The following table shows, by sex and by general nativity and race of individual, the percentage of persons 6 years of age or over, in the households studied, who are able to speak English: TABLE 630.-Per cent of persons 6 years of age or over who speak English, by sex and general nativity and race of individual. (STUDY OF HOUSEHOLDS.) [This table includes only non-English-speaking races with 40 or more persons reporting. The totals, however, are for all non-English-speaking races.] The preceding table shows the significant fact that only 6.8 per cent of the Bulgarians are able to speak English. A relatively more favorable showing is made by the Magyars, but even in the case of this race only 29.5 per cent of the males and 18.2 per cent of the females, or 26.9 per cent of the total, speak English. The greater aptitude and progress of the younger immigrants, as compared with the older, in acquiring the English language is exhibited in the following table, which shows, by age at time of coming to the United States and race of individual, the percentage of persons 6 years of age or over, in the households studied, who speak English: TABLE 631.-Per cent of foreign-born persons 6 years of age or over who speak English, by age at time of coming to the United States and race of individual. (STUDY OF HOUSEHOLDS.) [This table includes only non-English-speaking races with 40 or more persons reporting. The total, however, is for all non-English-speaking races.] As can be readily seen from the preceding table, the number of the Bulgarians who were under 14 years of age at the time of their arrival in the United States is too small for computation of percentage, and consequently no comparison can be made between those under 14 with those over 14 at the time of their immigration to this country. On the other hand, a much larger proportion of the Magyars who were less than 14 years old when they came to the United States are at present able to speak English, as compared with those who were 14 years old or over at the time of their arrival. The relation between period of residence and ability to speak English is set forth in the following table, which shows, according to years in the United States and race of individual, the per cent of foreign-born persons 6 years of age or over, in the households studied, who speak English. TABLE 632.—Per cent of foreign-born persons 6 years of age or over who speak English, by years in the United States and race of individual. (STUDY OF HOUSEHOLDS.) [By years in the United States is meant years since first arrival in the United States. This table includes only non-English-speaking races with 40 or more persons reporting. The total, however, is for all nonEnglish-speaking races.] The foregoing table shows in a pronounced way in the case of both the Bulgarians and Magyars an increase in ability to speak English corresponding to the period of residence in the United States. Only 5.4 per cent of the Bulgarians who have been in the United States less than 5 years are able to speak English, while 47.1 per cent of a residence between five and nine years have acquired the use of the language. Twenty and nine-tenths per cent of the Magyars who have been in the country under five years, 48.7 per cent of a residence between five and nine years, and 62.5 per cent of a residence ten years or over are able to speak English. PART IV.-IRON AND STEEL MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY IN THE SOUTH. GENERAL SURVEY. CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTION. Territory covered-Employees for whom information was secured-Preparation of data [Text Table 633 and General Table 362]. TERRITORY COVERED. In making a study of the iron and steel workers in the Southern States, the investigation was confined to furnaces and mills of Maryland and Alabama for two reasons: (1) The iron and steel industry is more important in these States than in any others of the South with the possible exception of Kentucky, and (2) Alabama and Maryland are the only two States in which persons of foreign birth are extensively employed. In the remaining iron and steel producing localities in the southern territory native white and negro labor is almost exclusively used. EMPLOYEES FOR WHOM INFORMATION WAS SECURED. The intensive investigation of households was limited to Alabama and the information secured is presented in connection with the study of the Birmingham district. Detailed information was obtained for 8,325 individual iron and steel workers in Maryland and Alabama. The number reporting, when compared with the total number employed, is considered sufficiently large to render the statistics presented representative. 48296°-VOL 9-11- -9 121 |