The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-01-22
The Influx from Abroad.

We now have the statistics. collected at
Ellis Island to prove the correctness OF the
statement that there was but slight de-
cline In the European Immigration to this
port last year as compared with that Of the
previous year. Tie decline was even less
thnn had been estimated before the full
body OF the official figures was available
for comparison.
The number OF alien steerage passengers
landed hero in 1895 by the steamers Of the
various European companies reached the
high aggregate Of 952,sS5. while those OF
them landed in 1897 numbered s74,74l: SO
that the foreign immigration OF last year
was smaller than that Of the preceding
year by less than six per cent. 1t is very
probable that, IL the country had not
suffered from hard times during the past
six or eight months. the years record Of
arrivals would have surpassed the record
OF any other recent year. but it is certain
that, despite the bad reports which reached
Europe from America. the volume OF immi-
grafton was kept up in q way that must
seem surprising to those Of our people who
may have read these reports.
The great mass OF the newcomers OF the
year were from the countries which have
In recent times given US such large addi-
tions to our foreign-born population. or
from Italy. Austro-Hungary. Germany.
Sweden and Norway. Russia and Poland,
and the British Isles. Very many Of them
must have had. before leaving their re-
spective countries. advices from their
frier lie already here about the prevalent
Industrial and financial depression: and
yet. as 1t appears, these advices did not
deter them from taking their departure for
America. IL probably seemed to many Of
them that times could not be as bad here
as In the countries from which they were
anxious to get away. where both work and
the means OF life were far more difficult to
procure than they ever have been here
In the United States.
BY the replies made to question which
is addressed to all immigrants, it was
shown that great majority Of them in
tended to take up their abode in this State
and in the States Immediately adjacent to
1t. About one-quarter OF them said they
were destined for the Western States, and
only very small proportion OF them for
the States Of the South. 1t IL the estimate
OF an officer Of q large organization which
has dealings with newly arrived Storage
passengers that over one-half Of oil the i'm
migrants OF the past year are In this city.
No doubt many OF them have become OBJ
jects Of public or private charity.
The figures from the Commissioner give
direct proof OF the correctness OF a state
ment which was recently disputed by Col.
WEBER in a letter to THE Sun, that the
Jewish immigration from Russia in last
year was as large as that Of the preceding
year. In truth. 1t was larger. In 1898 We
had 37.lO0 Jewish newcomers from Russia,
while in 1892 we had 1859. All these were
from Russia proper. We also had many
thousands of their brethren from other
European countries.
Several Of our contemporaries frequently
printed the statement during the latter
half OF last year that the number OF steerage
passengers returning to Europe from this
port was greater than the number coming
here. The statements were erroneous. The
statistics needed to perfect the comparison
are not yet procurable but from facts OBJ
tanned at the Offices OF the chief steamship
companies we estimate that the number Of
people who went back to Europe during the
year was less than one-third as large as the
number Of those who arrived here. and
was. In reality. not far beyond 10000.
II the immigration OF 1898 was reduced
but very little by reason OF the depression
In this country. 1t may not be reduced any
more In the present year. whatever be the
state OF things here. The times are exceed
ingly bad. aud inordinately umpromising.
In those European countries from which we
get the great majority OF our immigrants.