is said to be that in a large
majority of cases women have ootained
positions in times or scarcity of male
labor. and required considerable train
ing to become as efficient as. men. In
exceptional cases women came to Jobs
well trained along mechanical lines and
their wages usually ranged not far be-
low those paid the men. AS rule,
however. women, whatever their task,
are not rated as high in the salary
scale as the men in similar classes OF
work.
After women have served for a time
in various positions. they have demon
strated marked efficiency, aptitude and
reliability and their wages have in
creased.
Women. the report indicates, are aspir-
Ing to make up the shortage of muscle
power as well as brain power in rail-
roading. They are helping not only In
clerical positions but in operating and
even maintaining the roa1s and rights
of way.
Women who operate trains as con-
ductors are not uncommon in some sec
tions of the country. In other localities
they are working as switching hands.
while thousands are employed In shops
and roundhouses as mechanics and even
as hostlers for engines. Women are
engaged in nearly twenty different
groups OF operations, the reports indi-
they handle message directing the move
ment of trains.
or course most women employees are
found in the general offices and stations.
where they sell tickets an5 handle tele-
graph keys The invasion of these posi-
tions by women began several years ago.
At first, however. their entry into even
clerical positions was discouraged Rail-
roading, it was maintained. was a mans
job. Women were longer in getting into
the general offices OF the roads as stenog-
raphers and fling clerks than they were
In finding similar employment In offices
of general commercial concerns But
the women kept flocsing to the railroad
employment offices. and they finally won
out. More than $4,000 women are now
employed in the general Offices.
The number OF women In roundhouses
is constantly changing. so that an exact
report on those permanently In this ser
vice was found impossible TO obtain. but
the number is between 500 and 1000.
III 1920 the average was above 700.
Nearly 200 were employed to wipe en-
gines. while smaller number was re-
ported as operating turntables on which
locomotives are moved More than fifty
women were listed as common laborers
In the roundhcuse service.
In shop work women have made un-
usual progress at getting jobs. despite
the seeming unsutableness of this work
for the sex. More than 1000 women
are on the payrolls as shop workers
They are classified as electricians and
electricians helpers. machinists' helpers
moulders and the like. In 1920 eleven
women were listed as blacksmiths, while
one drew pay as a boilermaker. 1t Is
probable, however, that the employment
Of women In shops is a result Of the
shortage OF man power developed during
the war. Now that man power Is more
plentiful women are likely TO find IL
more difficult TO obtain jobs In the shops.
More than 1900 women are regularly
employed as bosses OF passenger stations
In small towns. while the number at
work as assistant station agents is con-
stanty increasing In the cities. The
operation Of telegraph keys is constantly
attracting more and more women al
though they are somewhat handicapped
in this vocation by requirements Of night
work. Nearly 1000 women are handling
telegraph and telephone messages that
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