practical trade classes that aim to broaden the practical daily experience are constantly increasing. In Europe, evening schools are the main instrument of industrial education. In this country, although represented in one form or another in all our large industrial centers, they have hardly begun to play the important part to which they are undoubtedly destined.

The order in which employers in the various industrial groups have indicated their belief in the different types of schools is indicated below:

This analysis shows a striking concurrence as to the value of the general industrial or preparatory trade school. It is also of interest to note that in all of the groups commonly considered as requiring highly skilled labor, with the single exception of the printing trades, the trade school comes last.

A brief summary of the main conclusions of the investigation may be indicated as follows:

I. The need of skilled male labor in the industries of the State is reported most severe in the manufacture of blown glass, many of the machine and metal trades, the manufacture of furniture, the manufacture of boots and shoes, the printing trades, and in certain of the building trades. For females the need is reported most serious in the manufacture of silk, carpets, braids and embroideries, and in the machine operating trades.

II. The apprenticeship system in such industries as machineand printing trades and certain of the building trades is capable of being made more effective and a larger instrument of training skilled employees by the introduction of definite provisions for systematic instruction.

III. The need and value of general industrial or preparatory trade schools for boys and girls between 14 and 16 years of age is emphatically testified to by employers in all the industries and agreed to by the labor unions.

IV. Practical trade schools seem to be most in need and to give promise of most practical results in the machine and building trades. Such schools are strongly urged also by employers in the boot and shoe trades, furniture manufacture, and the printing trades.

V. The extension of evening schools giving both practical and technical instruction for workers in the trades is demanded by employers in a large proportion of the industries.

II.

CONDITIONS OF ENTRANCE AND ADVANCEMENT IN INDIVIDUAL INDUSTRIES.

In this chapter are presented in detail the returns relating to the supply of skilled labor, the conditions as to entrance, and the opportunities for advancement, in each industry. This is done in uniform synopsis of the returns, industry by industry, to each of which is prefixed a brief descriptive introduction in larger type. The industries are arranged according to the classification used throughout this report and which may be seen in any of the foregoing Tables B to E in Chapter I.

1. GLASS PRODUCTS.

BLOWN AND PRESSED GLASS.

In the manufacture of blown and pressed glass a number of young beginners from 14 to 16 years of age are employed called tending and gathering boys. The most capable of these boys that remain in the establishment for some length of time are commonly taken as apprentices for a term of years to learn the trade of glass blower. Much difficulty is reported in holding such young help until they are old enough to be apprenticed, and in some concerns adult foreign laborers have been substituted for the work of tending and gathering. The apprentice is generally paid on a piece-work basis, receiving about one-half the journeyman's rate for whatever perfect product he turns out. Lehrmen, waremen and packers constitute the low-grade skill class. These are not as a rule recruited from the small help class, but engaged at a fairly mature age and generally remain at their special work.

Returns were obtained from 11 establishments, 4 of which are in New York City. The largest number of persons employed in the manufacturing departments of these establishments during 1907 was 2,727 males and 77 females; the smallest, 1,952 males and 60 females.

The length of the working day varies from 81⁄2 hours to 10 hours, 6 firms giving 10 hours.

The total number of adult employees of low-grade skill (lehrmen, waremen and packers) is given as 568 males and 70 females. The nationality of the males is noted as 53 per cent foreign born and 47 per cent American born.

The weekly wage of the greatest number of adult male employees in this low-grade class ranges from $6.00 to $15.00; of the 11 firms reporting 6 give In 4 firms such wages falling within the group from $10.00 to $12.00. employees have opportunities to advance to high-grade work, in 7 firms the contrary is true.

The total number of aduit employees of high-grade skill is given as 1,335 males. The nationality of these employees is noted as 14 per cent foreign born and 86 per cent American born. The weekly wage of the greatest number of adult male employees in this high-grade class ranges from $20.00 to $45.00. but the distribution of the figures is too even to indicate a common rate; the full returns are as follows:

Firms
Wages.

2

2

2

1

3

1

$20.00 $22.00 $30.00 $35.00 $40.00 $45.00

In 10 firms employees are reported as under 16 years of age with a total of 101 males and 7 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:- 4 establishments not affected; 4 establishments have discharged employees under 16 amounting to 59 boys; 3 establishments have ceased to employ children under that age.

A total of 253 males and 7 females employed under 18 years of age are reported in the low-grade class, of whom 155 males are 16 or 17 years of age. The preferred age for beginners in this class ranges from 14 to 17 years for males. While out of 11 firms reporting for males, 6 give The weekly wage paid beginners 14 or 15 years 14 years and 4 give 16 years. of age ranges from $3.75 to $7.50 for males, though 4 firms out of 11 reporting give wages of $5.00; for beginners 16 years of age, the wage varies from $4.00 to $7.50 while 7 out of 11 firms reporting give wages falling within the group from $5.00 to $6.00. The average age at which beginners leave this class ranges from 17 years to 20 years. In 5 firms of the 10 reporting 19 years is usual.

All the 11 firms report that gathering and tending boys have opportunities when showing ability to become glass blowers' apprentices, but only 7 firms report apprentices that are being trained for work of high-grade skill with a total of 256 males; the preferred age for apprentice beginners and the age at which they generally start varies from 16 years to 20 years; of the 7 firms reporting 4 give 19 years; the weekly wage of paid apprentices during the first year varies from $5.50 to $19.50; the distribution of these figures is too irregular to indicate a common rate and the full returns are as follows:

Firms

Wages

1

1

1

1
$5.50 $9.00 $12.00 $15.00

2

1

$18.00 $19.50

In 8 firms systematic instruction is furnished apprentices; 3 firms report the contrary. The time given for apprentices to reach full wages in highgrade work is uniformly reported as 5 years.

Two firms report that all and 7 that a majority of their skilled employees are trained in their own establishments; 1 firm reports that all and 1 that a majority of such employees are obtained from other sources; these other sources are reported by 3 firms as trade unions, by 1 firm as advertising and by firms as application; 8 firms report that they have difficulty either in obtaining or training skilled employees; 3 firms report no difficulty.

Four report that the apprenticeship system meets the need for skilled employees in their business; 7 firms report the contrary; 4 firms report that the reason the apprenticeship system does not meet the need is because of restrictions of the number of apprentices allowed by trade unions; 1 firm reports the reason is inability to secure good material as apprentices; 2 firms report the inability to retain apprentices until they have finished their apprenticeship as the cause; 6 firms state that the restrictions of number of apprentices by trade unions prevents them from employing as many apprentices as they would otherwise employ; 5 firms report that they are not affected by such restrictions; 8 firms report that they are employing the full number of apprentices allowed by union rules; 2 firms report in the negative.

Nine firms representing 2,572 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; 2 firms representing 232 employees answer this question in the negative. Two firms representing 1,396 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; 9 firms representing 1,408 employees answer this question in the negative. Representatives of 5 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 6 firms answer this question in the negative. Representatives of 2 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 9 firms answer this question in the negative. Three 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; 8 firms answer this question in the negative.

CUT GLASS.

Little trace of a true apprenticeship system is to be found in the cut glass industry at the present time, although two firms in New York City report an arrangement by which beginners are paid a definite wage with the understanding that the learner is to remain a certain number of years before receiving journeymen's wages. In both these cases the learner is very soon put upon a piece-work basis of wages. In Corning of late years few beginners have been employed as the supply of skilled labor has been sufficient for the demand.

Learners begin upon simple work and progress to moderate skill in cutting and then through further experience and ability acquire increased speed and accuracy and advance to high wages. Therǝ