CHAPTER XXIII.

INDUSTRIAL PROGRESS AND EFFICIENCY.

Relative efficiency of immigrants and natives-Industriousness and effectivenessAdaptability and supervision-Sobriety-Preferences of mining operators as regards immigrant labor-[Text Table 294].

RELATIVE EFFICIENCY OF IMMIGRANTS AND NATIVES.

In all particulars the Americans, English, Welsh, Scotch, Irish, and Germans are considered better miners and more efficient workmen than are recent immigrants. Of the races of southern and eastern Europe, the Slovak is generally considered the best miner and workman. The Lithuanian, who is more intelligent and progressive, would probably rank with the Slovak, or as a close second to the latter. The South Italian is placed in the lowest industrial rank.

INDUSTRIOUSNESS AND EFFECTIVENESS.

As to the relative industriousness of recent immigrants, there is a difference of opinion among employers, some holding that the Italian is more industrious than the Slavic races, although the consensus of opinion seems to be that the Slav is superior to the Italian in this respect. The difference of attitude is probably to be explained by the fact that the Italian tends to be more regular in his work than the Slav. It seems to be agreed among employers, however, that the Slovaks are among the best workers, although not so quick as the Lithuanians and Poles.

The effectiveness of all the Slavic races suffers somewhat in comparison with that of the Italians on account of the greater tendency of the Slavic races to drink excessively. Notwithstanding this fact, the Slavs are placed above the Italians, the different races ranking as follows: (1) French, (2) Slovak, (3) Lithuanian, (4) Polish, (5) Ruthenian, and (6) Italian, North and South.

ADAPTABILITY AND SUPERVISION.

The Slovaks are the most versatile of the races employed and do many more kinds of work about the mines than any other race of recent immigrants. This situation is probably due not entirely to the superior adaptability of the race, but in considerable measure to the longer period of their experience in the mining work of the community. One of the employers considers the Italian more adaptable than the Slav, but the general opinion would grade the races in the same order as that given in the comparison as to effectiveness, in the preceding paragraph.

The South Italian is said to require more constant supervision than the North Italian. The Slovak is docile and more easily managed than the French workman, but requires closer supervision.

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SOBRIETY.

The Italians are the most sober race. They drink less and save more than the other races employed in the mines. All the Slavic races are likely to drink to excess and this tendency is strongest in the Slovak. This characteristic of the Slav is deplored by the operators, as it causes loss of time and in the aggregate diminishes the output for the mines. The mining operators would grade the different races as follows with regard to sobriety: (1) Italian, North and South, (2) Belgian French, (3) Lithuanian, (4) Polish, (5) Ruthenian, and (6) Slovak.

PREFERENCES OF MINING OPERATORS AS REGARDS IMMIGRANT LABOR.

The coal-mining operators in the community prefer English-speaking workmen when obtainable. All the mining companies, except one, state that there is no discrimination in the matter of renting their houses. One company, which owns four double and two single houses near its mines, has followed the policy of renting only to English-speaking or German employees, but recently this policy has been abandoned and Italian tenants are admitted. The operators are a unit in asserting that they would employ for all kinds of work native Americans or the older class of immigrants who speak English (Irish, Welsh, Scotch, English, and Germans) rather than any races of recent immigration, but they say they are forced to employ the recent immigrant because no native or English-speaking labor in considerable quantity has been available during the past eight years. Because of this situation the foreign miner is universally recognized as having come to stay, and employers are not attempting to discriminate against him in employing labor. In securing labor from among recent immigrants, there is no strong aversion to the employment of any particular race. It is true, however, that the South Italian is considered less reliable, and for all occupations both North and South Italians are less desired than are the Slavic races. In all administrative and responsible positions, no races other than the American, English, Welsh, Scotch, Irish, or German are employed. For the outside work of the mines and for mining itself, the following summary statement represents roughly, on the basis of the existing labor supply, the preference of the employers as regards the various

races:

TABLE 294.-Races preferred by mining operators for specified occupations.

CHAPTER XXIV.

HOUSING CONDITIONS.

Tendency to congregate near mines-Housing of Americans compared with that of recent immigrants-Permanent homes.

TENDENCY TO CONGREGATE NEAR MINES.

The employees at the various mines, and especially those at the greatest distance from the town, tend to settle about the mines and form the semidetached communities already described. This is due, of course, to the greater convenience of dwelling near the mines and leads to a considerable mingling of the various races in the vicinity of the different mines. The units of settlement indicated on

the map a are industrial rather than racial. The Italian more than

any other race of recent arrival in the community seems to prefer the life of the town, and a larger proportion of this race lives within the borough limits.

HOUSING OF AMERICANS COMPARED WITH THAT OF RECENT IMMIGRANTS.

The American employees residing within the limits of the town have better houses than those living in the outlying districts. In the semidetached communities, the Americans and the recent immigrants seem to fare equally well or ill in the matter of dwellings. By way of illustration, in one community, where the houses are all owned by the mining company and are of the same general type, and where the native Americans and the naturalized Irish, English, Scotch, and Welsh have endeavored to hold themselves aloof from the recent immigrant, it is not evident that the American section is any better cared for or more habitable in general than that occupied by the foreigners. The recent immigrants live at the foot of the slope upon which the town is situated and along the railroad tracks near one of the small streams which pass through the town; the Americans, as well as the Irish, English, Scotch, and Welsh, live higher up the slope of the mountains in a better situation and are less crowded. The immigrants, largely because of ignorance, fail to obey the local ordinance relative to housing; and in matters of sanitation the lack of care of dry toilets and other insanitary conditions have frequently to be brought to their attention.

PERMANENT HOMES.

In most of the outlying districts it is impossible for the immigrant to acquire his own home, because the houses are built and owned by the mining companies, which will rent but not sell to their employees. Wherever it is possible, however, there is a weil-marked

a See map opposite p. 531.

tendency on the part of the Poles, Ruthenians, Slovaks, and Lithuanians to buy lots and build homes of their own. The Italians seldom acquire property. They anticipate returning to Italy, and they live very cheaply, drink comparatively little, and save and transmit abroad more money than do the other races of recent immigrants. The savings of the Slavic races are turned toward the purchase of homes. Most of the houses in the detached community, situated on the upper slope of the mountain opposite the town itself, have been acquired or built by Poles or other Slavic peoples,_who have petitioned for incorporation within the town limits. Their petition has not been granted, since it would increase the burden of school tax. Within the town proper there are 3 Italian, 3 Polish, and 5 other Slavic property holders.