Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1889-06-28
IMMIGRANTS.
Something Concerning, the Glass
of People that Has Settled
= tn the Northwest.
From the Minneapolis Journal.

going, what kind of people are going
here? The man who asks that ques-
ion concerning the great Northwest
need not necessarily be pioneer
when he gets here, for, so rapidly is
this same Northwest developing that
the pioneer stage is fast passing out
Of existence. In series Of articles
devoted to the resources and the pos
of the Northwest it is essen
tial that some consideration be given
to the subject which is more or less
involved in the embryo pioneer ques-
ton. -.
What Of immigration and emigra-
ton to the Northwest.
As this subject is considered fur
Their it will be ascertained that the
two words, immigration and emigra-
ton, must be used in the restricted
meaning that has been given them,
for to use either one Unfortunately
would be misleading. Thousands up
on thousands Of people come to the
Northwest from Europe as immi-
grants, thousands more come from
the Eastern states as e1nigrants.
IL will be interesting to learn from
the takers of the new census how
many of the GO and more millions of
this country are of foreign birth.
The figures will be astounding no
doubt. Let it be supposed that a
resident Of some Eastern state is, as so
many thousands are, growing restless
under the natural bounds and limita-
tons Of his lot, and is anxious to go
over and enter into the promised
land" Of the great Northwest. What
kind Of people is he to, find there?
What associates will he have for his
children? What part are these set
tiers playing in the development Of
the country? His head is full of sto-
ries Of the wild and woolly" West,
he has heard with amazement of the
vast immigration from Europe in one
constantly increasing flood to occupy
the land toward which his eyes are
turning.
Let the facts speak for themselves.
Beyond all question there is an ia,-
mense influx of foreigners to Minneso-
ia, the Dakotas, Montana and Wash
ington territory. The immigration
into the United States in 1883 was
largely in excess Of that of 1587-at
least 40 per cent greater-the total
number coming up to the astonishing
figures $4,000. The greater portion
Of these came from Germany, Great
Britain and Scandinavia, about 10O,-
600 coming annually from Great
Britain. This unusually heavy i'm.
migration of 1888 was due to two
causes. Hard times in Europe and
comparatively good times in the
United States joined to circum-
stance, the remarkably low railroad
fares from New York. This immigra-
ton last year was very heavy from
southern Europe, most Of these, how
ever, making their homes ia the great
cities, and very few indeed going into
any actual settlement Of the country.
For the present year the chances are
that the immigration will be consider.
ably less than in 'SS, owing to the
fact that better times prevail il
Europe.
The general methods Of imn1igra
ton may be noted here. About one
half of the Immigrants to this country
come on tickets sent them by friends
the other half buy tickets direct tt
their destination. The generous
promises Of the New World are hello
up to the would-be immigrant il
glowing letters from his friends who
have gone on before. Without draw
ing any invidious comparisons, it may
be set down as very probable that the
foreigner sees in the new country, o.
which his friends send suchenthusiasti,
accounts, better country and freel
country than his own. He starts
then, for America, full of hopes thai
are reasonably sure to be reasonably
realized. The first year after landing
about Is per cent Of the Immigrants
only come West from the Eastern
states; the second and third years
about one-half of those left come West
the balance remain in the East al
work in the cities in factories and
the like. A very large proportion Of
these Westward-b bound immigrants
sooner or later reach Minneapolis
going from this point all over the
Northwest. Many of these immigrants
come prepared to buy a farm; others
have but little Of this worlds goods.
But few of them, however, but are
ready and anxious to improve their
worldly condition. The men who
come with families have all the way
from $500 to 81 800 in cash to invest;
the young unmarried men from $50
to 500. The foreigners coming to
the Northwest almost without excep-
ton become naturalized as soon as
the law will permit it, and very few
of them ever go back to the father
land to stay.
So much in a general way as to
the immigrants who come to the
Northwest; now to more important
details. ~
And first and formost ofall: What
is the character Of these immigrants2