The record-union., 1893-12-06

Austria and Germany. These people
must come, and they would in ordinary
times be an addition to the totals OF aliens
received. Now, however, they form the
bulk of arrivals and emphasize the fall
of of other immigration. Thus, III the
July total of 36.55l, Russia sends 6,3l9,
Austria Hungary S,062; altogether 1I,4ol,
or more than one-third, and there IS no
way of learning how many of the 5,O62
Germans" are RuSsian refugees.
Since DR.. Senner has taken charge as
United States Commissioner at Ellis
Island the tabulation OF statistics has been
changed, so that comparisons on import.
ant matters cannot readily he made until
the years report is complete. Thus, IN
classifying immigrants according TO the
amount OF money brought, he takes $50,
instead Of S100, as the standard, and oil
vides the total OF arrivals between those
who bring less and those who bring
more. He thinks there is no change IN
the average capital of the newcomers,
which was $50 90 for the six months
ended June 80, 1893. DR.. Senner told me,
however, that all figures on this subject
are useless, because Of the suspicious ior-
eigners entertain Of all people. They will
lie and conceal their money, but he IN
fers in general that they have more than
they say they have. The Russian ref-
ugees are exceptions in this respect, be-
ing practically destitute and travelling
largely on the Baron Hirsch fund.
Little change is taking place in the des-
tinatiOn of immigrants. Russian He
brews are being distributed about the
South and Southwest. AS during last
year the South and Northwest are getting
a larger proportion than formerly Of all
immigrants. Dakota, for example, re-
ceived 3,967 in 1890, and in 1892 \ orth Da-
kota got 2.525 and South Dakota ,666; in
2, > ,
California, which got ll,564 In 1890 and
10, ,936 in 1892, was the destination OF only
1858 in 1893, 1880 OF whom landed in
San Francisco. 1t is too slight basis for
inference to read anything out OF the un-
finished records of the last four months,
but the decrease seems to be distributed
as the totals Of last year were.
In the matter of inspection DIR. Senner
is so exacting that he is raising enemies
against himself on all hands. He is said
to be acting on the principle Of sending
back all he possibly can. For himself,
he says he is executing the law to the let
ter, and making his chief enemies, the
steamship companies, help him. He re-
quires of all steamers that they present
manifests giving full data concerning
steerage passengers; but he investigates
so closely that, with all their care, they
had to carry back 2S7 in July, 357 in Au-
gust, 14S in September and 81 in October
These figures, both OF outward-bOund
and incoming migration, show clearly
the importance Of one factor in the pro-
blem Of controlling the supply OF new
citizens, namely that of the propaganda
of correct information. What could not
be checked by other means is being al
most stopped by the knowledge abroad
that America is suffering hard times"
How speedily the report Of facts here has
worked is brought out clearly in the sud-
den decrease in the last four months OF
fifty per cent in immigration. The for
eign, and particularly the German press,
do all that they can at ali times to check
the outflow, but intending emigrants de-
pend almost wholly on letters from
friends here. That these should operate
so promptly Is the surprising point. But
as Or. Senner said, the men who have
been here a few years, and are returning
destitute, are also at work preaching the
i'll tidings. 1t is here then that the mis-
sionary work must be done, i'll persuad-
ing successful aliens to invite their
friends to come only when they have
some capital to start on.
AS it is, foreign capital comes in bulk
for American securities and foreign labor
comes peuniiess. There remains in Eu-
rope only one class to draw on, and that is
the moderately well-to-dO. If the capital
of the millions Of trades people who re-
tire on small accumulations which they
invest at to per cent. could be borrowed
by foreign-born business men here,
new source OF the means to industry
could be obtained. Young business men
having foreign relations and connections
could borrow heavy totals in the coun-
tries they came from. Men with capital
abroad do not wish to increase it, but
use it to live in idleness or study. Their
money can be got with advantage to both
lender and borrower. The good faith of
the country needs only to be made abso-
Lutte j. l.. S.