The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1880-03-03

had reached its minimum of 54,5S6.
Here the tide again turned, and in the
following year somewhere near $4,000 ar
rived in the country.
In 1878 a still more marked advance
was made, the figures being for that year
1924. For 1879, however, we have
179,S55 arrivals, showing the steady rise
of the tide that bids fair the current
year to swell once more into flood
under the combined influence of the dis
tress prevailing abroad, and the prosperi'
ty that is dawning here to all classes
alike. In this connection it is curious
to consider some of the phases OF oul
foreign immigration. This generally is
heaviest in the spring. Two years ago
for instance, it reached in January and
February about $500 each month, but
touched near 5000 in March, and ovel
$4,000 in April. The year past the arri.
walls for January were few under 5000
being quite twice and half those of the
preceding year. Should the ratio be
maintained throughout the year the In
lux of foreign immigrants for 1880 is
likely to reach the enormous and unpre
cedented number of almost 100000 per
sons.
In former years Ireland afforded Ut
the greatest number Of emigrants OF any
Nation, and we would naturally look tc
see this state of things continue now, in
view of the social and political distress
that afflicts her citizens. The facts
however, show that during the past yeal
Germany stood first, Ireland second and
England third. For the month of Jan
uary of this year England walks up tc
the front with l, AS, Germany 1,409 and
Ireland only $50. We can scarcely be
lieve this ratio will be preserved through.
out the year, since the grinding military
system of Germany, and the terrible dis
tress in Ireland can not fail to induce
wholesale and widespread emigration
from both countries.
At the same time the condition of the
English farmer is scarcely less unsatis-
factory, and, Notwithstanding the persist
ent efforts made by both press and Gov
ernment to turn the emigration from
England to Australia and other English
colonies, the glamour of American cheap
lands and free institutions has fallen
upon the English middle classes and is
slowly stirring up movement here that
is likely to go on in constantly augment
ing proportions. In the Daily STAR of
February 26th we called attention to the
fact that for the years 1878 and 1879
England had imported foreign merchan-
disc in excess OF her exports to an amount
averaging almost $60O,000,0OO annually,
a policy that must end in financial and
industrial disaster to the country if long
continued in.
We observe in some statistics called
out by the recent agitation of the Eng.
lish and Irish land question, that the
really alarming fact is shown that the
average rental upon lands in England
under tillage is $l4 3S per acre, while
the average product is only SIS 79, or a
profit to the farmer, after deducting
necessary outlay, of only 81 IS per acre
cultivated. This fact alone is an elo
quent commentary on the causes why
the English emigration is composed Sc
largely of thrifty farmers, who in forme1
years were almost never found anon!
those who emigrated to the United
States.
We therefore. in view of the abov
facts, predict year of unprecedented
immigration in the history of this coun
try, and this immigration is likely to b
composed generally of class of person
who will bring greater average capita
and higher intelligence than formerl.
has been observed among those who cam