firms reporting four give $5.00 and four give $6.00; in the machine shop the extremes are the same and out of forty-one firms reporting eleven give $3.00, five give $3.50, nine give $4.00, six give $4.50 and six give $5.00; in the boiler shop the extremes are $4.00 and $9.00 and out of seven firms reporting three firms give $4.50. Very commonly a regular schedule of wages is paid during the full term of apprenticeship and almost always during the first two years. The increase in wages paid during the second year varies in the returns from 0 to $4.50, 96 out of the 110 firms reporting an increase of from $1.00 to $2.00. Thirty-nine out of fifty firms report that systematic instruction is furnished apprentices, while eleven firms report the contrary. The average time in which apprentices reach full wages is reported as from 11⁄2 to 7 years; out of fifty-five firms reporting thirty-one give 4 years, three give 41⁄2 and ten give 5 years. Twenty-seven firms report that they experience difficulty in obtaining satisfactory material for apprentices and twenty-one report in the negative.

Three firms report that all and thirty that a majority of their skilled employees are trained in their own establishments; four firms report that all and twenty-three that a majority of such employees are obtained from other sources; these other sources are reported by two firms as advertising and by twenty-three firms as application; twenty-three firms report that they have difficulty either in obtaining or training skilled employees while thirty-five firms report no difficulty.

Twenty-two report that the apprenticeship system meets the need for skilled employees in their business while thirty firms report the contrary; eight 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; ten firms report the reason is in inability to secure good material as apprentices; six firms report the inability to retain apprentices until they have finished their apprenticeship as the cause; sixteen firms state that the restrictions of number of apprentices by trade unions prevents them from employing as many apprentices as they would otherwise employ; thirtyfour firms report that they are not affected by such restrictions; seventeen firms report that they are employing the full number of apprentices allowed by union rules, while twelve firms report in the negative.

Fifty-two firms representing 20,853 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; six firms representing 1701 employees answer this question in the negative. Fifty firms representing 20,302 employees state that practicai 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; nine firms representing 2439 employees answer this question in the negative. Representatives of thirty-five firms state that in their judgment the last mentioned schools could be advantageously administered by the State or community at publi expense and operated on a non-commercial product; representatives of fourteen firms answer this question in the negative. Representatives of twenty

four 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 twenty-one firms answer this question in the negative. Fifty 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; five firms answer this question in the negative.

LOCOMOTIVE CONSTRUCTION AND REPAIRS.

This industry deals with a special form of engine and boiler construction and the conditions of organization are essentially the same as in the machine building industry.

Returns were obtained from eighteen establishments of which two are in New York City and sixteen are in other parts of the State. The largest number of persons employed in the manufacturing departments of these establishments during 1907 was 17,103 males, the smallest 9818.

The hours of labor vary from 9 to 10, sixteen firms reporting 10 hours. A total of 5497 adult employees of low-grade skill were reported divided as follows: Pattern shop 19, foundry 14, forge shop 759, machine shop 2656, boiler shop 1351, woodworking shop 68, miscellaneous 630. The nationality of 5317 of these workers was reported as 36.9 per cent foreign born and 63.1 per cent American born. The range of wages of the greatest number in the low-grade class is from a minimum of $8.25 to a maximum of $15.00; in the pattern shop which, together with the foundry, usually plays but a small part in locomotive construction, the two firms reporting give wages of $8.25 and $8.75; in the foundry, the range is from $9.50 to $10.50, two of the four firms reporting $10.00; in the forge shop the range is from $9.00 to $15.00, and twelve of the fifteen firms give $9.00 to $11.00; in the machine shop the range is from $8.50 to $14.00 and ten out of seventeen firms give $9.00 to $11.00; in the boiler shop the range is $9.00 to $14.00 and nine out of seventeen firms give $9.00 to $11.00; wages in other branches range from $8.50 to $14.00, six out of nine firms reporting $9.00 to $11.00.

A total of 6856 adult employees of high-grade skill were reported divided as follows: Pattern shop 69, foundry 496, forge shop 784, machine shop 3397, boiler shop 1371, woodworking shop 186, miscellaneous 553. The nationality of 6555 of these was reported as 20.5 per cent foreign born and 79.5 per cent American born. For the six firms reporting high-grade skill in

the pattern shop the weekly wages of the greatest number of employees range from $15.00 to $22.00, three firms give a wage of $16.50; in the foundry the range for the four firms reporting is $15.00 to $24.00, but the lower figures of $15.00 and $16.50 are not significant in this case on account of the small number of the employees represented, and wages of $23.50 and $24.00 stand for 477 out of a total of 496 employees; the figures for the other branches are as follows: Forge shop range $13.50 to $21.00, ten out of eighteen firms reporting $15.00 to $17.00; machine shop range $15.00 to $20.00, twelve out of eighteen firms reporting $15.00 to $17.00; boiler shop — range $15.00 to $21.00, eleven out of eighteen firms reporting $16.00 to $18.00; miscellaneous four out of eight firms reporting give $16.00.

Two firms report employees under 16 years of age with a total of 31 males. Six employees under 18 years of age preparing for work in various branches of the low-grade class are reported by one firm; these are distributed as follows: forge shop 1, machine shop 2, boiler shop 1, miscellaneous 2. The preference as to age for beginners preparing for work in this low-grade class varies from 16 to 24 years; in the forge, machine and boiler shops the age most commonly given preference is 18 and the next 21. The weekly wage paid such beginners, at the start, varies greatly as in the case of machine construction, but the most usual figures are within the group from $8.00 to $10.00; in the pattern shop the two firms reporting give $8.25; in the foundry the three firms reporting give $9.25 and $10.50; in the forge shop the range is from $5.00 to $10.50 and nine out of eleven firms give $8.00 and $10.00; in the machine shop the range is from $5.00 to $11.00 and eight out of thirteen firms reporting give $8.00 and $10.00; in the boiler shop the range is from $6.00 to $11.00 and nine out of fourteen firms reporting give $8.00 and $10.00. The time required for beginners to reach full wages in the low-grade class varies considerably, depending largely on the age at which beginners are employed; the average of the periods noted are as follows: forge shop (seven firms reporting) range of 3 months to 4 years with average of 1 year 4 months; machine shop (nine firms reporting) — range of 3 months to 4 years with average of 1 year 5 months; boiler shop (nine firms reporting)- range of 3 months to 4 years with average of 1 year 7 months. Eleven firms state that workers in the low-grade class have opportunity to advance to high-grade positions and five firms state that employees do not have such opportunity.

Eleven establishments report apprentices under 18 years of age in their employ amounting to a total of 345; these are divided as follows: pattern shop 2, foundry 28, forge shop 24, machine shop 143, boiler shop 113, woodworking 1, miscellaneous 34; none of these apprentices are bound by contract. The preferred age for starting apprentices varies from 16 to 18 years; of the sixteen firms reporting four favor 16 years, eight 17 years and four 18 years. The weekly wage paid apprentices during the first year varies from a minimum of $3.30 to a maximum of $8.40; in the pattern shop three firms report respectively $4.25, $4.32 and $4.40; in the foundry the extremes are $4.32 and $8.40 and two out of the four firms reporting give $5.50; in the forge shop the range is from $4.60 to $6.00 and out of nine firms reporting five give $4.50; in the machine shop the range is from $3.30 to $5.50 and out of sixteen firms reporting eleven give $4.50 or $5.00; in the boiler shop the range is from $3.50 to $6.00; two firms give $3.50; three, $4.50; one, $5.50 and five $6.00. The increase of wages paid during the second year varies from 50 cents to $1.80; forty out of the forty-three firms reporting note increases ranging from $1.10 to $1.50. Fifteen firms report that systematic instruction is given the apprentices. The time required for apprentices to reach full wages is given as from 2 to 5 years; thirteen of the sixteen firms reporting 4 years. Seven firms report difficulty in obtaining satisfactory material as apprentices and eight report no difficulty.

One firm reports that all and nine that a majority of their skilled employees are trained in their own establishments; one firm reports that all and seven that a majority of such employees are obtained from other sources; these other

sources are reported by two firms as advertising and by nine firms as application. Twelve firms report that they have difficulty either in obtaining or training skilled employees; six firms report no difficulty.

Five report that the apprenticeship system meets the need for skilled employees in their business; thirteen firms report the contrary. Five 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; two firms report the reason is in inability to secure good material as apprentices; two firms report the inability to retain apprentices until they have finished their apprenticeship as the cause. Four firms state that the restrictions of number of apprentices by trades unions prevent them from employing as many apprentices as they would otherwise employ; fourteen firms report that they are not affected by such restrictions; nine firms report that they are employing the full number of apprentices allowed by union rules; three firms report in the negative.

Sixteen firms representing 16,791 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 312 employees answer this question in the negative. Fourteen firms representing 15,697 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 1406 employees answer this question in the negative. Representatives of fifteen 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 one firm answer this question in the negative. Representatives of eight 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 seven firms answer this question in the negative. Fourteen 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; three firms answer this question in the negative.

PASSENGER CAR CONSTRUCTION AND REPAIRS.

In passenger car construction and repairs a number of trades are represented including carpenters, cabinet-makers, painters, pipe-fitters and upholsterers for the bodies and machinists, blacksmiths and foundrymen for the running gear. Under such conditions regular apprenticeship is represented to a very small extent. The general practice is to employ young men as helpers or fully trained workmen. Helpers are first put on low-grade work and those showing ability are advanced to the higher class of opera

tions. Some of the data given for the apprenticeship system in this group undoubtedly refer to conditions similar to the helper method of training.

Returns were obtained from thirteen establishments, four of which are in New York City and nine in other parts of the State. The largest number of persons employed in the manufacturing departments of these establishments during 1907 was 4924 males and 47 females, the smallest, 2899 males and 32 females.

The length of the working day varies from 9 hours to 10 hours, ten firms giving 10 hours; in the two cases where the length of day for females is noted separately one firm gives 81⁄2 hours and one firm 9 hours.

The total number of adult employees of low-grade skill is given as 2293 males. The nationality of these employees is noted as 48.8 per cent foreign born and 51.2 per cent American born. The weekly wage of the greatest number of adult employees in this low-grade class ranges from $8.00 to $12.00, nine of the eleven firms reporting wages ranging from $10.00 to $12.00. The total number of adult male employees of high-grade skill is given as 2474 males. The nationality of these employees is noted as 44.3 per cent foreign born and 55.7 per cent American born. The weekly wage of the greatest number of adult employees in this high-grade class ranges from $12.00 to $16.75, eight firms out of twelve reporting wages ranging from $12.00 to $14.00.

Two firms report employees under 16 years of age with a total of 5 males. A total of 4 males 16 or 17 years of age are reported in the low-grade class. The preferred age for beginners in this class ranges from 171⁄2 years to 21 years; out of eleven firms reporting five give 21 years and four give 18 years. The weekly wage paid such beginners ranges from $6.50 to $9.60, seven firms out of eleven reporting wages from $8.00 to $9.00. The average time required for male beginners to gain full wages in low-grade work ranges from 1 year to 5 years; the arithemetical average of the periods noted is 2 years 4 months. All eleven firms report that employees of low-grade skill have opportunities to advance to high-grade work.

ence.

One firm reports apprentices or beginners under 18 years of age that are being trained for work of high-grade skill with a total of five males. The preferred age for apprentice beginners varies from 16 years to 21 years; of the eight firms reporting three give 16 years and three give 18 years the preferThe weekly wage paid such beginners during the first year varies from $4.00 to $13.80. The time given for apprentices to reach full wages in highgrade work is reported as from 4 years to 5 years; out of eight firms reporting four give 4 years and four give 5 years; the following summary shows the relation between the preferred age for beginners, the wages at the start, and the time required to reach full wages:

Five firms report that a majority of their skilled employees are trained in their own establishments; one firm reports that all and seven that a majority