Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1900-05-31
FOREIGN POPULATION
The Census Will Determine the Per-
centage Of Foreigners In
Each Community.
The GERMANS PREDOMINANT
Foreign Born Citizens are Generally More
Law Abiding Than are Native (i liens
Immigrants Move But a Compare
tivelv Short Distance.

Few QueStlOnS asked by the census
office are of more Importance than those
regarding the place of birth of the in
dividual and his parents. There is no
great country which has received so
many immigrants and lost so few emil
grants as the United States. 1t is doubt
full whether more than zoo, 900 Ameri-
cans by birth are living outside of the
United States, while the number of per-
sons of foreign birth living in the Unit
ed States is probably ten million.
In the coming ensus the enumera-
tors will endeavor to ascertain where
each person, and the parents of each
person, were born; and, if the Derson
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 birthplace show
the number and distribution of the for
eign-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 Ct the
foreigners who settle in the cities and
those who seek the country, their abili-
ty to read and to speak English, and the
~law-abiding character of the popula-
ton. 1t is sometimes said, for instance.
that crime is specially common among
the foreign population. But this state
ment cannot be supported by the census
figures. Few crimes are committed by
persons under is years of age, and vast
age, and therefore canret Svfilihlt CRIME.
M,h~~ COMPARISON is made between the
native prisoners and the natives over
Is years of age, and the foreign prison.
ers and the foreign population over Is
years of age, n finds that the proper
cent greater among the natives than
among the foreign-born population.
Another point brought out clearly by
the census figures is that immigrants
move but a comparatively short dis
lance. The Canadian immigrants live
mainly along the Canadian frontier,
and the Mexicans mainly along the
southern boundary. Thus in 1890 the
Canadians were in, a plurality among
the foreign born in Maine, New Hamp-
shire. Vermont, Michigan, Montana and
Washington. The Mexicans, Oil the
contrary, were in a plurality in New
Mexico and Arizona. The Germans,
however. have spread all over the
United States, and were in a plurality
among the foreign born in tw~enty-six
states and territories.
To the several foreign-born elements
of u population 1t Is a matter of pride
and interest to know the number of per-
sons Of their nationality in the United
States, and their general economic con-
dition. In 1890 there we're more than
8 1000, 900 residents in the United States
who were born in foreign countries. OF
number, about 30 per cent were
born in Germany, 20 per cent in ireland
and about 10 per cent in Canada and
Newfoundland. From 1921 to 1880 the
United Kingdom contributed SO per
cent of the total immigration to the
United States, and Germany IS per
cent. In the decade 1881 to 1890 the i'm
migrants from the United Kingdom
constituted only % per cent of the total
immigration. the proportion from Ger
many being slightly less. In the ten
years 1861 to 1870 the combined immi-
from Austria, Hungary, Russia.
Poland and Italy constituted only / per
cent of the total immigration. In the
decade 1881 to 1890 this proportion rose
20 II per cent, and in the nine years
S9O-1S99 to more than Ga per cent.
People of this country are all immi-
grants or the descendants of immi-
A proper pride on the part of
ecent immigrants in the land Of their
firth, and a reasonable desire to secure
hat recognition which is due to their
numbers and Importance should lead
persons Of foreign birth to welcome
he census enumerator and to answer
is questions willingly and accurately.
How are we to know whether our civ
|ization is advancing or receding,
whether the condition Of the present
%eneration is more comfortable and re-
med than that of the preceding gen.
ration; whether, as a nation, we are
etter off than we were fifty years ago?
Statesmen and economists have sug-
ested several standards by which to
udge: The per capita wealth, the per-
entage of illegitimate births, the posi-
lon and treatment of women, the rate !
{ illiteracy, and the ownership Of prop
rty, particularly of farms and homes. {
II these standards the last two Seem