state that in their judgment the last mentioned schools could be advantageously administered by the State or community at public expense and operated on a non-commercial product; representatives of eleven firms answer this question in the negative. Representatives of ten firms state that in their judgment such schools would be practical if conducted by industrial establishments or a combination of such establishments and operated on a commercial product; representatives of nine firms answer this question in thẹ negative. Ten firms report that practical evening, or part time, trade schools would be of value in helping unskilled workers, or those of low-grade skill, to advance to positions requiring high-grade skill; ten firms answer this question in the negative.

NOVELTY WORK AND JEWELRY CASES.

The manufacture of novelty work and jewelry cases is a division of the pasting trades that rises into skilled labor for which high wages are sometimes paid.

A fairly long period of training is required for the finer work 'done in the best establishments and in some cases the training is so definitely adjusted as to wages and stages of progress as to be almost an apprenticeship system.

Returns were obtained from eight establishments, six of which are in New York City and two in other parts of the State. The largest number of persons employed in the manufacturing departments of these establishments during 1907 was 117 males and 224 females; the smallest, 58 males and 122 females.

The length of the working day varies from 81⁄2 hours to ten hours, three firms giving ten hours and two giving nine and one-half hours.

The total number of adult employees of high-grade skill is given as 107 males and 156 females. The nationality of the males is noted as 32.7 per cent foreign born and 67.3 per cent American born; of the females, 14.1 per cent are noted as foreign born and 85.9 per cent as American born. The weekly wage of the greatest number of male employees 18 years of age or over in this high-grade class ranges from $8.00 to $20.00, four firms out of the six reporting wages ranging from $15.00 to $20.00; for females the range is from $5.50 to $15.00 one firm each, except in case of $8.00 reported by two firms, giving rates of $5.50, $7.00, $8.00, $12.00, $14.00, and $15.00. Four firms report employees under 16 years of age with a total of seven males and 12 females.

Three firms report apprentices or beginners under 18 years of age that are being trained for work of high-grade skill with a total of 6 males and 8 females; of these 4 males and 6 females are 16 or 17 years of age. The preferred age for apprentice beginners varies from 15 years to 18 years; of the seven firms reporting six give 16 years the preference. The weekly wage paid such beginners during the first year varies from $3.60 to $7.00 for males, and from $3.00 to $8.00 for females; for males the returns are very evenly distributed; for females out of seven firms reporting three give $6.00. The time given for beginners to reach full wages in high-grade work

is reported as from one year to seven years; the most common period reported for both males and females is two years.

One firm reports that all and three that a majority of their skilled employees are trained in their own establishments; one firm reports that all and three that a majority of such employees are obtained from other sources; these other sources are reported by one firm as advertising and by one firm as application. Four firms report that they have difficulty either in obtaining or training skilled employees; four firms report no difficulty.

Six firms representing 251 employees report that the efficiency and future opportunities of their employees would be increased if they were given a training between the ages of 14 and 16 in a general public industrial or preparatory trade school which should aim to give a knowledge of materials, shop mathematics and fundamental industrial methods, and some ideas of industrial organization but not teach a special trade; two firms representing ninety employees answer this question in the negative. Four firms representing 158 employees state that practical day trade schools giving a specialized training of one year or more after the age of 16 would help to meet the problem of skilled employees in their business; four firms representing 183 employees answer this question in the negative. Representatives of no firms state that in their judgment the last mentioned schools could be advantageously administered by the State or community at public expense and operated on a non-commercial product; representatives of five firms answer this question in the negative. Representatives of three firms state that in their judgment such schools would be practical if conducted by industrial establishments or a combination of such establishments and operated on a commercial product; representatives of five firms answer this question in the negative. Seven firms report that practical evening, or part time, trade schools would be of value in helping unskilled workers, or those of low-grade skill, to advance to positions requiring highgrade skill; one firm answers this question in the negative.

6. TEXTILES.

In most textile mills beginners start in the "small help" class as back boys, bobbin boys or doffers. From this class is drawn the operatives that man the simpler machines.

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The two main divisions of a textile mill are the spinning and weaving departments but each of these is subdivided according to the special kind of fibre into various sub-departments as carding, spinning and reeling on the one side and winding, warping, drawing-in and weaving on the other. "Fancy weaving" and pattern weaving are performed by the highest skilled operatives.

In general there is very little actual instruction given to the learner in a textile mill. Mastery of a process or a machine is learned commonly by a term spent as assistant. When the assistant becomes proficient she is in time promoted to responsible charge

of a machine. It is the custom for textile factories to operate in localities where there are a number of similar establishments and where entire families are employed in the mills. In such communities the duties of the older members of the family are a matter of daily discussion and the children are brought up in an at'mosphere which prepares them to enter the industry with an understanding of many of its processes.

SILK AND SILK GOODS.

Silk manufacture includes the weaving of broad silk and of ribbons. The two processes are practically identical except for the construction of the loom which in the one case is modified to meet the narrow width of the ribbon.

The raw silk is received in skeins either from the Orient or from southern Europe and is then sent to a "throwster," often apart from the weaving establishment, to be spun. The silk is then dyed, also often outside of the weaving mill, and is then transferred to spools by "winders." The "warper" who represents the highest order of skill in the industry, then transfers the silk to a beam. The warp is then given to a "twister" who connects the strands with the corresponding ends of an unwoven portion of warp in the loom. The warp is then ready for weaving. The filling or transverse threads are put on the bobbins of the shuttle by a "quiller." The cloth when it comes from the loom is inspected by help in the "picking room" who remove ends or knots that may appear on the surface of the cloth.

Many beginners start in the picking room. They become acquainted with the employees in the other departments and learn other operations from them. Weaving and warping are often learned under the instruction of a skilled hand, the learners receiving no wages during the period of instruction. There is no class in silk mills corresponding exactly to the "small help" of the cotton and woolen mills. Many beginners start strictly at weaving which does not require a long period of training, three or four weeks under an instructor being sometimes sufficient time to acquire the skill needed to operate a loom. The weaving of ribbons requires a more complicated loom and a more highly skilled operator than is the case of broad silk. A much longer period of training is in consequence required.

Few beginners are trained in the skilled departments of silk manufacture in New York City. In general skilled workers are obtained from weaving centers in other States where a lower grade of work is done and children more frequently employed.

Returns were obtained from twenty-one establishments, eight of which are in New York City and thirteen in other parts of the State. The largest number of persons employed in the manufacturing departments of these establishments during 1907 was 1,872 males and 3,967 females; the smallest, 1,467 males and 3,269 females.

The length of the working day varies from 9 hours to 10 hours, eighteen firms giving 10 hours.

The total number of unskilled employees is given as 71 males and 275 females. Of the males 16.9 per cent are noted as foreign born and 83.1 per cent as American born; of the females 10.9 per cent are noted as foreign born and 89.1 per cent as American born.

The total number of adult employees of low-grade skill is given as 712 males and 1,449 females. The nationality of the males is noted as 38.5 per cent foreign born and 61.5 per cent American born. Of the females 6.5 per cent are noted as foreign born and 93.5 per cent as American born. weekly wage of the greatest number of adult male employees in this low-grade class ranges from $9.00 to $18.00 as noted below:

Firms Wages

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3

3

The

2

1

2 $9.00 $10.00 $11.00 $12.00 $13.00 $13.50 $14.00 $18.00

For females the range is from $5.00 to $10.00, seventeen out of the nineteen firms reporting wages from $5.00 to $8.00.

The total number of adult male employees of high-grade skill is given as 1,074 males and 2,240 females. The nationality of the males is noted as 25.9 per cent foreign born and 74.1 per cent American born; of the females 10.5 per cent are noted as foreign born and 89.5 per cent as American born. The weekly wage of the greatest number of adult male employees in this highgrade class ranges from $15.00 to $30.00, seven firms out of thirteen reporting wages ranging from $17.00 to $20.00; for females the range is from $9.50 to $15.00, eleven of the fourteen firms reporting wages from $10.00 to $12.00. Sixteen firms report employees under 16 years of age with a total of 38 males and 198 females. The effect of the law that went into operation October 1, 1906, relating to the hours of employment of boys and girls under 16 years of age is reported as follows: eight establishments not affected; one establishment has discharged employees under 16 amounting to 10 boys; nine establishments have ceased to employ children under that age.

A total of 43 males and 144 female employees under 18 years of age are reported in the unskilled class of whom 9 males and 63 females are 16 or 17 years of age. The preferred age for beginners in this unskilled class ranges from 14 years to 16 years for males and from 14 years to 17 years for females; out of ten firms reporting for males six give 16 years; for females out of eight firms reporting five give 16 years. The weekly wage paid such 14 or 15 year old beginners ranges from $3.00 to $4.00 for males, and from $3.00 to $4.00 for females; for males six firms out of eight reporting give wages from $3.00 to $3.50; for females five out of seven firms reporting give wages from

$3.00 to $3.50. The weekly wage paid beginners 16 years old ranges from $3.00 to $6.00 for males and from $3.00 to $5.00 for females; for males eight out of ten firms report $3.50 to $4.00; for females eight out of nine give $3.50 to $5.00. The time required to gain a working efficiency varies from two to six weeks, five out of nine firms reporting two weeks. The increase of wages in the second year for males varies from $0.50 to $3.00, three firms out of seven firms reporting an increase of $1.00; for females the increase ranges from $1.00 to $3.00; three firms out of six firms reporting an increase of $1.00 and two giving $2.00. The average time that male beginners remain in this class ranges from 2 months to 3 years, three firms of the seven reporting 1 year and 2 giving 2 years; for females the range is from 2 months to 3 years, three of the nine firms reporting 6 months and 3 giving one year. Ten firms report that unskilled employees have opportunities to advance to skilled work and three firms report the contrary for males and one for females.

Sixteen firms report employees under 18 years of age in the low-grade skilled class with a total of 25 males and 326 females; of these 21 males and 226 females are 16 or 17 years of age. The preferred age for starting employees in this grade of work varies from 15 years to 18 years; of the ten firms reporting for males, six give 16 years; for females the range is 14 to 18 years, nine out of seventeen firms giving 16 years. The weekly wage of such beginners during the first year varies from $3.50 to $9.00 for males, and from $3.00 to $8.00 for females; out of thirteen firms reporting for males, seven give $6.00 to $8.00 and for females eleven out of seventeen give $4.00 to $6.00. The increase of wages paid females during the second year varies from $0.50 to $3.50, four out of twelve firms reporting an increase of from $1.00 and five stating $2.00. The time given for such beginners to reach full wages in the low-grade class is reported as from 2 weeks to 3 years; out of eleven firms reporting for males, six give one year; for females the range is from 4 to 6 years, six out of fifteen giving 1 year and four giving 2 years. Fourteen firms report that employees of low-grade class have opportunities to advance to high skilled work; and two firms report the contrary for males and one for females.

Four firms report that all, and ten that a majority of their skilled employees are trained in their own establishments; three firms report that all, and four that a majority of such employees are obtained from other sources. Eleven firms report that they have difficulty either in obtaining or training skilled employees; nine firms report no difficulty.

Fifteen firms representing 4,365 employees report that the efficiency and future opportunities of their employees would be increased if they were given a training between the ages of 14 and 16 in a general public industrial or preparatory trade school which should aim to give a knowledge of materials, shop mathematics and fundamental industrial methods, and some ideas of industrial organization but not teach a special trade; five firms representing 1,255 employees answer this question in the negative. Fourteen firms representing 4,005 employees state that practical day trade schools, giving a specialized training of one year or more after the age of 16, would help to meet the problem of skilled employees in their business; five firms representing 1,505 employees answer this question in the negative. Representatives of nine firms state that in their judgment the last mentioned schools could be