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Show Girl Fills Gap in Ranks of Labor Runs Transfer Table for Railroad THAT American Tvomrn are as competent and willing aa the women of Europe to, fill the gaps in the ranks of labor caused by the call to arms, has been demonstrated so satisfactorily to the management of the Oregon Short Line as to warrant the placing 'of the names of approximately approxi-mately 100 members of the fair sex upon the company payrolls within the past two or three months. In anticipation . of a possible labor shortage because of the demands of war the Oregon Short Line began a series of experiments several months ago to determine just what positions might be filled by women. The first experiments were in the offices and later were extended ex-tended to the shops of the mechanical department. For years some women have been employed" em-ployed" in the offices of the company, but many positions were not open to them because of the belief that they were not fitted for other than certain classes of work. The first experiments resulted in the employment of about thirty women in offices to fill vacancies created bv the enlistment of men in various va-rious branches of the military service. But the enlistments were not confined con-fined to the office force and, besides, there was a shortage of labor in almost, every department ' of the road. This condition brought about experiments as to the qualifications of women in the mechanical force. Jn practically all positions po-sitions where the labors did not entail heavy lifting flic women proved themselves them-selves especially efficient and even more careful than men. First they were given a trial as coach cleaners and then came tests in connection with positions requiring more technical training. The result is that approximately seventy-five women are employed by the Short Line in the mechanical department, about half the number at Salt Lake and half at Poca-tello. Poca-tello. As was done in preparing women for work in the offices, those who aspired to positions in the mechanical department depart-ment requiring special technical knowledge knowl-edge were given a thorough course of training, and the percentage of successful success-ful applicants was unusually high. Among the first of the women to ask fT HAT American women are as created bv the enlistment of men in va- competent and willing as the rions bran-hes of the m.htary service. 1 .7 But the enlistments were not cjin- women of Europe to .fill the gaps fiued to (he pffit.e for,, aiui, besides, W---.-il in the ranks of labor caused by there was a shortage of labor in almost, ; the call to arms, has been demonstrated every department ' of the road. This t : . -i tu ,nnot f condition brought about experiments as . , ! 50 satisfactorily to the management of to !jf of wmen jn ,he jf. V 1 thc 0ie"on Short Lme as t0 warrant mechanical force. Jn practically all po-&-. ' 'Wafi I'V the placing 'of the names of approxi- sitions w here the labors did not entail S- "X I mately 100 members of the fair sex upon heavy lifting flic women proved them- i , L 4 - f the company payrolls within the past selves especial y efficient and even t ' V " ' A l. i two or three months. m02? earetul than men. f J 3 In anticipation , of a possible labor First they were given a trial as I ' $ V shortage because of the demands of war coach cleaners and then came tests in t f ' J I k 1 the Oregon Short Line began a series connection with positions requiring h V - P I of experiments several months ago to more technical training. The result is ' t I determine iust what positions might be that annrox. mately seventv-fiye women f . 1 filled by women. The first experiments are employe, by the Short Line in the I . V', e M were in the offices and later were ex- mechanical department, about half the i I k f 2 tended to the shops of the mechanical number at Salt Lake and halt at Foca- I J & VTlf department. 10- J t5"JK 'Jt I s-i For years some women have been ein- As was done in preparing women for $ ix ','4. j i- ployed" in the offices of the company, work in the offices, those wTho aspired I J J w'5 , il I"- but many positions were not open to to positions in the mechanical depart- K 3 f 1 them because of the belief that they ment requiring special technical knowl- X"' t ' i f were not fitted for other than certain edge were given a thorough course of jr -a , ?Cm " classes of work. The first experiments training, and the percentage of success- Ksjj K?i .-ir Jsg!?i,y--a resulted in the employment of about ful applicants was unusually high, r I V 1 iA.' thirty women in offices to fill vacancies Among the first of the women to ask M , I " : 1 v .r-rTV . 1 for training for one of the positions of . a technical nature was Miss Bertha Peterson Pe-terson of Pocatello. In connection with the big shops at that point is a big transfer table which fills all the requirements re-quirements of a turn table and several j other appliances besides. It takes an engine or a car or anything else on wheels that will stand on the rails and moves it across the shop yard to any track desired. Since it was installed its oneration had been entirely in the hands of men. The work of operating the table was not heavy because it was operated op-erated electrically, but some knowledge of electricity and mechanics was necessary. neces-sary. .Miss Peterso'n wanted the job and made her wants known. She took the preparatory course extending over a period of several weeks and now she works one shift as transfer tabic operator, opera-tor, relieving one more man to respond to his country's call or to assume some position which a woman is not qualified to fill. |