five give 18 years; for females, out of five firms reporting three give 18 years. The weekly wage paid such beginners ranges from $3.50 to $9.00 for males, and from $3.00 to $5.00 for females; for males eighteen firms out of twentyfive reporting give wages from $4.50 to $6.00; for females three out of five 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 six months to five years, eight firms of the twenty-two reporting one year and six giving three years; for females the range is from three months to one year, three of the five firms reporting periods ranging from three to six months. Twenty-four firms report that employees of low-grade skill have opportunities to advance to high-grade work and two firms report the contrary. Eight firms report apprentices or beginners under 18 years of age that are being trained for work of high-grade skill, with a total of 94 males. The preferred age for such beginners varies from 16 years to 25 years; of the nineteen firms reporting ten give 18 years the preference. The weekly wage paid such beginners during the first year varies from $4.00 to $12.00; out of eighteen firms reporting twelve give wages ranging from $6.00 to $9.00. The time given for beginners to reach full wages in high-grade work is reported as from two years to ten years; out of sixteen firms reporting four give three years and six give four years.

Two firms report that all and fourteen that a majority of their skilled employees are trained in their own establishments; four firms report that all and seven that a majority of such employees are obtained from other sources; these other sources are reported by two firms as trade unions, by three firms as advertising and by twenty firms as application. Fifteen firms report that they have difficulty either in obtaining or training skilled employees; eleven firms report no difficulty.

Two report that the apprenticeship system meets the need for skilled employees in their business; eleven firms report the contrary; one firm reports that the reason the apprenticeship system does not meet the need is because of restrictions of the number of apprentices allowed by trade unions; seven firms report 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; fourteen firms report that they are not affected by such restrictions; three firms report that they are employing the full number of apprentices allowed by union rules; twelve firms report in the negative.

Twenty-six firms representing 5613 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 aid to give a knowledge of materials, shop mathematics and fundamental industrial methods, and some ideas of industrial organization, but not teach a special trade; no firms answer this question in the negative. Twenty-five firms representing 5413 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; one firm representing 200 employees answers this question in the negative. Representatives of nineteen 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 thirteen 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; two firms answer this question in the negative.

COOPERAGE.

Cooperage once a highly skilled hand trade has now through the introduction of machinery become a manufacturing business employing only low-grade labor. Practically one grade of skill is represented, but the piece work system in general use brings about considerable variation in wages, high wages meaning simply ability to turn out a greater amount of work.

There is at present practically no survival of the apprenticeship system, although many machine operators of the present time were trained as apprentices under the old conditions.

Returns were obtained from eleven establishments, of which four are in New York City and seven in other parts of the State. The largest number of persons employed in the manufacturing departments of these establishments during 1907 was 1326 males; the smallest, 1001 males and females. The length of the working day varies from 8 hours to 10 hours, eight firms giving 10 hours.

The total number of adult employees of low-grade skill is given as 1043 males. The nationality of the males is noted as 90.1 per cent foreign born and 9.9 per cent American born. The weekly wage of the greatest number of adult male employees in this low-grade class ranges from $9.50 to $16.50, eight of the ten firms reporting wages ranging from $10.00 to $12.00.

The total number of adult male employees of high-grade skill is given as 264 males. The nationality of the males is noted as 56.4 per cent foreign born and 43.6 per cent American born. The weekly wage of the greatest number of adult male employees in this high-grade class ranges from $12.00 to $22.00, four firms out of ten reporting wages of $15.00.

Two firms report employees under 16 years of age with a total of 5 males. A total of 200 males employed under 18 years of age are reported in the low-grade class of whom 195 are 16 or 17 years of age. The preferred age for beginners in this class ranges from 14 years to 21 years; out of nine firms reporting two give 16 years and three give 17 years. The weekly wage paid such beginners ranges from $3.00 to $9.00, five firms out of nine reporting wages from $5.00 to $7.00. The average time required for beginners to gain full wages in low-grade work ranges from 1 month to 3 years, three firms

of the nine reporting 1 year and two giving 2 years. Seven firms report that employees of low-grade skill have opportunities to advance to high-grade work and three firms report the contrary.

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 10 males. The preferred age for apprentice beginners varies from 14 years to 20 years; of the five firms reporting, two give eighteen years the preference. The weekly wage paid beginners during the first year varies from $4.00 to $10.50; out of five firms reporting, three give wages ranging from $6.00 to $8.00. The time given for apprentices to reach full wages in high-grade work is reported as from 2 years to 4 years; out of four firms reporting, two give 4 years.

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

One firm reports that the apprenticeship system meets the need for skilled employees in their business.

Seven firms representing 441 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; four firms representing 885 employees answer this question in the negative. Five firms representing 311 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; six firms representing 1015 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 one firm state that in their judgment such schools would be practical if conducted by industrial establishments a combination of such establishments and operated on a commercial product; representatives of seven firms answer this question in the negative. Six 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.

or

PIANOS.

The production of pianos represents a high-grade manufacturing business, although the industry is so extremely divided that the highest skilled workers are skilled only in one particular branch and oftentimes only for the work of one special factory.

A very large proportion of firms reporting state the existence

of some form of apprenticeship or training system, although it is clear from the returns that the extent of such training is commonly confined to a narrow division of the craft.

Returns were obtained from twenty-three establishments, twenty-one 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 4909 male and 51 females; the smallest, 3543 males and 35 females.

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

The total number of adult employees of low-grade skill is given as 1334 males and 29 females. The nationality of the males is noted as 58 per cent foreign born and 42 per cent American born; of the females 20.7 per cent are noted as foreign born and 79.3 per cent as American born. The weekly wage of the greatest number of adult male employees in this low-grade class ranges from $8.50 to $18.00, thirteen of the nineteen firms reporting wages ranging from $10.00 to $14.00.

The total number of adult male employees of high-grade skill is given as 3111 males and 12 females. The nationality of the males is noted as 50.3 per cent foreign born and 49.7 per cent American born; of the females 25 per cent are noted as foreign born and 75 per cent as American born. The weekly wage of the greatest number of adult male employees in this high-grade class ranges from $13.50 to $24.00, fifteen firms out of twenty-four reporting wages ranging from $18.00 to $20.00.

Twelve firms report employees under 16 years of age with a total of 131 males and 5 females.

Twenty firms report apprentices or beginners under 18 years of age that are being trained for work of high-grade skill with a total of 248 males and 10 females; of these 152 males and 7 females are 16 or 17 years of age. The preferred age for apprentice beginners varies from 15 to 18 years; of the twenty-one firms reporting thirteen give 16 years the preference. The weekly wage paid apprentices during the first year varies from $3.00 to $7.00; out of twenty-three firms reporting eight give $3.00, four give $3.50 and four give $4.00. Twenty out of twenty-one firms report that systematic instruction is furnished apprentices; one firm reports the contrary. The time given for apprentices to reach full wages in high-grade work is reported as from 1 year and 6 months to 7 years; out of twenty-one firms reporting eighteen give periods ranging from 3 to 5 years. Nine firms report that they experience difficulty in obtaining satisfactory material for apprentices and thirteen firms report in the negative.

Seven firms report that a majority of their skilled employees are trained in their own establishments; two firms report that all and fourteen that a majority of such employees are obtained from other sources; these other sources are reported by one firm as trade unions and by six firms as advertising. Eight firms report that they have difficulty either in obtaining or training skilled employees; fifteen firms report no difficulty.

Eight report that the apprenticeship system meets the need for skilled employees in their business; seven firms report the contrary; four firms

report that the reason the apprenticeship system does not meet the need is inability to secure good material as apprentices; four 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; ten firms report that they are not affected by such restrictions.

Fifteen firms representing 3214 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; seven firms representing 1524 employees answer this question in the negative. Twelve firms representing 2102 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; nine firms representing 2489 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 ten firms answer this question in the negative. Representatives of seven 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 eight firms answer this question in the negative. Twelve 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; nine firms answer this question in the negative.

4. LEATHER AND LEATHER GOODS.

BOOTS AND SHOES.

The manufacture of boots and shoes represents an extreme case of division of labor and use of specialized machinery. The departments generally represented, although these are sometimes subdivided, are: Cutting, fitting, shaping, finishing and treeing, dressing and packing departments.

A skilled worker runs a machine in one of these departments performing a single operation and is paid on a piece work basis. Beginners are usually taken into the departments where the operations are the simplest. Those showing ability and application are in time advanced to the charge of a machine. Limited opportunities are offered those showing the greatest capability to transfer to other departments where more com