The Elk Mountain pilot., 1902-05-27
COMING TO AMERICA
PEASANTS LAND IN HoRDEs.


Greeks, Syrians, Reach New York
in Thousands-Sometim Ten
Thousand Land in Ore Day-Aver-
are is Far Above One Thousand.
In March, 1901, 34,461 Immigrants
landed here, according to Statistician
Charles G. Eichler of the bureau, says
the New York World.
In March, 1902, 57,175 arrived, leav-
ing the increase for last March over
the same month one year ago, %, ia.
To the 5I,1I5 for March, 1902, should
be added 491 transents.
April and May, always the heaviest
months, are yet 10 be figured. The
above figures represent actual immi-
grafton, not including transients
Whence come these hordesl
In March, 1902, from Austro- Hun
gary, 1900; Italy, 1,41O; Russian
empire and Finland, 9,2S6.
The Finlanders are coming to escape
military service, and General Count
Bogrikoff, the governor, has forbidden
the issuing of more passports.
The week of April 18th broke all rec
ords in the Morse invasion of America
Thirteen hundred Scandanavians sailed
from Christiania-
A peculiaIity OF this springs immi-
grafton is the falling off of eighty and
ninety per cent. in Syrians and the ire
mendous increase Of Greeks. Eight
hundred Greeks on one ship from a
port on the North sea There was n
riot at the embarkation, and the gen.
darmes had to be called to beat back
the Greeks. who feared rhey were 60
ing TO be impressed into the English
army.
The immigration officials. owing to
the lack of men educated in the Orien-
tai tongues, they allege, are at the
complete mercy of the Interpreters of
the Greek, Syrian and Arabian Ian
guages
The decline in Syrian immigration is
attributable, it is argued by some to
the decline of personal influence from
the Syrian colony in Washington
street, and it is feared the increase in
Greek immigration may be traced to
the rise of Greek padrone influence in
New York.
AS Syrians used to come through the
landing station. each with n shining
so gold piece, the officials marked
some of the coins. When fresh lot of
Syrians passed through few months
later, back from the Orient across the
bright as ever. but bearing the telltale
secert marks.
For the fiscal year ending June 30.
1901, 462, Cos immigrants landed in the
United States, of whom 3SS, ,931 arrived
at this port. This years summary for
the United States will probably exceed
that of 1901, and may be equal TO the
record of 1892, 570,663.
They are coming, some days at the
rate of 10000. the horny-handed. cor
setless, sun-broiled peasantry of E,i-
rope. Across the narrow margin of
stone quay at the barge office they
shuttle, hurry and scramble.
All day long. after each trip of the
ferryboat, John G. Carlisle, from the
marooned landing station in the bay,
this ocean of humanity, each man,
woman and child, scurries over the
granite quay.
Each bending under n burden griev-
Gus to be borne; some under two and
others under three huge, shapeless
bags, valises, tin boxes, unwieldly
punches of ticking. mating and can
vas. baskets big and small, cages, mu-
steal Instruments. bedsteads of wood
and iron. chairs, kitchen utersils, bot
ties. vegetables. sausages. pretzels,
candles. coffee pots. babies, quilts, bath
tubs mot many. curtains. birds, mas
cots children's chairs, canes. sticks,
umbrellas and every combination of
wood. tin. iron and cloth.
What awaits this human sea of ig
norance, physical weariment helpless
ness bewilderment and lost souls?
For the Immigrant, his heart throbbing
with excitement, n stranger in the rear
of the new world. is as truly lost
on the threshold of the metropolis of
America as if he had been dropped for
time upon the moon or the planet
Inr