bulk of the work is performed by specialists of medium-grade skill. Many employers consider an apprentice training of four or more years essential to develop competent skilled workers and a majority of the firms reporting attempt to maintain some such system. Considerable difficulty, however, is reported in obtaining thoroughly satisfactory material as apprentices and the demand for skilled workers seems to be in excess of the supply. In some cases the trade is so divided as not to admit of or require an all-round training and in these instances beginners are taught a narrower range of operations in a shorter period. Returns were obtained from fourteen establishments, ten of which are in New York City and four in other parts of the State. The largest number of persons employed in the manufacturing departments of these establishments during 1907 was 1493 males and 263 females, the smallest, 1018 males and 209 females. The length of the working day varies from 8 hours to 10 hours, ten firms giving 9 hours. The total number of adult employees of low-grade skill is given as 541 males and 192 females. The nationality of the males is noted as 43.8 per cent foreign born and 56.2 per cent American born. Of the females 29.2 per cent are noted as foreign born and 70.8 per cent as American born. The weekly wage of the greatest number of adult male employees in this lowgrade class ranges from $9.00 to $17.00, ten of the twelve firms reporting wages ranging from $12.00 to $15.00; for females the range is from $6.00 to $14.00: the full returns are as follows: Firms Wages 1 2 1 1 The total number of adult male employees of high-grade skill is given as 867 males and 31 females. The nationality of the males is noted as 29.8 per cent foreign born and 70.2 per cent American born; of the females 16.1 per cent are noted as foreign born and 83.9 per cent as American born. The weekly wage of the greatest number of adult male employees in this high-grade class ranges from $14.00 to $40.00. The returns are distributed throughout the range between these extremes, but six out of the thirteen firms reporting give wages running from $16.00 to $18.00; for females the range is from $7.00 to $18.00, three of the six firms reporting wages from $10.00 to $12.00. Nine firms report employees under 16 years of age with a total of 39 males and 7 females. A total of 86 males and 16 females employed under 18 years of age are reported in the low-grade class of whom 59 males and 12 females are 16 or 17 years of age. The preferred age for beginners in this class ranges from 14 years to 16 years; out of twelve firms reporting eight give 16 years for males and seven give the same age of females. The weekly wage paid such beginners ranges from $2.50 to $5.00 for males, and the same for females; for males nino firms out of thirteen reporting give wages from $3.00 to $4.00; for females eight out of twelves firms reporting give wages from $3.00 to $3.50. The increase of wages in the second year for males varies from 0 to $3.25, ten firms out of thirteen firms reporting an increase of $1.00; for females the increase ranges from $0 to $1.00, eleven firms out of twelve firms reporting an increase of $1.00. The average time required for male beginners to gain full wages in low-grade work ranges from 2 years to 10 years; five firms of the thirteen reporting 5 years; for females the range is the same, five of the twelve firms reporting 3 years. Twelve firms report that employees of low-grade skill have opportunities to advance to high-grade work and two firms report the contrary. Thirteen firms report apprentices or beginners under 18 years of age that are being trained for work of high-grade skill with a total of 99 males and 18 females. The preferred age for apprentice beginners varies from 14 years to 16 years; of the eleven firms reporting seven give 16 years the preference. The weekly wage of said apprentices during the first year varies from $3.00 to $5.00, out of eleven firms reporting seven give $4.00. The average times given for apprentices to reach full wages in high-grade work is reported as from 4 years to 6 years; out of eleven firms reporting six give 5 years and three give 6 years. Six 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 of such employees are obtained from other sources; these other sources are reported by four firms as advertising and by one firm as application. Eleven firms report that they have difficulty either in obtaining or training skilled employees; three firms report no difficulty. Two report that the apprenticeship system meets the need for skilled employees in their business; ten firms report the contrary; five firms report that the reason the apprenticeship system does not meet the need is inability to secure good material as apprentices; one firm reports the inability to retain apprentices until they have finished their apprenticeship as the cause. Two firms state that the restrictions of number of apprentices by trade unions prevent them from employing as many apprentices as they would otherwise employ; eleven firms report that they are not affected by such restrictions. Eight firms representing 1167 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 give a knowledge of materials, shop mathematics and fundamental industrial methods, and some ideas of industrial organization but not teach a special trade; four firms representing 271 employees answer this question in the negative. Eight firms representing 1141 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; three firms representing 194 employees answer this question in the negative. Representatives of six 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 four firms answer this question in the negative. Representatives of five 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. Nine 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. SILVER AND PLATED WARE. The manufacture of silver and plated ware represents conditions very similar to the manufacture of jewelry. The skilled workers are silversmiths, spinners, chasers and finishers, all of which command comparatively high wages. The conditions as to apprenticeship are much the same as in the jewelry trade. Returns were obtained from ten establishments, four of which are in New York City and six in other parts of the State. The largest number of persons employed in the manufacturing departments of these establishments during 1907 was 1535 males and 401 females, the smallest 1241 males and 296 females. The length of the working day varies from 9 hours to 10 hours, five firms out of nine giving 9 hours, four giving 10 hours. The total number of adult employees of low-grade skill is given as 805 males and 298 females. The nationality of the males is noted as 25.5 per cent foreign born and 74.5 per cent American born; of the females 15.5 per cent are noted as foreign born and 84.5 per cent as American born. The weekly wage of the greatest number of adult male employees in this low-grade class ranges from $9.00 to $16.00, four of the seven firms reporting wages ranging from $12.00 to $14.00; for females the range is from $6.00 to $9.00. Seven out of the eight firms reporting give wages from $6.00 to $8.00. The total number of adult male employees of high-grade skill is given as 726 males and 98 females. The nationality of the males is noted as 26.3 per cent foreign born and 73.7 per cent American born; of the females 11.2 per cent are ncted as foreign born and 88.8 per cent as American born. The weekly wage of the greatest number of adult male employees in this high-grade class ranges from $16.50 to $25.00, four firms out of ten reporting $18.00; for females the range is from $8.00 to $12.00, four out of the six firms reporting wages from $9.00 to $11.00. Six firms report employees under 16 years of age with a total of 19 males and 6 females. A total of 84 males and 22 females employed under 18 years of age are reported in the low-grade class, of whom 67 males and 16 females are 16 or 17 years of age. The preferred age for beginners in this class ranges from 15 years to 21 years for males and from 16 years to 20 years for females; out of eight firms reporting for males five give 16 years and three out of seven give the same age for females, two giving 18 years. The weekly wage paid such beginners ranges from $3.50 to $6.00 for males, and $3.50 to $4.50 for females; for males three firms out of seven reporting give $4.00 and two firms $6.00; for females four out of six firms reporting give $4.00. The increase of wages in the second year for males varies from 0 to $3.00, four firms out of seven firms reporting an increase of $1.00; for females the increase ranges from $0.50 to $2.00, two firms out of five firms reporting an increase of $1.00, and one firm $1.50. The average time required for male beginners to gain full wages in low-grade work ranges from 1 year to 5 years, one firm reporting 1 year, two firms 2 years, one firm 31⁄2 years, two firms 4 years, and two firms 5 years; for females the range is the same, two firms reporting 1 year, two firms 2 years, one firm 4 years, and one firm 5 years. All of the eight firms report that employees of low-grade skill have opportunities to advance to high-grade work. Nine firms report apprentices or beginners under 18 years of age that are being trained for high-grade work with a total of 83 males and 1 female employee. The preferred age for starting beginners of this class is given by the four firms reporting as 16 years. The weekly wage of said apprentices during the first year varies from $4.00 to $6.00 as given by the four firms reporting; three firms report $4.00. The average time given for apprentices to reach full wages in high-grade work as given by four firms reporting is 22 years to 6 years. Five firms report that a majority of their skilled employees are trained in their own establishments; five firms report that a majority of such employees are obtained from other sources; these other sources are reported by three firms as advertising and by one firm as application. Five firms report that they have difficulty either in obtaining or training skilled employees; five firms report no difficulty. Three firms report that the apprenticeship system meets the need for skilled employees in their business; five firms report the contrary; one firm reports that the reason the apprenticeship system does not meet the need is inability to secure good material as apprentices. No firms state that the restriction of number of apprentices by trade unions prevent them from employing as many apprentices as they would otherwise employ; eight firms report that they are not affected by such restrictions. Six firms representing 1293 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; three firms representing 615 employees answer this question in the negative. Five firms representing 1113 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 795 employees, answer this question in the negative. Representatives of five 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 two firms answer this question in the negative. Representatives of 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 three firms answer this question in the negative. Five firms report that practical evening, or part time, trade schools would be of value in helping unskilled workers, or those of lowgrade skill, to advance to positions requiring high-grade skill; two firms answer this question in the negative. CARRIAGES AND WAGONS. Although a very high grade of skill is required in many of the branches of carriage and wagon building the apprenticeship system has very largely died out in this industry and beginners are now engaged mainly as helpers. In prosperous times the trade suffers 'considerably from want of skilled workers. Returns were obtained from thirty-one establishments, of which nineteen are in New York City and twelve in other parts of the State. The total of the largest number of persons employed in the manufacturing departments of these establishments during 1907 was 3192 males and 153 females, the smallest, 2207 males and 124 females. The length of the working day varies from 81⁄2 hours to 10 hours, twentyone of the thirty firms giving 9 hours. The total number of adult employees of low-grade skill is given as 1204 males and 116 females. The nationality of the males is noted as 49 per cent foreign born and 51 per cent American born; of the females 9.5 per cent are noted as foreign born and 90.5 per cent as American born. The weekly wage of the greatest number of adult male employees in this low-grade class ranges from $9.00 to $15.00; eighteen of the twenty-eight firms reporting wages ranging from $10.00 to $12.00; twenty-two firms give wages from $10.00 to $13.00. The total number of adult male employees of high-grade skill is given as 1864 males and 37 females. The nationality of the males is noted as 3:2 per cent foreign born and 68 per cent American born; the female employees are all noted as American born. The weekly wage of the greatest number of adult male employees in this high-grade class ranges from $12.00 to $21.00; twenty-four firms out of thirty-one reporting wages ranging from $14.00 to $18.00. Six firms report employees under 16 years of age, with a total of 14 males and 9 females. Six firms report a total of 29 male employees under 18 years of age not learning a skilled trade. The preferred age for such beginners ranges from 16 to 19 years, six firms out of thirteen reporting 16 years and five firms periods from 17 to 19. The average weekly wage paid such beginners varies from $3.00 to $8.10, eight firms out of thirteen reporting wages from $5.00 to $7.00. The average time required for such beginners to gain full wages in low-grade work ranges from 12 to 51⁄2 years, seven firms out of twelve reporting from 2 to 31⁄2 years. A total of 48 males and 13 females employed under 18 years of age are reported as learning a skilled trade; of these 39 males and 4 females are 16 or 17 years of age. The preferred age for beginners at a skilled trade ranges from 14 to 23 for males, seventeen firms out of twenty-four reporting ages from 16 to 18. The weekly wage paid such beginners ranges from $3.00 to $10.50, sixteen firms out of twenty-three reporting wages from $4.00 to $5.00. The average time required for beginners that are learning a skilled trade to reach full wages in the highly skilled class ranges from 2 years and 6 months to 7 years, twelve firms out of twenty-one reporting from 4 to 6 |