Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1880-01-16
The Immigration of the Year.

The year 1879 has been a notable
one for the immense volume OF i'm
migration, the total arrivals at the
mort of New York up to the first OF
this month being 127 ,571. During
the last thirty years the arrivals at
that port have averaged, taking one
wear with another, something over
three.uuarter OF the entire immigra-
tion to the United States. Decem-
Der is generally q month which
brings a comparatively small number
of immigrants; but if we estimate it
as 5000 for the present month we
shall have total of arrivals at New
York for the year of over 1872 900.
Assuming that this represents three
fourths of the immigration into the
country for the twelve months end
ing on the LIST of January, wo shall
have a total of 176. 1000.
The six nationalites most largely
represented in the 127, 271 immi-
grants who arrived at New York up
to the LIST ultimo, together with
their respective proportions, are as
follows: Germany, 33,4S8; Ire
land, 21,674; England, 20, 1893; Swe-
den, II ,21O; Scotland, 6,163; Italy,
$500. Out of this aggregate of 98,-
853 over fve-sixths, or about 50 900,
represented that they came to this
country with the intention of en-
cssing in agriculture. Of 4,406
Swiss immigrants one-half were silk
growers or manufacturers, and con-
siderable number of them are already
employed, it is probable, in the
hreat silk mills at Paterson, New
Jersey.
OF all the European nationalities
the French seem to he least disposed
to seek their fortunes in the United
States. Even Wales sends us more
immigrants than all France. Little
Switzerland sends twice as many,
Norway nearly three times as many
and Sweden nearly six times as
, many.
In regard to the geographical dis
tribution of the vast volume of immi-
grafton it appears that the West gets
the lions share. This year AZ per
cent. of the arrivals were bound d.
rectly for the Western and North
western States, including the Pacific
Coast. Forty per cent. remained
for the time in New York, but prob
ably large proportion of these ulti-
mately took up their line of march
westward. Twelve per cent. seek
homes in the Middle States, exclusive
of New York City. Four per cent.
go to New England, and only one
per cent. to the south, Texas receiv-
ing by far the largest share.
There have been attempts to ascer.
tain approximately what addition is
made t. the country by the tide of
immigration so far as that can be
shown by the amount Of money or
property that accompanies it. But
many of the new arrivals are shy
about furnishing information on this
subject, having o suspicion that the
inquiries of the officials are made
with the view of levying tax upon
their means. The Superintendent
of Emigration is, however, of the
opinion that the average amount of
money brought by each arrival is
about SIS, and that it is higher this
year. than ever before. The Russians,
especially the Mennonites, are the
richest. The Germans and English
come next, while the Irish and Ital-
tons are the poorest.
The total number of persons OF
foreign birth who have found home
in the United States during the last
thirty years reaches the enormous
aggregate of 100000. The immi-
grafton for 1872. an exceptional year,
was 100000. Then there was q
sharp and sudden decline, which
continued until 1877, when it fell to
the minimum of $4,000. The next
year the tide turned again, and the
number rose at a bound to over
$4,000, an unusually large proper
ton arriving at other ports than New
York. The immigration of the pres
ent year exceeds that of any previous
one since 1878.
The returning wave of prosperity
and the general revival of business
with us, together with the depres-
sion and bad harvests abroad, the
unsettled condition of things in
Europe, the high taxation incident
y the maintenance of enormous mil
6ary establishments, and numerous
other causes, must inevitably lead to
an increased immigration next year.
The land troubles in Ireland, the
decay of agricultural industries in
England, the growing discomfort of
the working classes in the latter
country, the severe pressure upon
English manufacturers from Ameri-
can competition, will bring US null
titudes of mechanics, small farmers
and operatives in search of fairer
and moro promising field for labor
and enterprise. But with our vast
of