The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-11-06
LAST YEARS IMMIGRATION.

The immigration tables for the fiscal year
ending June 80, 1899, have now been COM
pleted and show very little variation from
the immigration of the fiscal year 1SSS-S9
The total number of Immigrants who ar
rived in the United States last fiscal year
was 45l, 219, as against ,619 who arrived
in the fiscal year ending June 30, 1889. We
may be said, in round numbers, to be re-
ceiving every year from foreign parts 100000
people. This was roughly the volume OF
immigration in 1873 and in 1880. 1t was
largely exceeded in the years 1SS1-1S94 in
elusive.
Among the count tries which favored US
with this accretion of human raw material
the first place was held last year, as usual,
by the United Kingdom. We drew from the
British Isles over one-fourth Of our total
importation, to wit, 1928 people, as
against 1913, 159 received in 1SSS-S9. OF these
England sent us 81, 392, decline OF 12,OO0
from the previous year; Ireland 52,923
decline of L, 800. and Scotland 12,O2S, de-
cline of Coco. The decline indicates an I'M
pr0vement in the condition OF the 1arm
laborer and city workman in Great Britain,
though not considerable enough to produce
marked effect ON the exodus If the cur
rent stories of a crop failure in Ireland are
verified by the event, it " i'll be safe to look
for an increased emigration from that
island during the current fiscal year. HE
condition of the potato crop is always
measure of Irish emigration.
Our second source Of supply was Ger
many, which sent us g, 400 people, as against
49, 491 in 18oS-S9. Here again slight falling
off, resulting probably from improved con-
ditons of life in the German Empire. is TO
be noticed. But the decrease is offset by an
increased immigration from Austro-Hun-
gary, which sent Us 51,670 people. as against
3l,0S9 in 1SSS-S9. The exodus of people from
Austria has been quite marked III the past
few years. They have emigrated IN large
numbers to South America, and their ap
pelranee in large numbers in our Eastern
cities has been the subject of comment
which has not always been go0d-natured.
Next TO Germany and Austria, Scandina-
via figures with a total emigration to the
United States in the year 1SS9-90 of 1885.
As the whole population Of Norway and
Sweden is only about 100000, loss of 49,
coo in q single year to the United States must
he felt. 1t will Of course make more room
for the workers who remain behind but the
little nation cannot lose so large proper
tion of its people during many consecutive
years without a diminution of its strength.
The TWO other European countries which
send us surplus people in considerable num-
bers are Russia, from which We received
35,574 souls, and Italy, from which we re-
ceiyed 51,7S9. The Russian Empire Is so
vast, and contains so many millions, that
even much larger outward movement than
this would not Inconvenience the Gar in fill
ing up the ranks of his armies, but we here
can digest 5000 Russians in 4 year without
being effected by the process, so long as
there are not too many Nihiists in the lot.
The migratons of races from place to
place constitute one of the most interesting
chapters If history. They are seldom ac-
complished without friction. The nations
which now people the fertile plains Of
Southern Europe were once intruders. who
conquered a foothoid with the sword and
eXterminated the people they found in pos
session. There were plenty Of Know-noth-
ipgS among the Roman citizens of the early
ages Of Christianity. and they tried in their
feeble way to hold their birthright.