The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-12-11
ALIEN ARMY IS VAST
IMMIGRANTS NUMBER 22,0Oo.000 IN
 LAST EIGHTTY-FOUR YEARS.
Italy Sends Its Throngs-Wtlliam F. Curtis Describes the Enormous Influx of Future Citizens
 Of Nation.

Of Nation.
 Washington Special to Chicago Record
 Herald.
 Since the records have been kept. beginning with the year 1S20, 22.000,- ooo immigrants have entered the ports of the United States. and more than 4,5o0, 900 during he last ten years. The total in 1903 was 92f.315 and Tn 1904 it was S40714. During the last five months. since July 1. 1904. the arrivals have been more than 350.00o and they are stiIi coming at the rate of about S,500 a day. During the last two days for which returns have been received November 25 and 26. the total was B.. 800. Since July 1 1902. more than D.. 100000 have been added to our popu lation. and at the present rate the next census will show an increase of 7.500.- 900 by immigration alone. The banner wear for immigrants was 1903. There was a decrease of 80. sol, in 1904, which was confined to Austria Hungary. Italy and Sweden, three of the largest sour ces of immigration.
 Italy contributes more to the growth of our corporation than any o,h.. country having sent us 2so.ss2 of her sons and daughters in 1903 and 1e3. ess m lso4. Austria is the second contri-
 
 and i77.15s in 1904: Russia comes third with total of 136.os3 in 1903 and 145.- l41 in 1904 Sweden sent us 46,0es of her sturly sons and daughters in 1903 and 27.76s in 1904. Commissioner Sar- gent of the Immigration Bureau does not understand the reason for the fall Ing on In the arrivaIs from Italy. Aus tria-Hungary and Norway and Sweden, which altogether amount to S4446 There seems to be no rational explana- ton. Usually variations in the num- Der Of arrivals are due to political and economic causes. but nothing of that kind has occurred recently in the coun- tries named. Nor is there any expla- nation of the unusual number of ar rivals from England and Ireland dur fnE the past few months The exodus from England to this country began about the first of July. 1903 and has continued up to this day. twelve thou sand more immigrants arriving from that country during the fisical year of 1904 than in. 1903. and during the last three months the gain has been twelve thousand over the corresponding period Of the previous year. There is a sfnf- lar exodus from Ireland During the last three-months 7.o70 more immi- grants have arrived fom that country than during the corresponding period for 1883. Meantime the falling-off in arivais from Italy, Austria Hungary and Norway continues. During July. August and September the arrivals rom Austria-Hungary were o224S less than during the corresponding period Tn 1905. and there was a falline-off of 11.02s Italians and 3.165 Swedes. There mas been some incease in the arrivals from Russia. but the number Is not so large as one would expect. considering the danger of conscription for the war.
 mere mas been considerable .n. crease in the arrivals fom Camanv France. Spain. Turkey (which means syria) and several other countries. ex- ceptins Japan, which shows a decrease or S.Ios. This proves the patriotism of the Japanese. who never run away iron, Q war. -''"
 The immigration figures furnish an tHtetesting study, There were nearly twice as many men as women. aIthoush tnere was an increase in the number or women this year. There were 1oe. !oV children under IA years of age and $o'ooo adults over 45 years of age. The unusual number of 640.614 could read ana write. and the total amount of money shown at the immigration sta lions was s2o,ss4,3s3, or Si776. s70 more man was brought in last year This is considered evidence of marked i'm. provement in the character of the inn miHrants The Germans brought the largest amount of money per capita tne Irish next. and then the English. The least money and the greatest de- gree Of illiteracy was found among the Italians and Austro- flung rians, but as Tar as the Italians are concerned illite- racy Is said to he a favorable sign Comparatively few of the hardwork. ing peasants of the interior of Italy can read or write. And those who come from the cities, where better educa- tional facilities are furnished, are said to be the most dangerous class.
 The number of immigrants reiected during the last fiscal year was 1894 a falling of from S.769 during 1903. The largest number of the rejected were paupers H.79S), the next were diseased G,56O). tho next were contract labor CTS Q,50D. The immigration inspec- tors also shut out sixteen idiots, thirty three insane persons, thirty y-five con victs. nine women who were coming in for immoral purposes and one anar- chist.
 The contract labor law Is very strict ly enforced for the inspectors saw that the ingenuity and persistence of those whose interests impel them to resort to foreign margets for labor surpass be- lief and. notwithstanding the watch fulness of the ofiiccrs, thousands of iaoorers are brought Into this country under contract every year. Hence they cannot be too particular, and they ex- a clude even those who have come to this country with assurances from their friends that they can obtain employ ment Many people think Nlat is go- ing rather too far. Tho other day a gentleman who had investigated the subject. wrote Secretary Metcalf com blaming that great injustice Is being done to honest but ignorant people in that respect. "A few of them might have made arrangements to work for some people in this country" he says. put l verify believe that the majority of them had really made no contract; but. not understanding our language and fearing to be remanded if they stated that they had no particular place , where they could find employment, they k would admit that they expected to go to AAwork at this or that place. Mir Will M u9rn& called attan4Jnp