Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1900-07-12
TIE cENsUs FRO UREs.
Why the Enumerator Has to Ask Seem
ingIy Impertinent Questions.

-
Why the Enumerator Has to Ask Seem
ingIy Impertinent Questions.
New York Press.
Few questions which were asked by
the Census Office are of more import
apce than those regarding the place OF
birth OF tho individual and his parents
No other great country has received so
many immigrants and lost SO few emf
grants as the United States. Ii is
doubtful whether more than 200, 900
Amer leans by birth live outside Of the
United States, while the number of
persons of foreign birth living in the
United States is probably 10000, 600.
Tho enumerators tried to learn where
each person, and the parents OF each
person, were born, and, Ii the person
was not born in the United States, Ia
what year he came to this country, the
number Of years he has been here,
whether he has been naturalized or not,
and il not, whether he has taken out
naturalization papers. The tables made
from the answers TO the inquiries re-
specting birthplace show the number
and distribution Of the foreign-born
residents Of the United States, the
number Of them born 10 each Of the
great countries, the amount of inter
marriage between these foreigners and
the natives, the proportions OF the for
eigners who ssttle In the cities and
| those who seek the country, their
| ability to read and to speak English
and the abiding character of the
population. II is said sometimes that
crime is especially common among the
foreign population but this statement
cannot be supported by the census
| figures. Few crimes are committed by
persons under 10 years of age, and vast
numbers Of the natives are under that
age, and. therefore, cannot commit
crime. When comparison is made be-
tween the native prisoners and the
natives over 10 years OF age, and the
foreign prisoners and the foreign popu-
lation over Is years Of age, one finds
that the proportion Of persons In prison
Is about 80 per cent greater among the
natives than among the foreign born
population.
Another point brought out clearly by
the census figures ia that immigrants
move ouly comparatively short dis
lance. The Canadian immigrants live
mainly along the Canadian frontier,
and the Mexicaus manly along the
southern boundary. Thus In 1850 the
| CaDdulhn5 we're III lluTdllby dinouB
the foreign born in Maine, New Hamp.
shire, Vermont, Michigan, Montana and
Washington. The Mexicans, on the
contrary, were in a plurality in New
Mexico and Arizona. The Germans,
however, spread all over the United
States, and were in plurality among
the foreign.born in 20 States and Ter
ritories.
To the several foreign born elements
of our population it is q matter Of pride
and interest to know the number Of
parsons of their nationality in the
United States, and their general econ
omio condition. In 1890 there were
more than 100000 residents in the
United States who were toIn in foreign
countries. OF this number about 81
per cent were born in Germany, 20 pei
cent in Ireland and about 10 per cent
in Canada and Newfoundland. From
1871 to 1880 the United Kingdom con
tributed 81 per cent Of the total immi.
grafton to the United States and
Germany 80 per cent. lie tie deoad.
1881 to 1890 the immigrants fiom
the United Kingdom constituted
only 2S per cent of the total i'm
migration. the proportion from Ger
many being slightly less. In the II
years 1861 to 1870 the combined immi
grafton from Austria, Hungary, Russia
Poland and Italy constituted only
per cent OF the immigration. In tn,
decade 1881 to 1890 this proportion ros,
to II per cent, and in the nine year.
1891 1899 to more than GA per cent.