Evening star., 1932-12-25
WOMAN ENGINEER . |
HAS VARIED RECORD
Career Begun in Railroad
Camp Brings Success to
Mrs. c. H. T0mkinS.
BY the Associated Press.

That honeymoon spent by Mrs
Charles H. Tompkins. engineer, in an
Ohio railroad camp 25 years ago has
led to one of the most unusual careers
in Americas long roll OF professional
women.
The days grew too monotonous in a
shack near Bellfontaine. Ohio so Mrs.
Tompkins took up the engineers transit
and level and learned her profession at
her husbands side. tramping the fields.
surveying and purchasing the right OF
way for railroad.
Now the dainty feminine half of the
concern has such wide reputation
that many clients who come in with
Mr.. and Mrs. Tompkins both worked
on the contract"
She really holds four jobs-as home
maker, engineer, manager OF Virginia
farm of l,1O0 acres near Warrenton
and hostess whose invitations send a
furry through Washington society.
Schedules Made Nightly.
"The secret is in her little black note
book" says her husband Every nlgnt
before she retires she takes 1t out ano
makes the schedule for the coming day
She is the most marvellous executive
have ever knoWn-man or woman.
The woman he speaks OF looks any
thing but that. She is Virginia porn
and She shows it in soft voice. hall
timid manner of speaking. and a love
of warm colors Right now one OF her
working outfits is a urnt-orange WOOL
| en- frock with hat to match ana pelee
fur sport coat and tiny nun.
She tempers engineering WITH noth-
ering" She serves tea daily Tor the
i org O.
staff at the companys headquarteLs "
cause she thinks $3.50 pm. IS a stump
hour, anyway. And she mas lllslaliea
sun n-lamp room to protect 'iieH Gil
ployes from colds. rs;xa.
MANY of Washington's large oullouigS
are jobs done by this unusual PAM. poaacI'Ia =
ship-the most recent and spectaCuldl
one being the District OF Columola
| new filtration plant. ~
Tompkins' first job was on the o.o
filtration plant. When request lol
bids on the new one was issued, the
Tompkins exclaimed, I'VE must do IT,
Their bid was much the l,West ana iei-
low engineers predicted trouoIe.
What if we do lose money? salo
Mrs. Tompkins. lit WILL pe 4oi!oliiai
! for our grandchildren
Where Ability Counts.
! But they didn't lose. Tompkhs IN
vented a less expensive way OF pouring
concrete and Mrs. Tcmpkins did the
scheduling, ard that is where the eXecu-
tive ability counts.
The day the shovels scooped up the
| first dirt she knew the exact dates
! spread over two years, when each piece
| CT material had to be delivered, and she
saw that it was. She does that for every
| lob, even when she has to send mem
! Der of the staff t0 some quarrles TO see
! that the stone is cut on time.
| Often it is Mrs. Tompklns who goes
to the jobs as inspector. She knows
when concrete is too thick and when
the stress" is right to a p-und.
| She has at least Cne feminine aver
! sion. but he won't admit it. even to the
point of endangering hsr life. She ha;
a oualmish feeling when she has to walk
iron beams hundreds CT feet off tbs
ground. But she has done that, to2
even when ice coated the narrow cat
walks" Once she nearly slipped to the
! pit below.
We'll, if you're born to be shot, you
won't be hung" she laughed-and went
on abcut hsr inspectors job.