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The table next submitted also shows the ability to speak English based upon different periods of residence in this country. It embodies the results of a study of 33,876 individual mine workers of foreign birth.

TABLE 250.-Per cent of foreign-born male employees who speak English, by years in the United States and race.

(STUDY OF EMPLOYEES.)

[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 100 or more males reporting. The total, however, is for all non-English-speaking races.]

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It will be seen from the above table that of those races with a residence in the United States of less than five years, 37.1 per cent can speak English; of those who have been here between five and nine years, 65.4 per cent, and of those who have resided here ten years or over, 83.3 per cent, now speak English. Of those who have been here under five years, the Germans and Swedes, reporting 64.6 and 64.7 per cent, respectively, lead, and are the only races reporting over 50 per cent of their number able to speak English. Following these races are the Croatians and South Italians, in the order named, the Croatians reporting 44.8 per cent and the South Italians 42.5 per cent. Less than one-third, each, of the Ruthenians, Bohemians and Moravians, French, and Poles are able to speak English; the Bohemians and Moravians report 32.5 per cent, and the Ruthenians 20.3 per cent. The other races range from 42.4 per cent of the Roumanians to 34.1 per cent of the Magyars.

Of those who have resided in the United States between five and nine years, the Swedes, reporting their entire number as being able to speak English, lead, followed by the Lithuanians and Germans, each reporting 83.3 per cent. Less than two-thirds each of the Magyars, Croatians, Slovaks, Roumanians, Poles, and Ruthenians are able to speak English, the Magyars reporting 65 per cent and the Ruthenians 54.5 per cent. The other races not mentioned above range from 72.2 per cent of the Russians to 67.4 per cent of

the French. Of those with a residence of ten years or more, the Swedes make the best showing, 100 per cent of their number being able to speak English. The lowest percentage is shown by the Croatians, only 76.7 per cent of their number with a residence of ten years or over being able to speak English. The proportions of the other races with a residence of ten years or over, now able to speak English, range from 96.7 per cent of the Germans to 77.7 per cent of the Magyars. It is apparent from this table that, upon the whole, the largest percentage of gain is shown by those who have resided in the United States between five and nine years.

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REPRESENTATIVE COMMUNITY A.

CHAPTER XI.

INTRODUCTION.

Summary description of the community-Industrial history-Inducements and obstacles to immigration.

SUMMARY DESCRIPTION OF THE COMMUNITY.

Located in southwestern Pennsylvania and lying in a rough, isolated, mountainous region, Community A has an elevation above mean sea level of about 1,600 feet. Bituminous coal mining is the principal industry; union labor is not recognized; and out of an estimated population of 10,000, representing about 25 nationalities and races, nearly 75 per cent are foreigners and a large proportion are of recent immigration. One industrial concern, employing from 4,000 to 4,500 men, controls the mining interests and operates 12 mines, which, together with their locations and other subcommunities, are grouped around an urban center. From an industrial standpoint

Community A is about 12 years old.

The community is drained by an affluent from the Ohio River system, is very healthful, and has climatic conditions characteristic of the mountain regions of western Pennsylvania. The deposits of coal are of the bituminous class and found in large quantities, the profitable veins running from 4 to 6 feet in thickness and very near the surface. The mines are all underground workings and are drifted according to the course followed by the coal veins; they are free from gases, and no precautions are needed in the use of combustible materials. Explosions are not possible under the present system of ventilation. The main courses of the majority of the mines are lighted by electricity, and in the working rooms of the mines

NOTE.-In addition to the direct influence upon the mining industry of the employment of recent immigrants, the presence of a large body of immigrant employees in a mining district has a significant bearing in a more general way upon the character of the locality. In order to throw a more concentrated light upon certain economic aspects of immigration, as well as upon the effects of immigration upon American life and institutions, two representative communities, designated "Community A" and " Community B," have been selected for intensive study. The names of the towns or communities are withheld because their publication would be of no value for present purposes and would serve to identify the persons and establishments furnishing the information upon which the reports are based. These communities are typical of the average mining town in western Pennsylvania. Community A is representative of the class of towns which have come into existence during the past ten or fifteen years, as new mining territory was opened; there is no labor organization among the employees of the mines. Community B is typical of the older towns where mining has been in progress for a considerable number of years; all of the employees in the mines belong to labor organizations.

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