Evening star., 1943-08-01
BY JESSIE FAINT EVANS.

women III tAe western part OF the
United States aren't limiting their
horizons Of usefulness to conven-
tional patterns in this wartime
emergency any more than their
grandmothers did when they crossed
the plains in covered wagons, ac-
cording to Miss Anna L. Burchard
OF this city. a..
A charter member of~the Cathe-
dral Aides, volunteer group which
for the past 10 years has volunteered
its services in explaining the spirit
ual and architectural significance of
the National Cathedral to thousands
of visitors, Miss Burchard has Just
returned to her home at 3403 Lowell
street NV, after a 10-week visit
to the West Coast by way of Kansas
City, Mo.
"At first," Miss Burchard SAYS, ~
was increasingly puzzled by the Pc
culiar shade of brown on the fingers
and arms Of well-dressed women and
girls I would meet. Presently / dis
covered this discoloration was due
to the warm oil In which their SEN
sitive fingers had been cropping for
tiny imperfections In gun and bullet
molds In munition factories.
These imperfections are not ap-
parent to the naked eye, but If their
presence is not detected the deadli-
ness Of the finished weapon of de-
struction Is seriously affected. The
well-kept hands of young girls and
women are especially adaptable for
this type of inspection and personnel
managers are always eager to take
on those who can help with this
task. Sometimes a group of high
school girls with their mothers will
mean the difference between slowing
down plant requiring this service
or keeping 1t up to capacity"
Miss Burchard Is of the opinion
that women on the West Coast are
engaged in specific war work to A
more universal extent that is true of
those in the East.
Saw japanese Threat,
This. she believes, may be due to
the fact that they are more war con-
scious on the West Coast because
people there have for so long lived
in the shadow Of the Japanese mem
ace" Then, too, they see for them
selves the direct connection of the
defense factories, railroads and troop
trains that feed the outbound Pacific
conveys. The Navy Yard at Mare
Island, the enormous shipping yards
which have been ''toadstooled" out
OF the tidelands Of San Francisco
Bay and the huge defense industries
Of Seattle, Wash, all make for in
dividual cooperation, as do the
thousands OF camouflaged roofs of
defense workers homes.
Some 2, 153 women alone work at
80 different jobs for the Sacramento
division Of the Southern Pacific
Railroad system, in capacities which
range from engine oilers to black
smiths helpers. They hose down
windows. They Chamber over the
tops of coaches and engines. They
tighten belts and perform many
other repair services. The super
visor Of the women's repair division
told Miss Burchard, Our women
employees are doing a superb Job.
They are careful, they are consien-
tious, they don't loose time and they
have in mind safety first every
minute they are on the job"
Stacks Are Popular.
"Slonkc h0yyA "a
Coast by storm" Miss Burchard de-
clared. Women In every walk of
life wear them everywhere. One Of
the most conservative of women,
Miss Burchard believes this is as it
should be for with the particular
problems women of the West Coast
are meeting, skirts would scarcely
be appropriate. Often teachers and
their high school pupils, alike, wear
them to halliday sessions prevailing
in war industry centers. When they
have finished their school room
program they are of for part time
defense work.
Juvenile delinquency is on the in
crease in the West, too. But, be
cause the West somehow seems to
lend itself more readily to CO.
operation and stabilization in COM
munity movements" Miss Burchard
is of the opinion that more is being
done to cope with it.
A serious effort is being made to
make adolescent boys and girls a
real part of the war effort. Boys
are being given work in protective
services and in helping to make
model planes for the Army. Nu-
merous top-notch Girl Reserve pro-
grams are being put in operation.
For instance. in Berkeley, Calf .,
Girl Scouts, Girl Reserves, Camp
Fire Girls and the Junior AWVs
are all cooperating and sponsoring
a successful course in recreational