government work. Two builders report so little being done that they have temporarily given up the business. Advances in rates of wages are noted Carpenters from 35 to 372 cents per hour; soft-stone cutters from 44 to 50 cents per hour; masons from 50 to 55 cents per hour; laborers from 28 to 30 cents per hour. Cost of stock is lower, especially iron; bricks and cement lower; hard pine easier. Collections fair.

Clothing. Trade about the same as for previous six months but better than a year ago. One firm reported scarcity of help. Establish

ments running on full time and from 50 per cent to full capacity; no change in rate of wages; cost of stock has slightly increased; selling prices practically the same; collections good. Outlook favorable.

Confectionery. Business situation excellent; better than for previous six months and demand largely increased over corresponding period last year. This summer showed big volume of business; more candy being consumed each year. Good help scarce; one manufacturer reports inability to fill orders owing to scarcity of chocolate dippers. Factories running full time and nearly to full capacity; rates of wages unchanged but individual increases have been granted; cost of stock and selling prices remain practically unchanged; collections good.

Cotton Goods. The business situation in the cotton industry not as prosperous as a year ago with very poor Summer and Fall demand; practically nothing being done at the present time. Independent spinning mills quite active; cloth mills affected adversely. Most of the large mills in Lawrence and Fall River shut down in August or September from two to five weeks; in most cases this was done for purpose of curtailment, while in some mills extensive repairs were made and large additions built. One large factory had spinning room shut down one and one-half days a week during August, September, and October. Generally conceded that curtailment of production did not relieve the situation as was expected. High cotton, high wages, high money, and Southern competition have been attributed for poor condition of the cotton trade. Cotton mills running on full time and from 80 per cent to full capacity ; raw cotton advanced; selling prices slightly higher but do not parallel cost of production. Collections good. On Nov. 11, announcement was made of a 10 per cent reduction in wages of operatives of the Fall River cotton mills (except the Fall River Iron Works *), to go into effect Nov. 23; reduction equal to advance granted on March 17, 1902; about 25,000 workers affected. New Bedford cotton manufacturers ordered 10 per cent reduction in wages-return to wage schedule in force prior to April, 1902 to go into effect Dec. 7; about 10,000 affected.

Leather. Fall activity not as great as a year ago, about the same as at the close of our last review, and good summer trade. Foreign market good, foreign demand being better than domestic. Production has fallen off somewhat, not from the fact that goods could not be sold, but

Announcement made on Nov. 21 of 10 per cent reduction in wages to go into effect Nov. 30.

that raw stock is so high that manufacturing cannot be done at a profit. Activity shown in split cow hides, trade in enamelled leather increasing. Wool skins for pulling rather scarce during summer. India-tanned skins are very slow; prices of raw India skins have been prohibitive. Establishments running on full time and nearly to full capacity; individual concessions made in wages; cost of stock a little easier with selling prices about the same as in the Spring; collections fair. Brisk outlook.

Liquors (Bottled) and Carbonated Beverages. In temperance drinks, very poor business reported, worst summer trade ever experienced, due to unfavorable weather. Fall trade not up to that of last year. Establishments running full time, capacity worked being from 15 to 25 per cent; wages the same; cost of stock slightly advanced; selling prices the same; collections good.

Liquors: Malt. Volume of business in the brewing industry not as active as in 1901, which is the year comparable, as the brewers' strike last summer prevented us from making comparisons. Unseasonable weather is the reason assigned for poor summer trade. Breweries running on full time and from 50 per cent to nearly full capacity; wages of engineers increased $3 per week, carpenters also advanced; malt a trifle. higher, and hops much higher due to failure of European crop; selling prices the same; collections good.

The following statement gives the number of barrels of malt liquors brewed in the District of Massachusetts for the months of April, May, June, July, August, and September, for the years 1901, 1902, and 1903.

The foregoing comparison indicates an increase in the number of barrels brewed during the specified six months in 1903 as compared with corresponding period of 1902 of 198,081. As compared with 1901, a decrease is shown in 1903 of 18,575 barrels.

Machines and Machinery, On the whole, business not as good as for previous six months and not up to the level of corresponding six months in 1902, with not very favorable prospects. Individual manufacturers report good season and business steadily increasing with fine outlook in general repairing and improvements, but little new work on market. One firm has had erected a large plant for manufacture of leather machinery. Establishments running full time with the exception of one which has reduced working hours from 58 to 521⁄2 a week; about 75 per cent of full capacity being worked; rates of wages about

the same, except that boiler makers received an increase of five per cent May 1. One firm employing over 200 men paid nearly $2,000 extra in dividends for the week ending Oct. 10, the amount being 28 per cent of the month's wages. The profit-sharing principle allows each employé two per cent on all machines over a specified number turned out each month. A downward tendency is shown in cost of stock with selling prices about the same, a slight decrease noted in some instances; collections good.

Metals and Metallic Goods. Activity in the industry about the same as for previous six months and corresponding season for 1902. Prospects not favorable. Establishments running on full time and to about 75 per cent of full capacity; rates of wages unchanged; cost of stock slightly decreased; some concessions in selling prices but practically the same; collections good.

Musical Instruments and Materials. Business situation about the same as for corresponding period in 1902. Factories running on full time and from 65 per cent nearly to full capacity; no change in rates of wages; cost of stock and selling prices the same; collections good.

Paper. No actual comparison can be made in this industry with the previous six months, as the plants in Holyoke were shut down for about 11 weeks in the summer on account of the strike of operatives. There is very little change in the business situation from a year ago. Mills are running on full time and to full capacity; in certain mills, the rag cutters, engineers, helpers, and calender men received about eight per cent increase in wages; cost of stock and selling prices remain the same; collections good.

Printing, Publishing, and Bookbinding. Fall activity started in as well as usual after a normal summer with about the same volume of

business as last year, and competition fully as great. Customers reported to be conservative in placing orders. Establishments running on full time and from 75 per cent to full capacity; no change in wages; demand for fewer hours is expected in February; no material difference in cost of stock and selling prices; collections poor.

Print Works, Dye Works, and Bleacheries. Business very active since the first week in September. Good demand all summer. No shutdowns except for the regular summer vacation of two weeks. Running full time and to full capacity; no change in rates of wages but a few individual concessions.

Tobacco, Snuff, and Cigars. Great activity reported in this industry, there being a decided increase in volume of business over corresponding period last year. Good help scarce. Indications point to a good winter trade. Factories running on full time and from 75 per cent nearly to full capacity. No change in rates of wages; no noticeable change in cost of stock, selling prices the same; collections very good.

Woollen Goods. Business situation about the same as for previous six months, but not quite as good as a year ago. Some manu

facturers report prospects not very favorable. The increased cost of cotton yarn prevents profits. Factories running on full time and night. work being done; mills being run to full capacity; slight increase in cost of stock; selling prices the same; collections good.

Worsted Goods. Demand for worsted quite active; business not as brisk as last Fall, but favorable outlook. One new worsted mill built in Lawrence and additions and improvements made. Mills running on full time and to full capacity; no material change in wages; cost of stock about the same, wool having increased slightly; selling prices the same; collections good.

The following table shows, for industries considered in the review, employment and earnings for the two weeks under consideration, i.e., April 11 and Oct. 10, 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. As was stated in the first of the article, the statistics are based upon comparisons of identical establishments.

As will be seen from the table, the following industries show increases in both number of persons employed and weekly earnings for the week ending Oct. 10 as compared with that ending April 11, 1903: Building, Clothing, Liquors (Bottled) and Carbonated Beverages, Musical Instruments and Materials, Print Works, Dye Works, and Bleacheries.

The industries showing decrease in both persons employed and weekly earnings are Boots and Shoes, Soles, Heels, and Cut Stock, Cotton Goods, Machines and Machinery, Metals and Metallic Goods, Printing, Publishing, and Bookbinding, Woollen Goods, and Worsted Goods.

Leather shows an increase of 3.66 per cent in persons employed while the weekly earnings show no change. Liquors (Malt) shows slight decrease in persons employed and an increase of 4.57 per cent in weekly

earnings. In the paper industry an increase of 6.18 per cent is shown in weekly earnings, while the number of persons employed has fallen off about one per cent.

As to weekly earnings per individual increases were shown in all industries except Cotton Goods, Leather, Liquors (Bottled) and Carbonated Beverages, and Metals and Metallic Goods. The greatest increase in weekly earnings per individual is shown in Musical Instruments and Materials, the individual weekly earnings increasing 9.55 per cent. The next largest was in the paper industry, the increase being 7.17 per cent. The next table shows the same line of facts regarding employment and earnings by cities and towns.

With the exception of Boston, Brockton, and Peabody, all the cities considered in the review show a decrease in both persons employed and weekly earnings. In Holyoke, the total weekly earnings had increased 2.04 per cent, while the number of persons employed had decreased less than one per cent. Considering weekly earnings per individual, we find an increase shown in Boston, Brockton, Chicopee, Holyoke, Lawrence, Lynn (slight), and Woburn (slight). A decrease is shown in Cambridge (slight), Fall River, Haverhill, Lowell, New Bedford, Peabody, and Worcester (slight).

The greatest increase in both total weekly earnings and weekly earnings per individual is shown in Brockton, the increase in total weekly earnings being 13.71 per cent, and individual weekly earnings increasing 11.67 per cent.

To summarize, the aggregate number of persons employed in the establishments under consideration for the week ending Oct. 10 was 63,210, as compared with 65,162 for the week of April 11, a decrease of three per cent. The total weekly earnings for the week ending Oct. 10, 1903, amounted to $595,044, against $608,930, for the week ending April 11, the decrease being 2.28 per cent. The weekly earnings per individual for all establishments in the cities and towns covered increased seventy-five one-hundredths of one per cent.