New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-11-17
TMuIGRANTS N OUR STREETS.

Reports from the immigration officials show
foreign nations are now fiocking into our ports.
The steerages Of the vessels coming across the
Atlantic are damned with passengers and the
department which has the responsibility of
scrutn2ing the arrivals is overwhelmed with
its duties. So numerous the seekers for the
advantages which life in this Republic offers
that the totals of newcomers are in excess OF
the aggregates for many season. 1t appears
from the declarations Of the steerage travellers
that a large percentage OF them will go to the
Western States but II Is obvious to any one
who notices the troops of chestnut sellers and
keepers of fruit stands in every borough that
NO small number of Italians Greeks and other
immigrants will tarry for a time in the city.
Which surpasses in population and in its cos
mopolitan features every other except London.
The chestnut crop in the Northern States of
the Union this year has rarely if ever been
exceeded for quantity and quality. and the pro
ducton Of fruit in many quarters of the New
World has been exceptionally abundant. 1t
would be difficult 10 estimate the legions Of
street dealers IN nuts and fruit who are now so
conspicuous and mutitudinous in the cities,
towns. villages and hamets of the United
states They are like unto the sands Of the
Sea and their ranks have been multiplied amaZ-
ingly in recent years Few OF them suffer from
lack of food or become public charges because
the frugal and thrifty veneer Of nuts or bananas
can assuage the pangs of hunger at any time
by absorbing part OF his stock in trade II Is
true there are too many of them. but after all
the humble peasant from the foothills Of the
Apennines does less harm and Is less Of a bother
while he keeps body and soul together by sell
ing apples or peanuts than If he were stealing
frpight
for bread at every door Ii might be for the
benefit of people were the restrictions
against the landing of immigrants who belong
10 the class of pushcart pedlers and street stand
dealers more vigorously enforced but New-YorL,
AT least Is not likely to suffer any grave dptri-
ment from the army Of petty tratfickers at the
crossings and the corners
The rapid transit contracts. the building Of
the great Jerome Park reservoir tha copstr,c
ton Of the gigantic Croton River dam. the bngo
extension OF the water system of Eastern Mas
sachusetts and undertakings Of magnitude In n
dozen States or more enlist the services OF him.
dreds OF thousands Of workmen who can nIv
pick or shovel steadily and effectively Rut
railroad building in the East has fallen ~,
largely since 1893. and armies of immigrants
who were formerly busy In that sort of Iahor
have not found it easy to get employment on
railroad lines in the last seven years Some of
the States have laws forbidding the hiring of
workmen from abroad on public improvements
such as reservoirs. and prohibiting even the
bringing OF laborers from other States unless
'ney are Federal citizens. The majority of
cohtrac'ofs VINO hold sub-contracts try to evade
such laws. and unnaturalized immigrants swarm
III the cuts and diggings on many a State or
municipal enterprise. Nevertheless. these stat
u'es are not altogether disregarded, and the
. recently landed Italian or Greek is often ut n