The Irish standard., 1899-06-10
EMIGRATION FROM IRELAND.
Official Figures Which Show a Heavy
Drain.

|
Drain.
The gradual depopulation OF the rural
districts of Ireland and the large num-
bers who left Queenstown for America
from those rural districts during the
present season is perhaps subject
which deserves more consideration than
it has received from all who are interest
ed in the welfare of our common coun-
try, says the Cork Examiner Some
| figures taken from official statistics will
best convey what is going on from day
to day in our midst, and the figures are
such that the lines Of the Rev. Michael
Tormy are particularly applicable to the
exodus which can be witnessed daily at
| Queenstown these days.
what shall befall the ancient race?
Shall all forsake their dear birthplace,
Without one struggle strong to keep
The old soil where their fathers sleep,
The dearest land on earth's wide space,
| Why leave it so, 0 ancient race?"
Anyone who cares to dwell on what
Ireland has contributed to other coun-
tries, but to America in particular,
would do we'll to study the figures which
we now give of tile tremendous drain on
our population. During the year 1898
as many as 1896 emigrants left Irish
ports, which marked AN increase OF $50
over 1897. OF the total 1926 were
males, and 1900 females, and OF the
gross total 32,24I were natives OF Ire
land. OF those who enligrated during
1898 the statistics state that S2.3 per
cent. OF them were between the ages OF
fifteen and tllirtyhve years; OF the 1926
males who emigrated in 1897, 1917 were
married, and OF the 1900 females, only
2,2S7 were married. Out OF the entire
33,So5 persons who lett Ireland during
the year 27,925 went to America, or S5.5
per cent, as compared with an average
OF $500 for the four preceding years,
or oI.2 per cent.
Canadian emigration shows slight
increase during 1898, the number be-
ing o,456 as against 3o7 in the previous
year (1So7); S37 persons went to Austria
liza during 1898 as against o76 in the pre-
ceding year. OF the 1926 males who
emigrated during 1897, 1850 were
classed as laborers, being I'LL per cent
and Of the 1860 females who emigrated
in 1898, 14,o75, or III per cent. were
classed as servants, 345 as housekeepers.
325 as dressnakers and milliners, and
% as millworkers: and on a further
glance at the returns we find it stated
that from the first of May, 1891 (the date
when the official return commenced),
to the 21st OF December, 1898, the total
number OF natives OF Ireland who left
the country during the period amounted
to 3,754,Soo souls, Of which I,o62, S22
were males and I,7o2,o77 were females
| This enormous drain is naturally hav
ing its effect on the agricultural districts
OF the country, and the result that labor
is becoming dearer every year is not I'M
natural under the circumstances. The
drain goes on almost entirely from Mum
ster, Leinster, and Connaught, and Ul-
stcr contributes very little, but Munster
and Connaught feel the exodus most,
and OF all the southern counties Kerry
seems to send the largest number Of
emigranls. 1t seems certain that this
years emigration from ireland will be
excess Of the figures Of 1893, and one
may we'll wonder at what the figures
may be which will make UP the gross
population OF the country when the next
census is taken and it is not unrcason-
able to conclude that ii industries spring
up throughout the country on any eN-
tended scale they certainly would be han
dicapped by the price OF labor, or else
foreign Labor would have to be i'm
ported.
Wednesday, Thursday and Friday in
each week arc the days on which the
transatlantic liners call at Queenstown
to embark Irish passengers, and any one
wishing to get an idea of the emigration
tide would do we'll to stand on the wharf
at Queenstown on either OF the days
mentioned and the class OF people who
take their departure from the country
i'll most cases never to return. Ii there
is pain ielt at the parting OF so many
OF the best OF our people going from
amongst us, there is too much pleasure
at the knowledge OF the fact that the
people who leave us are in most in.
stances destined to do better in that
country which is called the Greater Ire.
land, but it is saddening. more so thar
plcasureable, to look on at the depopula
ton. Whole families are amongst these
who leave the country day by day, ane
ii you ask them what has become O
{ the homes they occupied, they will in.
rariably reply. eve couldn't make ;
: living out OF it," and therefore any exist.
encc is considercdt good as compared
with what they can get at home, while
lrany others, and they are not few
answer the query by saying. Its many
: a year we have been waiting for those
abroad to help us out"
What the effect is in those districts
] from which the emigrants come in sucf
numbers, making up a gross total q
1000 souls weekly at present, is not cas-,
I to understand or speak Of without &C.