The building code outlaws a windowless room, and provides that no room (except an alcove room) be built without access to the outside air. This provision applies only to buildings erected after December, 1901, although the code prescribes certain conditions for rooms constructed before that time.12 It also prescribes that the window areas shall be equal to one-tenth of the floor area.18 In all the rooms visited, which happened to be in houses erected prior to 1901, the measurements of the windows were taken. Five with no windows, nine with no windows opening on the outside air, were found, while in 34 the window space was below the legal requirement. In addition to the facts with reference to their housing, it was not difficult to secure information as to the age and marital status of these men whom our industrial organization induces to take up the unnatural mode of life which has been described. The first table shows that they are in the prime of early manhood, able to give of their greatest vigor to the unskilled toil by which they are initiated into American industrial life. As has been said, although they are living here in nonfamily groups, many of these men are married. There is said to be an interesting difference in the way in which marriage affects the conduct of men. The Croatian men are said to be more eager to seek their fortunes in America when they have assumed the responsibilities of marriage, while among the Servians it is the unmarried men mostly who take these chances in a new country. Among the Italians the men were looking forward with assurance to the time when their wives and families could join them here, and not infrequently a man when questioned was found expecting his family within a few days. Among the Greeks the immigrant is more often the young unmarried man who is hoping to make his fortune here and then return to Greece to enjoy it. The following table shows the proportion of married and single men in the groups: An interesting question was suggested as to the intention of newer immigrants with regard to bringing their families over, when as yet few of their fellow countrymen had been able to bring their families over. In the case of the Bulgarians, the members were therefore questioned regarding their expectations. Many of these men were distinctly discouraged and reported real difficulty in caring for themselves alone. But they reported that if conditions improved they hoped to be able to establish their families in America. The interesting questions with reference to employment are: first, the amount of unemployment due to the season or the nature of the work done; second, the number of hours worked a day and the arrangement for shifts; third, the rates of wages paid; fourth, the time and medium of payment. Upon these points a few data were obtained which are believed to be of interest and are given here. The proportion of men found idle in the different groups varied according to the season at which they were visited. Unfortunately it was not possible to visit all of the nationalities during the same period. The Bulgarian, Croatian, and Servian groups were visited during the winter months at a time when work was dull. On the other hand, the Italian and Greek groups were visited during the month of May after thousands of idle men had left the city for the camps and after much of the work which had been suspended during the winter had begun again. The numbers of men and the industries in which they were employed is shown in the table which follows: This includes work done by contractors at paving, concrete work, laying of gas pipes, work by the street railroad, or any work done upon the streets. The following tables show for each group the rates of wages. received and the number of hours which the men were working at the time the visits were made. It may be said by way of comment on these tables that the rates were not especially low and that the discouragement of the men referred to in an earlier portion of the paper was due to the irregularity of their employment rather than to an unduly low wage scale. Unfortunately no accurate data could be obtained as to the actual number of days worked during the year. |