From The Exponent, September 15, 1886:
“Women ordinarily make better operators, and are much more satisfactory to business houses than men. Why? Well, in the first place, it is a woman’s work. It requires patience, quick apprehension, steady industry, and deft fingers, which women often and men seldom have in combination.”
Such work paid well: “…most young women are competent to do any ordinary work, and can earn from $8 to $15 per a week. If they are unusually bright or get to be experts they can command from $18 to $25.”
Elsewhere it has been reported that turnover among women was high due to marriage, upon which many women terminated employment.

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