Omaha daily bee., 1903-04-15
THE IMMIGRATION WAVE.
Phases of the Greatest Race Move
ment in the Worlds History.
st. Louis Globe-D Democrat.

ment IN Hnc "OFIuA IthhLOEys
st. Louis Globe-Democrat.
It is clear now that the number Of alien
arrivals in the United States in the cur
rent fiscal year will be ahead Of all rec
ords. The thrush into New York in the
last few days continues the story which
the earlier weeks of the year told. Up to
April 10 the number Of arrivals in New
York was 3S,076, as compared with 1878
for the same time In 1902. Nor is there
any indication that the incoming wave is
diminishing. On the contrary, the signs
point to an increase. A like report comes
from all the rest of the ports on the At
lantic coast, but OF course the bulk of the
immigration comes by way Of New York.
There is less diffusion among the immi-
grants than there was once. More Of them
stay east of the Alleghanies than did ten
or fifteen years ago. They get work in
the factories and as laborers on the public
works OF all sorts, and make their homes
in the more thickly settled portions Of the
country. A large number, however, come
west of the Mississippi still. and the south
west, as shown by the rush through st.
Louis, is getting many Of them.
In the fiscal year 1902, which ended with
June 80 in that year, the immigration was
GAS, 74S. This shows a continuous rise since
1898, when the number was 229, 299. which
was the lowest level touched since 1879,
when the inflow was only 177,S26. The
1902 immigration was the largest ever
known in any single year except in 1881,
669, 4S1, and 1882, when the number was
| 78S, 1892. It is evident by the gain which
has been mac in the figures since the end
Of last June that the high-water mark
OF twenty-one years ago will be exceeded
| 49,. .z.r mbora fg a Nvfda MARGIN hat Wppn
the number in 1882 and that OF 1902. but
the gain which has been made in the past
three-quarters of a year shows that that
will be passed. The present indications
are that the twelve months ending with
the close of the coming June will see an
inflow Of fully 500, 900 aliens. Some come
in from Canada and from Mexico which
elude enumeration, but It is safe TO pui
the number which arrive through the
other channels at 500. 900 at least. Prob
ably the thrush in the coming twelve
months will be still greater. This de-
ponds chiefly on the prosperity Of the
country, and there are no Indications thai
this will be interrupted in 1904.
In the number Of persons involved, In the
distances covered and in the obstacles sur
mounted this immigration TO the United
States immeasurably surpasses all tho
great race movements OF the World 8 MS
tory. More than 10000. 600 Of Immigrant
have come to the United States since 1921
More than 16, 200, 900 Of these have arrived
since 1860. The incursion OF the Germani
tribes into the Roman empire in the cen
fury before that world-government's fal
was insignificant In numbers compared witt
the inflow OF immigrants into this countr!
in the last forty years. Moreover, Will
that movement was considered at the tim
to be a detrlment, this is known TO be
benefit. some philosophers say. or init
mate, that a large part Of the immigratio.
Of the present day is an injury, but this /
a mistake, except in the case Of an in
hnitesimally small number OF persons. TIL
Italians comprise the largest single in
gredient of the immigration in recen
years, and while this element is not rate
highly by som American authorities, Il
|, loss at home is severely felt. On the whole
the United States has nothing to complai
, Of on account OF the character OF the grea
mass Of its immigrants. Most Of them wi
| be fused into good Americans In a fe'
al years. The children Of most OF them I
r the next generation will be almost as thor
5 oughly amalgamated and Americanized a
are the descendants OF the persons VIII
came over In Msyhower.