The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1889-03-07
THE TIDE OF IMMIGRATION.

There is a strong tide of immigration
running in upon several republics of South
America. 1t comes principally from Italy,
Spain and France. Recently, however,
l,4SO Irish emigrants left Queenstown for
the Argentine republic, and that is pretty
strong indication that the inducements held
out by the respective governments of South
America are attracting the attention of
other emigrants than those dwelling on the
shores of the Mediterranean. The induce
ments offered by our sister republics in the
south. to immigrants are not inconsider-
able. The Argentine congress, at its last
session, passed bill authorizing the pay
ment of the cost of passage from Europe of
$4,000 agriculturalists and artisans. The
government of Chill has also made bid for
the surplus population of Europe by au-
thorizing its immigration agents abroad to
offer free passage to all who de-
sire to come to that country
and it is further provided that the
immigrants shall be fed and lodged free
fifteen days after their arrival. Chill pro-
poses to spend $780, 900 in this way as an
experiment. But what is perplexing, not
to say humiliating, to that government is
that while it is holding out these fattering
inducements to emigrants abroad, her own
people by thousands have recently emf
grated to the Argentine republic. Nor is
Brazil, the first state of South America.
behind the other governments in seeking to
induce immigration. Every immigrant
with family proposing to follow the voca
ton of agriculture is given free transporta-
ton from the port at which he disembarks
to the place where he proposes to locate,
with free support for eight days. If
he chooses to join any one of the gov
eminent colonies he has guaranteed
to him support and wages until the time of
his first harvest. These inducements have
not been wit out effect. For ten years the
immigration into Brazil averaged but 81,
800 annually, but in 1888, by sudden
bound, it went up to 10000 in two ports
alone-Rio Janeiro and Santos.
The number of immigrants moving into
the Argentine republic in 1856 was %. 116;
in 1887 the number went up to 49,, 42i, and
in eleven months in 1883 it reached 12S, 797.
The Argentines, however, are troubled
over the fact that only about 10 per cent of
these arrivals are tillers of the soil and
they talk of limiting the italian immigra-
ton to those who will devote themselves to
agriculture. They feel the necessity of de
veloping their agricultural resources and
need farmers more than they do specula-
tors and railroad hands. Five thousand
miles of railroad were completed in 1883,
and three thousand miles have been pro
jected for SO; and only a rapid develop
ment of their natural resources will enable
them to pay off the cost Of constructing
these roads and supply them with work.
We hope the over-crowded countries Of
Europe will be attracted by the liberal in
ducements and bright prospects held out
by our sister republics in the south, and
obtain for themselves and their children an
inheritance in those goodly lands, where
they can hope for something better than
the servitude that awaits the poor who re
main among the seething, half-clad, half
fed millions of the old world.