Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1893-05-12
A STUDY OF IMMIGRATION

lnt CensuS Dulletln JlSt issued IN
regard to the foreign-born population
of the United States shows the effects
OF the great migration of the decade
that closed in 1890. In the ten years
from 1880 to 1890 the foreign stream
reached the enormous total OF 5,23S,-
S2S-nearly double the number of any
previous decade, and more than kept
pace with the increase of the native
population. In numbers the foreign
population in 1890 rose to 9,249,54S
and to l4.77 per cent. of the whole
population. In 1850 foreigners were
1882 per cent; in 1870 l4.44 per
cent ot the people of the country.
These figures do not accurately ex-
press the foreign element in America.
The second generation Of foreigners is
in many cases to be reckoned with
them. In some cases the third gene
ration should be added. But the
tables of the second generation are
not yet published, and so far as the
census is concerned Americanization
is considered complete with the third
generation, and the subject of descent
is not pursued beyond the children of
foreign born.
The figures by States show that the
foreigners have settled mo thickly in
the North Atlantic division, including
the States from Maine to Pennsylva-
MIA. In these, there were found in
1899 3.SSS,l77 who were born abroad.
Of these, 1871 $50 were gathered in
New York. Massachusetts, showed
almost the same proportion, with
657 ,137 foreigners. Pennsylvania
stands second in absolute numbers OF
foreigners, with S45,720.
The North Central division, includ-
ing the States from Ohio to Kansas
and North Dakota, has the larger
number Of foreigners, but from its
larger area there are fewer to the
square mile. The number in these
States is 4,O5O,1l4. Illinois leads
with S42,347 and Michigan, Wiscon-
sin, Ohio, and Minnesota follow in the
order named.
The South Atlantic division, the
States from Delaware to Florida, show
the smallest proportion of foreign
born. The total in this long stretch
OF country is only 2OS,525, hardly
more than are found in Nebraska
alone.
Germany furnishes larger part of
the foreign population in America
than any other nation. The Germans
showed 2,7S4,S94, or BOIL per cent. Of
the whole foreign population. The
Irish follow second, with 1871 500, or
2'.23 per cent. and the English are a
good third, with 1,OO9,17l, or 1921
per cent. These are the only coun-
tries that pass the million mark, but
Canada and Newfoundland came near
it with 9SO,93S, or 1O.61 per cent.
Jumping the English-speaking races
together-Irish, English, Canadians
and Scotch-and allowing for French
Canadians they are in the majority,
with over 40 per cent. of the total.
Next to those named, the Scandina-
Wan migration takes rank. The num-
Der OF Norwegians, Swedes and Danes
in the country was 933,249. Among
the other 1,427,OOO foreigners no
country contributes more than 2OO,.
600.
It will be observed that by far the
greater part of the influx OF foreigners
is from the races capable Of ready
Americanization. The vast majority
are from the free government peoples.
But the formation OF colonies" that
are transplanted bits of foreign coun-
tries, in various parts OF the country
gives warning that the Americanizing
powers are little overtasked.