The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-12-01
JEWISH IMMIGRATION.


Philadelphia Press: The annual
meeting OF the Association of Jewish
Immigrants was held last evening at
the school house of the Rodef Shaiom
CONGREGATION, No, $50 North Eighth
street. Officers for the ensuing year
were chosen, and reports were received,
showing the status Of Jewish immigra-
ton and the general work OF the as
sociatlon during the year Just ended.
The most comprehensive OF the re-
ports presented was that OF Louis Ed
ward Levy, president OF the assocla-
ton. This report sci forth, among
other things, the fact that the NUM-
Der OF Jewish arrivals AT This and other
ports during the past twelve months
has been less than In any correspond
ing period since 1891, and has dimln-
ished from $4,000 In 1895 TO $1,000 DUR
Ing the past twelve months. The total
immigration In that time has been
about 100000; the Jewish contingent
thus makes up 9,6 per cent as COM
pared with SO per cent OF the total last
year and 1915 per cent IN 1895.
The total immigration here In the
twelve months ending October 81 was
1902, as against 1888 last year, and
the Jewish arrivals numbered 1852, as
against 2,i99 In 1896 Thus, while the
actual number OF Jewish immigrants
TO this port has materially decreased,
the percentage has increased going up
from 10 per cent IN 1895 and lO,7 per
cert In 1886 TO 1916 per cent In the past
twelve months.
The proportionate Increase OF the
Jewish arrivals at this port has result
ed, through the resumption year ago,
Of the sale Of prepared tickets by
the American line from continental
ports, after restriction, for q time, of
such tickets from British ports only.
The effect OF this change is further
manifest in the increased proportion
among the local arrivals OF the prepaid
immigrants, which, as regards the jew
ish element, advanced from 81 per cent
in 1895 to 43 per cent during the past
year. From the statistical data regard
ing the local arrivals 1t appears that
OF the total number 9jS, or over one
half, were minors under twenty years
of age, and OF these. 457 were children
under ten years OF age. There were
931 males and S2l females, and among
the 44S males over twenty years of age,
2IS were artisans and work-people OF
various skilled or semi-skilled avoca-
lions, the remainder having been de-
voted TO trade.
The tendency OF the immigrants to a
constantly wider distribution through
out the Union is Enthusiastically mani
fest. or the local arrivals, t,0f9 were
forwarded to outside destinations, and
were distributed TO ia different local.
ties in the interior Of the country. or
the $50 booked to this city. 76S remain
ed, the balance Of 147 being aided by
us to go TO their proper destinations
among friends and relatives elsewhere.
OF the f,752 arrivals here, 1872 are
officially credited to Germany, AZ to
England, some 102 to various continent
tai lands, and all the rest to Russia
and the adjacent Slave territories. In
fact, however, all, with scarcely an ex-
ception, are derived from the Slavic
countries, and all, with but few excep-
tons, more or less directly from the
Russian Jewish Pale.
The presidents report also says that
there are increasing evidences OF
more liberal spirit toward the Jews in
Russia, and that the changing trend is
apparent in the pncess!on recently
granted the Jewish Colonization Socie-
~ A few years ago proposal by the
late Baron de Hlrsch to devote u fund
of some $l0.000,O0O to the education OF
Jewish children In Russia was rejected
BY the cars government, and the fund
was then devoted TO the colonization
OF Russian Jews In Argentina,
The direction Of this movement by
the Jewish Colonization Society, which
Baron de Htrsch organized as an Eng
lish corporation, was permitted by the
4 Dntarahurer utNNhnFitfoa htNt thu
cession now granted to that society to
establish agricultural schools in Russia
is u step beyond what could have been
hoped for hitherto. This has been fol-
lowed by similar proceeding in Rou-
MANN, where Jewish children are also
excluded from the public schools, and
where heretofore the government has
refused to couptenance any movement
OF this character by the Jews them.
selves.
The establishment Of these agrlcul-
ttiral schools has been desirable espe-
clally for the purpose OF training in
tending emigrants TO the colonies in
South America These colonies, now
containing u population OF over 1000,
were halted year ago to permit
more settled organization. but their de-
yelopment has been further delayed by
the defective wheat crop OF the past
year. which, in common with that of
the rest Of the Argentine Republic, was
practically Il failure. 1t is now pro-
posed to reinforce the colonies as soon
as possible with an infusion Of scien-
ILLEGALLY trained agriculturists. and this.
following the exceptionally good har-
vest OF the present season, is confident
ly expected to give these new South
American communities an effective i'm
pulse toward ultimate success.
Meanwhile, the disappointment or the
Russian Jews by the continued denial
OF their hopes under their new sover-
elgn, the seemingly endless expansion
OF the anti-Semluc craze In Austria, the
denuded harvests and Increased price OF
food throughout Europe, and, finally,
the repellant effect OF the industrial
and commercial depression in this coun-
try, all consplred to direct the thoughts
OF the oppressed and harrled East Eu-
ropean Jews toward the one ideal fid-
ven OF this OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES,
The movement toward colonization In
the Holy Land, which has long been
tn progress IN Russia, has been given
direction some years ago by the So
clety Chobebl Zion, and had already
resulted In planting number OF suc-
ceSsful colonies In The vicinity OF Jern-
salem. These settlements, to whose
growth ] have found occasion TO adj
vert in my successive reports to this
society during number OF years pust,
had gradually become recognized by the
Turkish government as desirable add.
lions to the population OF Palestine,
Through the efforts OF the Alliance Is.
raelIte Unlverselle and notably Of
Baron Edmond De RothschId, the gov
ornamental obstacles 10 the expansion
OF the colonies were last year removed
and the way was thus opened for their
future development.