years.

Fifteen firms report that such employees receive systematic instruction; eight report to the contrary; nineteen firms report difficulty in securing satisfactory material as apprentices; two report no difficulty.

Four firms report that all and six that a majority of their skilled employees are trained in their own establishments; ten firms report that all and eleven that a majority of such employees are obtained from other sources; these other sources are reported by fourteen firms as advertising and by five firms as application. Nineteen firms report that they have difficulty either in obtaining or training skilled employees; ten firms report no difficulty.

Two firms report that the apprenticeship system meets the need for skilled employees in the business; twenty-three firms report the contrary; eleven firms report that the reason the apprenticeship system does not meet the need is inability to secure good material as apprentices; six firms report the inability to retain apprentices until they have finished their apprenticeship as the cause. No firms state that the restrictions of number of apprentices by trade unions prevent them from employing as many apprentices as they would otherwise employ; twenty-one firms report that they are not affected by such restrictions.

Twenty-four firms representing 2529 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 275 employees answer this question in the negative. Twenty-one firms representing 1804 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; seven firms representing 1065 employees answer this question in the negative. Representatives of sixteen firms state that in their judgment the last mentioned schools could be advan- ' tageously 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 eleven 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. Twenty-two 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; one firm answers this question in the negative.

3. WOOD MANUFACTURES.

HOUSE TRIM.

The manufacture of sash, doors and blinds and other wooden house trim is performed almost entirely by machinery. The wages paid are not high and the highest skill is represented by the operators of special machines.

Beginners are generally trained in one line and become specialists, although in some cases the workers are recruited from men who have been carpenters.

Returns were obtained from thirty establishments, of which seven are in New York City and twenty-three in other parts of the State. The largest number of persons employed in the manufacturing departments of these establishments during 1907 was 4619 males, and the smallest, 2995 males and females. The length of the working day varies from 8 hours to 10 hours, eighteen firms giving 10 hours and eleven giving 9 hours.

The total number of adult employees of low or medium-grade skill is give: as 3158 males. The nationality of these employees is noted as 39.2 per cent foreign born and 60.8 per cent American born. The weekly wage of the greatest number of adult employees in this low-grade class ranges from $10.50 to $22.00, sixteen of the thirty firms reporting wages ranging from $12.00 to $13.50.

Eight firms report employees under 16 years of age with a total of 33 males.

A total of 213 males employed under 18 years of age are reported in the low-grade class of whom 189 are 16 or 17 years of age. The preferred age for beginners in this class ranges from 16 years to 21 years; out of thirty firms reporting, ten give 16 years and eleven give 18 years. The weekly wage paid such beginners ranges from $3.00 to $9.00, eighteen firms out of twentynine reporting wages from $4.50 to $7.50. The average time required for male beginners to gain full wages in low-grade work ranges from 1 year to 9 years, nineteen firms of the twenty-six reporting periods running from 3 to 5 years. Twenty-eight firms report that employees of low-grade skill have opportunities to advance to the highest grade work and no firms report to the contrary. Seventeen out of twenty-five firms report that systematic instruction is furnished beginners; eight firms report the contrary.

Three firms report that all and nine that a majority of their skilled employees are trained in their own establishments; five firms report that all and thirteen that a majority of such employees are obtained from other sources; these other sources are reported by ten firms as advertising and by seventeen firms as application. Ten firms report that they have difficulty either in obtaining or training skilled employees; nineteen firms report no difficulty.

One firm reports that the apprenticeship system meets the need for skilled employees in their business; fifteen firms report the contrary; two 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; five firms report the reason is inability to secure good material as apprentices; three firms report the inability to retain apprentices until they have finished their apprenticeship as the cause.

Twenty-four firms representing 2805 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 382 employees answer this question in the negative. Twentyfour firms representing 2668 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 689 employees answer this question in the negative. Representatives of twenty-two 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 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 nineteen firms answer this question in the negative. Twenty-four firms report that practical evening, or part time, trade schools would be of value in helping unskilled workers, of those of low-grade skill, to advance to positions requiring high-grade skill; four firms answer this question in the negative.

BROOMS AND BRUSHES.

Extreme division of labor characterizes the manufacture of brushes. The operations of boring, combing, drawing, setting, driving, trimming, and finishing are each performed by distinct classes of help.

The best

Beginners advance only in their own department. To change to another department would mean beginning over again. opportunities for advancement and the nearest approach to breadth of training is in the preparation of the bristle or fibre where a hand may learn to "comb," "mix," "wash," "straighten" and possibly "drive" and "set." This part of the trade, however, represents but a small portion of the labor employed and the opportunities for progress are, in general, small.

Returns were obtained from twelve establishments, four of which are in New York City and eight 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 1050 males and 218 females, the smallest, 823 males and 170 females.

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

The total number of adult employees of low-grade skill is given as 963 males and 193 females. The nationality of the males is noted as 30.4 per cent foreign born and 69.6 per cent American born; of the females 14.5 per cent are noted as foreign born and 85.5 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, seven of the twelve firms reporting wages ranging from $12.00 to $14.00; for females the range is from $7.00 to $10.00, four out of the six firms reporting wages from $7.00 to $8.00.

Seven firms report employees under 16 years of age with a total of 28 males and 3 females.

A total of 54 males and 5 females employed under 18 years of age are re ported in the low-grade class of whom 35 males and 4 females are 16 or 17 years of age. The preferred age for beginners in this class ranges from 15 years to 24 years for males and from 15 years to 18 years for females; out of twelve firms reporting for males three give 15 years and four give 16 years; for females out of seven firms reporting three give 15 years and two give 17 years. The weekly wage paid such beginners ranges from $3.00 to $7.50 for males, and from $3.00 to $6.00 for females; for males seven firms out of twelve reporting give wages from $4.00 to $6.00; for females six out of nine firms reporting give wages from $3.50 to $4.50. The average time required for male beginners to gain full wages in low-grade work ranges from 9 months to 5 years, eight firms of the twelve reporting periods ranging from 9 months to 3 years; for females the range is from year to 5 years, four of the seven firms reporting periods ranging from 1 year to 2 years. All twelve firms report that employees of low-grade skill have opportunities to advance to the highest-grade work. Nine out of twelve firms report that systematic instruc tion is furnished beginners; three firms report the contrary.

Ten firms report that a majority of their skilled employees are trained in their own establishments; two firms report that a majority of such employees are obtained from other sources; these other sources are reported by eleven firms as application. Four firms report that they have difficulty either in obtaining or training skilled employees. Eight firms report no difficulty.

Six firms representing 696 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 462 employees answer this question in the negative. Three firms representing 379 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; seven firms representing 613 employees answer this question in the negative. Representatives of four 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 one firm 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 eight firms answer this question in the negative. Four 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; five firms answer this question in the negative.

FURNITURE.

In addition to cabinet makers this industry includes finishers (varnishers and polishers) and upholsterers. The apprenticeship

system that formerly prevailed throughout the furniture craft has now practically disappeared from large establishments. Machine production has almost completely supplanted hand work and the various branches of manufacture have become thoroughly specialized. Even those concerns reporting an apprenticeship system have been found on investigation to maintain little more than a system of starting beginners in different subdivisions of the industry.

In establishments producing the finer quality of furniture a certain amount of high-grade skill is represented, but for the most part and uniformly in the manufacture of cheaper furniture only medium or low-grade skill is employed..

In general the workers of highest skill have advanced from some branch of low-grade work and only in small establishments dealing largely with repair work are cases of real apprenticeship to be found.

Returns were obtained from twenty-seven establishments, three of which are in New York City and twenty-four in other parts of the State. The largest number of persons employed in the manufacturing departments of these establishments during 1907 was 5647 males and 82 females; the smallest, 3696 males and 41 females.

The length of the working day varies from 8 hours to 101⁄2 hours, twenty. two firms giving 10 hours.

The total number of adult employees of low-grade skill is given as 2880 males and 72 females. The nationality of the males is noted as 54 per cent foreign born and 46 per cent American born; of the females 19.4 per cent are noted as foreign born and 80.6 per cent as American born. The weekly wage of the greatest number of adult male employees in this low-grade class ranges from $7.50 to $13.50, twenty of the twenty-five firms reporting wages ranging from $9.00 to $11.00; for females the range is from $5.00 to $10.00, five cut of the nine firms reporting wages of $6.00.

The total number of adult employees of high-grade skill is given as 2447 males and 10 females. The nationality of the males is noted as 36.6 per cent foreign born and 63.4 per cent American born; of females, 100 per cent are noted as American born. The weekly wage of the greatest number of adult male employees in this high-grade class ranges from $10.50 to $24.00. eighteen firms out of twenty-six reporting wages ranging from $12.00 to $15.00. Fifteen firms report employees under 16 years of age with a total of 70 males.

A total of 228 males and 16 females employed under 18 years of age is reported in the low-grade class, of whom 173 males and 12 females are 16 or 17 years of age. The preferred age for beginners in this class ranges from 14 years to 35 years for males and from 16 years to 20 years for females; out of twenty-four firms reporting for males ten give 16 years and