OCCUPATIONS IN THE STEEL INDUSTRY ENTERED BY IMMIGRANTS.

As has already been pointed out, the recent immigrant in the steel works is employed at the unskilled, manual occupations where the work is arduous, and where physical strength and endurance are the requirements rather than mental ability or alertness. It is believed that with the acquisition of the English language and of the American capacity for handling machinery in the second generation a large number of persons of Austrian and Italian descent will be found in the skilled occupations. In several departments of the steel works members of immigrant races are found working as "helpers" in skilled or semi-skilled occupations. Thus at the blast furnace, where a large number of Croatians are employed, there are 3 Croatian machinists' helpers and 2 oilers. In the bridge and construction department there are 8 Magyar air reamers, 38 Magyar assemblers' helpers, 13 Croatian assemblers' helpers, and 2 Magyar and 2 Croatian blacksmiths' helpers. There are also 16 Magyar drillers, 6 Magyar painters, 14 Magyar, 10 Croatian, and 5 Italian riveters' helpers. These occupations pay, it is true, only from 1 to 3 cents an hour more than common labor, but they mark the first stage in the industrial advance of the recent immigrant.

In the frog and switch department there are 5 machine molders, 1 shearman and 1 foreman of the Italian race. In the machine shop there are 1 Italian machinist and 2 helpers and 3 Croatian pipe fitters' helpers. In the open-hearth department there are 2 Croatian and 2 Italian machinists' helpers. There are also in several departments instances of immigrants in the position of foremen.

HISTORY OF THE WAGE SCALE OF THE LOCAL STEEL ESTABLISHMENT

The present wage scale of the local steel establishment dates from June 1, 1901. No general alteration in the level of wages has occurred since that time. An examination of the records of the company shows that the wages paid at present are slightly higher than those paid at any time during the nineties. The changes which have occurred in the wages paid unskilled labor are indicative of the general trend of wages for all kinds of labor, for such changes have been the result of an increase or a cut all the way through the scale. Individual changes of rate have occurred here and there during the intervals between the general changes referred to, but these may be neglected as too few to particularly affect the situation.

The following shows the rates for unskilled labor from February 1, 1891, to June 1, 1901, the last-named rates continuing to the present time.

WAGE SCALE OF THE LOCAL STEEL ESTABLISHMENT AT THE PRESENT TIME.

The present wage scale, so far as it can be presented, is submitted below. It is only in part a scale; that is to say, the principle of individual ratings is carried to such an extent in several departments as to remove all semblance of a scale. In other departments, as for example, the blooming mills, few or no individual ratings are found. In still other departments where both tonnage and time rates prevail, both are given except where the tonnage rates are adjusted to a series of products described by letter or figure, and of which no intelligible description could be included within the limits of a wage scale. Guaranteed earnings in tonnage occupations are given, sometimes in terms of hour rates and at others of day rates. Piece rates are necessarily omitted.

The wage scale does not contain any statements regarding the complements in the various occupations, but a statement of the number of men in the various occupations will be found in another place." The showing there is for the particular day upon which the data were secured.

WAGE SCALE OF A STEEL ESTABLISHMENT.

Bridge and construction department shop rates.

[A system of premiums or bonuses prevails in the bridge and construction department, by which workmen are paid the time rates indicated herewith, increased by a certain sum when output exceeds the amount regarded as a day's work. Thus, taking the department as a whole the day rate earnings constitute 88 per cent of the total wages paid. The system involves also a deduction from the hour rate earnings when the output falls below 75 per cent of the amount set as a normal day's work.]

Blacksmith shop: This list contains 41 individual rates ranging from $0.11 to $0.33, the principal being $0.15. Boiler shop (outside): This list contains 56 individual rates ranging from $0.16 to $0.30, the principal being $0.175, $0.225, and $0.28.

@ Salary.

The highest rate paid to boys regardless of occupation is $0.11 per hour until "boy" has been removed from his name.

. In this department the greater part of the work is paid for on the piece-price plan. The scale of piece prices which obtains is a very long and complicated one, making a small volume in itself. The day rates which follow are for such occupations as are not entirely reduced to the piece system, and are compiled from the data given in Schedule "J." The rates in all other departments are from the wage scale directly.