IN RAILROAD AND OTHER CONSTRUCTION WORK.

CHAPTER I.

INTRODUCTION.

Explanation of study-Employees for whom information was secured-[Text Tables 3 and 4 and General Table 1].

EXPLANATION OF STUDY.

The statistical basis of Part II of the present report consists of the information secured from persons engaged in railroad and other construction work in different parts of the country. The descriptive matter relative to the same wage-earners has been incorporated in the study of conditions which prevail in the different sections of the country. These conditions are fully treated in Parts III-V, inclusive, dealing with the East, West, and South.

EMPLOYEES FOR WHOM INFORMATION WAS SECURED.

The extent of the information received for seasonal and temporary laborers is set forth in the following table, which shows the number and percentage of male employees of each race for whom information was secured:

TABLE 3.-Male employees for whom information was secured, by general nativity and

The table which follows shows, by locality, the race of male employees for whom information was secured:

TABLE 4.-Race of male employees for whom information was secured, by locality; per cent

distribution.

CHAPTER II.

RACIAL DISPLACEMENTS.

Period of residence in the United States of foreign-born employees-Racial classification of employees at the present time [Text Tables 5 to 8 and General Table 2].

PERIOD OF RESIDENCE IN THE UNITED STATES OF FOREIGN-BORN EMPLOYEES.

The character of recent and past labor employed in railroad and other temporary construction work is exhibited by the following table, which shows, by race, the percentage of foreign-born male employees studied who had been in the United States each specified number of years. Length of residence in this country and period of employment in this class of work are of course not the same. As a rule, the immigrants employed in the construction of railroads and other temporary work return to the large industrial centers during the winter months, or they may be originally employed in connection with some basic industry, such as iron and steel manufacturing, and temporarily engage in railroad construction and similar work.

The racial composition of the temporary labor supply is further exhibited by the table and accompanying charts next presented, which show the number and percentage of each race of employees on railroad and other construction work for whom detailed information was secured:

TABLE 5.-Per cent of foreign-born male employees in the United States each specified number of years, by race.

(STUDY OF EMPLOYEES.)

[By years in the United States is meant years since first arrival in the United States. No deduction is made for time spent abroad. This table includes only races with 40 or more males reporting. The total, however, is for all foreign-born.]