TABLE 74.-Per cent of employees within each age group, by sex and general nativity and race-Continued.

Of the 11,916 male employees reported in the foregoing table, 49.6 per cent are under 30 years of age, 10.6 per cent being from 14 to 19, 20.5 per cent from 20 to 24, and 18.5 per cent from 25 to 29. Fourteen per cent are from 30 to 34, 19.9 per cent from 35 to 44, 11.4 per cent from 45 to 54, and 5.2 per cent 55 years of age or over. Among the foreign-born between 14 and 19 the Croatians, Greeks, and Slovaks each show a proportion slightly in excess of the total for all employees, while the other races show proportions ranging from 9.2 per cent of the Russians to 0.6 per cent of the Swedes. The proportions of Irish, Germans, and Swedes from 20 to 24 and 25 to 29 years of age are considerably lower than those shown by any other race. The Greeks with 40.4 per cent from 20 to 24 years of age report a slightly larger proportion than the Russians, a much larger proportion than the Slovaks or Magyars, and a considerably larger proportion than any other recent immigrant races. The largest proportion from 25 to 29 years of age, 32.7 per cent, is shown by the Lithuanians. With the exception of the Russian Hebrews and Magyars from 35 to 44 years of age the older immigrant races show larger proportions from 35 to 44, 45 to 54, and 55 or over than are shown by the more recent immigrant races, the differences in proportions being less marked among those from 35 to 44 than in the older age groups.

Considering the native-born of foreign father it will be noted that of those whose fathers were born in Russia 23.4 per cent are from 20 to 24 years of age and 57.1 per cent from 14 to 19, making a total

of 80.5 per cent between 14 and 24 years of age. This proportion, it will be noted, is very largely in excess of the proportion shown by those whose fathers were born in Germany or Ireland. Little difference exists in the proportions from 25 to 29 years of age. Those whose fathers were born in Russia report no proportions over 44 years of age.

Among the 923 female employees in this industry 45.9 per cent are from 14 to 19 and 33.3 per cent from 20 to 24, making 79.2 per cent who are under 25 years of age. Eleven and four-tenths per cent are from 25 to 29, 8.2 per cent from 30 to 44, and 1.2 per cent 45 years of age or over. As in the case of the males the proportions of the foreign-born, native-born of foreign father, and native-born of native father, white, in each age group, vary little from the proportions shown in the total for all employees. Among the foreign-born each race, with the exception of the German, shows a much larger proportion of females under 25 than 25 years of age or over. The Germans, with 21.7 per cent, show the largest proportion from 25 to 29 years of age. As contrasted with the proportion of Germans, Irish, and Slovenians from 35 to 44 years of age the proportions of Poles and Russians are very low. Only 1 per cent of the Poles, as compared with 4.3 per cent of the Germans, are from 45 to 54 years of age, while the Germans alone show any who are 55 years of age or over. Considering the native-born of foreign father it will be noted that all females whose fathers were born in Russia are from 14 to 24 years of age, by far the largest proportion, 89.7 per cent, being from 14 to 19 years old. The totals shown in the preceding table are a combination of the proportions of both males and females in each specified age group, and while the proportions of each race vary slightly from the proportions shown for the males the relative position of the various races shown in the totals remain practically the same as if the males alone were considered.

CHAPTER VII.

GENERAL PROGRESS AND ASSIMILATION.

nship

Ownership of homes-Status of children in the households studied-CitizenshipAbility to speak English-[Text Tables 75 to 85 and General Tables 49 to 57].

OWNERSHIP OF HOMES.

Home ownership by families the heads of which were of foreign birth may be considered as a strong indication of permanent settlement, and the facts in this connection relative to the families, the heads of which were employed in the leather industry, are set forth in the following table according to general nativity and race of head of family:

TABLE 75.-Number and per cent of families owning home, by general nativity and race of head of family.

The foregoing table shows that 17.8 per cent of the total number of families for whom information was secured own homes. Foreignborn show 20.9 per cent of families owning homes as contrasted with only 10.5 per cent of families of native-born of foreign father and 8.1 per cent of families of native-born of native father so reported. Among native-born of foreign father, Germans show a much higher percentage of families owning homes than do Irish. Of the foreignborn races, German families show the highest percentage owning homes, followed by Irish families in somewhat smaller proportion. South Italian and Polish families have a considerably lower per cent owning homes than German or Irish families, while no Slovak families own homes.

STATUS OF CHILDREN IN THE HOUSEHOLDS STUDIED.

The status of children in the households studied may be seen in the following table, which shows, by general nativity and race of individual, the percentage of children 6 and under 16 years of age who were at home, at school, and at work:

TABLE 76.-Per cent of children 6 and under 16 years of age, at home, at school, and at work, by sex and general nativity and race of individual.

The above table shows that of 294 children from 6 to 16 years of age concerning whom information was secured, 13.3 per cent are at home, 81.3 per cent are at school, and 5.4 per cent are at work. The children of foreign birth show a considerably higher percentage who are at home than either those of native birth of foreign father or those who are native whites born of native father, who follow in the order named. The children who are native whites born of native father exhibit the highest percentage at school, followed by those who are native-born of foreign father and those of foreign birth in con

siderably smaller proportions. The children who are foreign-born show the highest percentage at work, followed by the native-born children of foreign father and native white children born of native father. Among the children who are native-born of foreign father, the Polish children show the highest per cent at home and at work, while the Irish children show a higher percentage than the Polish children who are at school. A higher percentage of female children are at home and at work than of male children, while the percentage of male children at school is higher than that of female children.

CITIZENSHIP.

The following table shows, by race, the present political condition of foreign-born male employees in the leather industry who had been in the United States five years or over, and who were 21 years of age or over at time of coming to this country:

TABLE 77.-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.]