The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1874-04-07


Until 1920 no official records were
kept of the influx of foreign population
in this country. 1t early became the
policy Of our government to encourage
immigration, but it did not occur to
those who administered the government
tai affairs, that the statistics of their ar
rival and incorporation among the PEG
pie of the states, would compensate for
the cost and trouble of collecting them.
ton, the population of the colonies has
generally been estimated at three mill
lions, large portion of whom were
foreign born. During the war the in
lux was nearly suspended. but at its
close the tide Of immigration resumed
its flow with Increased activity. Mr..
Edward Young estimates the number
Of alien passengers who arrived upon
our shores between the years 1775 and
1920 to have been about $50, 900. In
1919 Congress enacted the law known
AZ the passenger act, which provided
for the registration and report of all
immigrants, and which was also de.
signed to protect and offer facilities to
such passengers rs were contemplating
permanent settlement in this country.
This action gave the stream of immi-
grafton renewed impetus, and from
that time the number of arrivals has
constantly increased. In 1920 about
$685. alien passengers arrived. and in
1854 the number was 427 1888. Since
then the number has been somewhat
less. These figures do not include i'm
migrants who came from or through
The British Provinces. OF the immi-
grants about one-half were of English
speaking nationalities, and about two
thirds of the remainder were Germans
both most excellent material for citi-
2ens, on account Of their intelligence,
and industrious habits, and general
thrift. The Scandnavians are equally
valuable rs producers OF national
wealth, though their numb,.s have
heretofore been comparatively small.
The French element, including the
Franco-Americans of Canada, form O
Large constituent part of our basis Of
population. These people bring with
them their characteristic suavity, and
they have their influence upon the ma.
tional manners.
We should not estimate the value Of
immigration wholly by the dollars and
cents which are added 10 our national
wealth. We may, perhaps, measure
The muscular power and the addition
70 the material wealth of the country
and can do so properly but there are
other considerations even more impor.
tant. The brain power which was
*rampeARnd crippled, If not crushed
by the crystallzed institutions ofthe old
world, the moral forces whose active
play was prevented by the circumstan.
"es ola class civilization, will, under
The energizing Influences of freedom
from the restraints of their former life
become important elements in the de.
termination of their value.
But their money value, that is the
addition to The material wealth of the
nation by every immigrant. has been
estimated by different statlsticians al
from $500 TO Sll25 uIon the average
besides what capital is brought with
them, which is perhaps quite inconsid.
cradle. Whether this estimate Is 9
correct one or not 1T Is evident that the
skillful laborers of tho old world are
found to be almost necessity in oul
shops, In our factories and In our mines
while the unskilled laborers that ar,
year by year brought in from abroad
are still more necessary for the subdu
Ing OF the forests, cultivating the prai
riss, and performing the drudgery O
the American people whom prospect
~ and independence has led to fee
nh tl,t ala