Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1900-06-07
WHAT ITS ALL FOR.
FOreign-Born Population as Seen
Through the Census.

Few questions asked by the census
Office are of more Importance than
those regarding the place of birth OF
the individual and his parents. There
is no great country which has re-
ceived so many immigrants and lost
so few emigrants as the United
States. 1t is doubtful whether more
than 100000 Americans by birth are
living outside of the United States,
while the number Of persons OF
foreign birth living in the United
States is probably ten million.
In the coming census the enumera-
tors will endeavor to ascertain where
each person, and the parents of each
person, were born; and, if the person
was not born in the United States, in
what year he came to this country,
the number of years he has been here,
whether he has been naturalized or
not, and if not, whether he has taken
out naturalization papers.
The tables made from the answers
to the inquiries respecting birth place
show the number and distribution OF
the foreign-born residents of the
United States, the number of them
born in each of the great countries,
the amount of intermarriage between
these foreigners and the natives, the
proportion of the foreigners who settle
in the cities and those who seek the
country, their ability to read and to
speak English, and the law-abiding
character of the population. 1t Is
sometimes said, for instance, that
crime is especially common among the
foreign population. But this state
ment can not be supported by the
census figures. Few crimes are COM
mitted by persons under fifteen years
of age, and vast numbers of the ma
tives are under that age and there
fore can not commit crime. When
comparison is made between the ma
tive prisoners and the natives over
fifteen years of age, and the foreign
prisoners and the foreign population
over fifteen years of age, one finds
that the proportion OF persons in
prison is about so per cent. greater
among the natives than among the
foreign born population.
Another point brought out clearly
by the census figures is that immi-
grants move but a comparatively
short distance. The Canadian i'm
migrants live mainly along the Can
adam frontier, and the Mexicans
mainly along the southern boundary.
Thus in 1890 the Canadians were in a
plurality among the foreign born in
Maine, Nv Hampshire, Vermont,
Michigan, Montana, and Washington.
The MeXicans, on the contrary, were
in a plurality in New Mexico and Ari-
iona. The Germans, however, have
spread all over the United States, and
were in a plurality among the foreign
born in twenty-six states and terri
tories.
70 the several foreign-born ele-
ments of our population it is a matter
of pride and interest to know the
of persons of their nationality
in the United States, and their gem
eral economic condition. In 1890
there were more than 100000 resi-
dents in the United States who were
born in foreign countries. Of this
number about 80 per cent. were born
in Germany, 20 per cent in Ireland.
and about 10 per cent in Canada and
\ ~ rrrt,
the United Kingdom contributed SO
per cent. of the total immigration to
the United States, and Germany 35
per cent. In the decade 1881 to 1890
The immigrants from the United King
lom constituted only IS per cent.
Of the total immigration, the propor-
ion from Germany being slightly
ess. In the ten years 1861 to 1870
he combined immigration from Aus
ria, Hungary, Russia, Poland, and
italy constituted only l per cent of
he total immigration. In the decade
1851 to 1890 this proportion rose to II
Der cent, and in the nine years 1891
S99 to more than Ga per cent
We of the United Ste .es are all I'M
migrants or the descendants OF i'm
migrants. A proper pride on the part
II recent immigrants in the land OF
heir birth, and a reasonable desire TO
ecure that recognition which is due
o their numbers and Importance.
hould lead all persons Of foreign
firth to Welcome the census enumera-
or and to answer his questions will
ngly and accurately. il