Office Holding: Most of the public offices have some women on their clerical force, that of the comptroller having seven. They are paid the same as men for the same work.
Women were postmasters of both Senate and House in the Legislature of 1900, and acted as clerks of committees.
They can serve as notaries public.
Occupations: No profession or occupation is legally forbidden to women. They practice law and medicine, are managers of many kinds of business and proprietors of hotels, and two have been presidents of banks.
Mrs. Henrietta King is widely known as "the Cattle Queen of the World." Her ranch covers a million acres, and the net proceeds of her sales of horses and cattle are estimated at $500,000 a year. A number of women own and manage ranches.
Education: Most of the leading institutions of learning are open to both sexes. Among these are the State University, Baylor University (Baptist), Southwestern University (Methodist South), Fort Worth Polytechnic (Methodist Episcopal), Trinity University (Cumberland Presbyterian) and Wiley University (colored). Austin College and the State Agricultural and Mechanical College are restricted to male students.
The State Industrial College for Girls (white) was established by the Legislature of 1900, with an appropriation of $60,000. All of the industries will be taught, from domestic science to draughting. The W. C. T. U. and others had been petitioning for this ten years.[440]
The Prairie View State Normal School for colored youth of both sexes has had an Industrial Department from its beginning years ago. A movement is now on foot to establish such a department as a portion of the public school system. Austin already has one, made possible by legacy, and its fine results have greatly inspired the law-makers.
One woman has served as superintendent of schools at Waco, and there are many women principals of High Schools.
There are in the public schools 7,347 men and 7,672 women teachers. The average monthly salary of the men is $49.20; of the women, $35.50.