Of the 1,617 foreign-born male employees in this locality concerning whom information was obtained, only 10.8 per cent have made one or more visits abroad, the Slovaks with 18.6 per cent showing a slightly larger proportion than the Germans, and a much larger proportion than the Russians, South Italians, or Greeks, in the order named. As regards those who have been in the United States under five years, 4.2 per cent have made one or more visits abroad. This proportion is increased to 16.1 per cent of those with a residence of from five to nine years in the United States and to 23.2 per cent of those with a residence of ten years or over. As among the several races the representatives of which have been in the United States under five years, the Slovaks with 19.5 per cent show a considerably larger proportion having made one or more visits abroad, than do the Germans or Russians, and a much larger proportion than do the South Italians or Greeks. None of the Germans with a residence of from five to nine years in the United States, and a slightly smaller proportion of Slovaks in this than in the preceding period of residence, have made one or more visits abroad. On the other hand, the South Italians in this period of residence show a slightly larger proportion, and the Russians a very much larger proportion, having made one or more visits abroad, than is shown by those having a residence of less than five years in this country. Among those who have been in the United States ten years or over, the Slovaks, while showing a slightly larger proportion than the Germans or South Italians having made one or more visits abroad, again show a slightly smaller proportion than is shown by the Slovaks who have been in the United States from five to nine years. The South Italians and Germans, however, show considerable increase in this over the preceding period of residence.

AGE CLASSIFICATION OF EMPLOYEES.

The characteristics of the immigrant labor supply according to age is considered in the following table, which shows by general nativity and race the percentage of male employees studied in the South who were in each specified age group:

TABLE 649.—Per cent of male employees within each age group, by general nativity and

race.

(STUDY OF EMPLOYEES.)

[This table includes only races with 40 or more males reporting. The totals, however, are for all races.]

Of the 8,325 male employees in this locality, less than 10 per cent are under 19 years old, 43.5 per cent are from 20 to 29, 32.5 per cent are from 30 to 44, and 15.4 per cent are 45 or over. Only 4 per cent are above 55 years of age. The foreign-born show proportions in each age group that vary little from those shown for all employees. Among the foreign-born it will be noted that, with the exception of the Scotch and Swedes, a much larger proportion of each of the older immigrant races are 35 years of age or over than under 35, while the reverse is true of the more recent immigrant races. The proportions of Irish, English, Scotch, and Germans from 20 to 24 years of age, as contrasted with the proportions of the other races, are very low. This is true of the Irish, English, and Germans from 25 to 29 years age. The Lithuanians in these age groups report the largest proportions, or 37.5 and 29.2 per cent, respectively. As regards those

of

from 35 to 44 years of age, from 45 to 54, and 55 or over, the Irish, English, and Germans show larger proportions than are shown by any other race. The Lithuanians report the lowest proportion, or 8.3 per cent, from 35 to 44 years of age, the Russians the lowest, or 0.7 per cent, from 45 to 54 years of age, and the Slovaks the lowest, or 0.6 per cent, 55 years of age or over. No Greeks and Russians, and only very small proportions of the other races as compared with the proportions of Germans, English, and Scotch, are found in this last age group.

CHAPTER V.

GENERAL PROGRESS AND ASSIMILATION.

Citizenship-Ability to speak English-[Text Tables 650 to 653 and General Tables 372 to 374].

CITIZENSHIP.

The tendency on the part of the immigrant employees in the South to acquire citizenship is set forth in the following table, which shows, according to race of individual, the present political condition of foreign-born male employees who have been in the United States five years or over and who were 21 years of age or over at time of coming:

TABLE 650.-Present political condition of foreign-born male employees who have been in the United States 5 years or over and who were 21 years of age or over at time of coming, by race.

(STUDY OF EMPLOYEES.)

[By years in the United States is meant years since first arrival in the United States.]

Information was obtained in this locality for 344 foreign-born male employees, of which number 144, or 41.9 per cent, were fully naturalized, while an additional 36, or 10.5 per cent, have, by securing first papers, declared their intention of becoming American citizens. Because of the small numbers involved, percentages have not been computed. The number of the South Italians fully naturalized is in striking contrast with the figures shown for the Germans or English. This would indicate that both the Germans and English who have come to this country have, in a large measure, determined to make this their permanent home. This, however, does not appear to be the intention of the South Italians if the numbers fully naturalized and having first papers only are to be accepted as evidence of this fact.

ABILITY TO SPEAK ENGLISH.

The ability of foreign-born employees of non-English-speaking races to speak English is considered according to race of employee in the table next presented.

TABLE 651.-Per cent of foreign-born male employees who speak English, by race.

(STUDY OF EMPLOYEES.)

[This table includes only non-English-speaking races with 40 or more males reporting. The total, however, is for all non-English-speaking races.]

The above table shows that of 1,487 foreign-born male employees for whom information was obtained in this locality 38.5 per cent speak English. All of the Swedes and all but 4.5 per cent of the Germans for whom information was obtained in this locality speak English. These proportions, it will be noted, are in striking contrast to the proportions shown by the more recent races, of whom the Slovaks, with 42.5 per cent, show a slightly larger proportion with ability to speak English than do the Lithuanians or Poles, a considerably larger proportion than do the North Italians or South Italians. The Greeks, Bulgarians, and Russians show comparatively low proportions, the lowest being shown by the Russians, who report but 8.4 per cent.

The greater adaptability and capacity for advancement of the younger as compared with the older immigrants is set forth in the table next presented, which shows, by age at time of coming to the United States and race of individual, the percentage of foreign-born male employees who speak English.