Wisconsin. Employment forbidden under 14 years in mines, factories, or workshops, bowling alleys, or bar rooms; under 14 years in mercantile establishments, laundries, or in telegraph, telephone, or public messenger service, except in vacation of public schools. Certificate of age required when under 16 years (but county judge, commissioner of labor, factory or assistant factory inspector, may exempt any child over 12 from this act where labor is necessary to support).

Wyoming. Employment forbidden, by constitution of State, under 14 years; girls may not work in mines.

United States (laws for territories). Employment forbidden under 12 years in the underground workings of any mine.

REVIEW OF EMPLOYMENT AND EARNINGS.

SIX MONTHS ENDING APRIL 30, 1903.

The following review presents, by industries, a summary of the conditions affecting employment and earnings for the six months ending April 30, based upon special reports and comparisons made by agents of the Bureau relating to the principal industrial centres of the Commonwealth. As an indication of the general employment of labor, it has been reported that there is absolutely no farm labor to be had at the intelligence offices which are the resort of large numbers of all classes of workmen in dull times.

Boots and Shoes. Fall demand in the boot and shoe industry kept up late. Present situation better than for previous six months and better than corresponding period in 1902. Greater demand for better grade of shoes. Foreign market no better. Difficulty in obtaining help. Unsettled labor conditions in Lynn and Haverhill due to prevailing strike. Factories are being run on full time and to about 75 per cent of full capacity; rate of wages remains the same, although individual concessions are noted; cost of stock generally is higher; selling prices are about the same as at the time of our last review, but increases are reported on some grades; collections, on the whole, fair. Favorable outlook.

The shipment of shoes from Brockton for the six months ending April 11, 1903, aggregates 300,079 cases, as compared with 292,026 cases for the previous six months, and 330,774 cases for the six months. ending April 12, 1902. The number of cases shipped from Haverhill for the six months ending April 10, 1903, was 251,192 as against 226,847 cases for the previous six months, and 235,983 for the six months ending April 11, 1902.

Connected with the boot and shoe industry, we review Soles, Heels, and Cut Stock. Conditions in shoe findings remain about the same. Establishments running on full time to about 50 per cent of full capacity; rate of wage and selling prices remain the same; cost of stock has increased, while collections are good.

Building. Spring activity started in as early as usual but not as great as in corresponding season in 1902. Operations seem confined mostly to mercantile buildings,, there being little residential work, but much repair and alteration work. Very little speculative building. Tendency to withhold contracts on account of the unsettled labor conditions and cost of material; also pending outcome of demand of carpenters for $3 per day May 1. Rate of wages remains practically the same; granite cutters received increase from 35 to 371⁄2 cents per hour; some other branches of the building trades expect increases to become operative May 1. Cost of stock generally is higher. Competition keen. look good.

Out

Clothing. Spring trade opened with increased activity as compared with previous six months and with corresponding six months in 1902. Establishments running on full time, being worked from 50 per cent to full capacity. Rate of wages the same; cost of stock increased, especially woollen cloth; selling prices practically the same; collections fair. Prospects favorable for good summer trade.

cases.

Cotton Goods. In general, demand in the cotton goods industry fully as good as a year ago with increased volume of business in some Most plants ran to full capacity throughout the winter months and outlook good. Fine grades of cloth active, but selling prices low; increased cost of raw materials has depressed the market. No labor troubles reported except in Lowell where six of the corporations have shut down on account of strike. Establishments running up to full capacity with rates of wages the same except in individual cases. Cost of stock has increased, raw cotton is 1% cents per pound higher than at same time in 1902. Print cloths are about 1% cents under last year's market. Selling prices about the same, cotton yarns are selling about one cent higher than at corresponding date in 1902; collections fair.

Leather. Spring demand in sheep and calf leather better than corresponding season in 1902. Foreign market active. Demand for patent and enamelled leather constantly increasing. Rainy weather has had bad effect upon the leather industry. Indications of labor troubles. Good help scarce. Establishments are running on full time and to about 85 per cent of full capacity; rate of wages about the same; cost of stock slightly higher; selling prices practically the same; collections good. Outlook favorable.

Liquors (Bottled) and Carbonated Beverages. In temperance drinks, normal fall and winter business reported, but demand for the spring trade slow, due to unfavorable weather. Conditions practically

the same as a year ago; establishments are running to about one-half full capacity.

Liquors: Malt. In the brewing industry, indications point to a very good season. Wage conditions same as in fall, with breweries running on full time. The general strike in this industry in the spring of 1902 renders that season useless for comparison with the corresponding season in 1903. Breweries are being run to about 55 per cent of full capacity; rate of wages the same; in cost of stock, hops range from 50 to 60 per cent higher, malt three cents per bushel less, and cerealin lower; selling prices remain about the same; collections fair, The following statement shows the comparative production of malt liquors in Massachusetts, by months, for the period under consideration: October, 1902, 149,539 barrels; November, 132,074 barrels; December, 131,852 barrels; January, 1903, 114,407 barrels; February, 111,280 barrels ; March, 142,448 barrels ; aggregate number of barrels brewed for the six months specified was 781,600 as against 835,038 barrels brewed during the corresponding period in 1901 and 1902.

Machines and Machinery. Business situation better than a year ago and fully as good as for the previous six months. Temporary dullness in some quarters, but generally plenty of orders on hand. Machine shops running full time and up to about 80 per cent of full capacity ; rates of wages are the same; cost of stock and selling prices have increased; collections good.

Metals and Metallic Goods. In metals and metallic goods, prospects are promising for a good spring and summer business. The situation is fully up to the level of a year ago and compares favorably with the previous six months. Unsettled labor conditions have somewhat affected the demand. Establishments are running on full time and up to about 80 per cent of full capacity; rate of wages the same as at last report; cost of stock generally increased; selling prices slightly increased; collections fair.

Musical Instruments and Materials. In this industry, business remains about the same as at our last report. Establishments running full time and from 75 per cent to full capacity; rate of wages the same, but the nine-hour day became operative in one establishment Jan. 1; cost of stock and selling prices have increased; collections fair.

Paper. In the paper industry, demand is reported excellent at present; business kept up well through the winter and spring. Establishments running on full time and up to full capacity; rate of wages the same, demand has been made for an increase varying from 20 to 30 per cent, to go into operation May 1; cost of stock remains about the same, although slightly higher on some grades; selling prices firm; collections good. Outlook good.

Printing, Publishing, and Bookbinding. In this industry, demand was good throughout the winter and at present is considered

extremely satisfactory, and, on the whole, fully as good as the corresponding season in 1902. Overtime work being done in some departments. Competition close. Establishments running on full time and up to about 85 per cent of full capacity; rate of wages the same, except that night operators received an increase of three cents per hour April 17; cost of stock has increased slightly ledger by five per cent and book stock by 1/8 to 1/4 of a cent per pound; selling prices practically the same; collections good.

Print Works, Dye Works, and Bleacheries. Business is reported good. Establishments are running on full time and up to full capacity; rate of wages remains the same; cost of stock higher.

Woollen Goods. Activity in the woollen goods industry compares favorably with the situation at the corresponding period in 1902. Demand is especially brisk for satinets. Establishments are running on full time and nearly up to full capacity; rate of wages the same; cost of stock has increased; selling prices slightly higher; woollen yarns average nine cents per pound higher for domestics than a year ago; collections fair.

Worsted Goods. Conditions in the worsted goods industry are fully as favorable as a year ago, with gradual increase in business reported since October. One establishment reports larger number employed than ever before. Establishments are running on full time and from 80 per cent to full capacity; rate of wages and cost of stock the same as at our last report; selling prices slightly higher; collections fair. A summary of employment and earnings, by industries, follows:

The foregoing table shows, for industries considered, employment and earnings for the two weeks under consideration (those ending Oct. 11, 1902, and April 11, 1903) as well as the percentages of increase or decrease in the total number of persons employed, total weekly earnings, and the weekly earnings per individual. The statistics of persons employed and earnings are based upon comparisons of identical establish

ments.

The following industries show increases in the number of persons employed for the week ending April 11, 1903, as compared with that ending Oct. 11, 1902: Boots and Shoes; Clothing; Cotton Goods; Leather; Liquors (Bottled) and Carbonated Beverages; Metals and Metallic Goods; Paper; Printing, Publishing, and Bookbinding; and Worsted Goods. The following industries show a decrease: Soles, Heels, and Cut Stock; Building; Liquors: Malt; Machines and Machinery; Musical Instruments and Materials, and Woollen Goods. Increases are reported in the weekly payroll for the following industries: Boots and Shoes; Clothing; Cotton Goods; Leather; Liquors (Bottled) and Carbonated Beverages; Machines and Machinery; Metals and Metallic Goods; Printing, Publishing, and Bookbinding; and Worsted Goods. Decreases are shown in the following: Soles, Heels, and Cut Stock; Building; Liquors: Malt; Musical Instruments and Materials; Paper; Print Works, Dye Works, and Bleacheries; and Woollen Goods. The greatest change in weekly earnings per individual is seen in Soles, Heels, and Cut Stock. The next greatest in Musical Instruments and Materials, which shows a decline of 9.13 per cent. Increases in the individual weekly earnings were reported in the following industries: Boots and Shoes; Building; Leather; Liquors: Malt; Machines and Machinery; Metals and Metallic Goods; and Printing, Publishing, and Bookbinding. Decreases in individual weekly earnings are shown in the following: Soles, Heels, and Cut Stock; Clothing; Cotton Goods; Liquors (Bottled) and Carbonated Beverages; Musical Instruments and Materials; Paper; Print Works, Dye Works, and Bleacheries; Woollen Goods; and Worsted Goods.

The aggregate number of persons employed in the establishments under consideration for the week ending April 11, 1903, was 65,282 as against 64,357 for the week ending Oct. 11, 1902, an increase of 925, or 1.44 per cent. The aggregate weekly payroll was $610,122 as against $602,589, an increase of $7,533, or 1.25 per cent. In the aggregate, the individual weekly earnings for the week ending April 11, 1903, show a loss of one cent, or 0.11 per cent, as compared with the individual weekly earnings reported for the week ending Oct. 11, 1902.

The next table shows the same facts regarding employment and earnings, by cities.