Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1903-10-27
LARGE increase
IN Immigration
Figures for the Fiscal Year of 1903
Show Influx of Foreigners the
Greatest Ever Known.
Commissioner GENERAL SARGENT
MAKES HIS ANNUAL REPORT
Total Number of Aliens Who Came to
This Country During the Year Is
021,315-Dangers of Colonization
Pointed Out-Interesting Statistics
from the Bureau.


port of Commissioner General Frank
P. Sargent, of the bureau of immigra-
ton, shows large increase of steerage
immigration over that of the preceding
year, the aggregate for the fiscal year
of 1908 being 857,046, an excess over
that of last year by OS,303, or 80 per
cent. The statistics show an increase
in immigration from all foreign
sources, suggesting as the chief cause
of the influx of aliens into the United
States during the year the inducements
offered to settlers here rather than any
special causes of discomfort in their own
countries. OF the total steerage immi-
grafton, there came from Europe 814,-
5O7, from Asia, 29,96G, and from all 9TH
er sources 1858. If to these figures
are added those representing the total
arrivals of alien cabin passengers, 64,-
269, the result will show that the total
immigration of aliens to the United
States during the year aggregated 921,-
315, or 105,O43 more than the greatest
number heretofore reported for any one
year.
Where They Came From.
The greatest number Of Immigrants,
230,622, came from Italy, an increase
of 52,247 over last year; while Austria
Hungary furnished 2O6,O11, an INCREASE
of S4,022; Russia, 136,O93, an increase
OF 2S.746: Germany, 40,Gs6, an increase
OF 11,782; Sweden, ,02S, an increase of
1874; Ireland, $3.50, an increase of
6,172; and England 26,219, an increase
OF 1854. OF the oriental countries,
Japan was foremost, with 1865, an in
crease of 5,698; while China contributed
2.209, an increase of $50 over last year.
OF the total number of steerage aliens
,613, 146 were males and 243, 800 were fe-
males, of whom 102,431 were less than
IA years of age There were of these
3.341 who could read, but could not
write, and 1S5,667 who could neither
read nor write, leaving balance able
both to read and to write of 668,038. The
total amount of money brought by them
into the United States was SIG, ,513.
Exclusive of those denied admission
at the land boundaries of the United
States, 8,769 alien immigrants were re-
jected for various causes, the number
OF reflections being nearly double those
Of the preceding year. OF these 5,812
were paupers; 1,773 were afflicted with
disease, and 1,086 were contract labor
ers.
Dangers Of Colonization,
The commissioner refers to the grave
danger to the country found in the
colonizing Of alien communities in our
great cities. "Such colonies" said he
ARE a menace to the physical, social,
moral and political security of the coun-
try. Removed from the sweatshops and
slums of the great cities and given the
opportunity to acquire home, every
alien, however radical theories Of gov
eminent and individual right may have
been, will become a conservative-as sup
porter in theory and practice of those
institutions, under whose benign pro-
lection he has acquired and can defend
his household goods. Suitable legisla-
ton is therefore strongly urged to es-
tablish agencies by means Of which.
either with or without the cooperation
of the states, aliens shall be made ac-
quainted with the resources of the coun-
try at large, the industrial needs of the
various sections. in both skilled and I'M
skilled labor, the cost of living, the wages
paid, the price and capabilities of the
lands, the character Of the climates. the
duration of the season-in short, all OF
that information furnished by some Of
the great railway lines through whose eff.
forts the territory tributary thereto has
been transformed from a wilderness
within few years to the abiding place
of happy and prosperous population.
Other Suggestions.
Commissioners Sargent, in view of the
arrival Of approximately, 1000 900 i'm
migrants annually, urges that legislation
be enacted to improve the quality. moral
ly and Intellectually, of those admitted.
The report indicates a marked i'm.
provement in the enforcement Of the
complex and strongly resisted Chinese
exclusion laws. Experience has proved
a good teacher in the administration OF
these laws and their enforcement is ac-
compltshed now with minimum of
friction. The commissioner expresses
confidence that the efforts of the bureau
to enforce these laws will prove much
more successful than they have proved
at any time heretofore.