The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1904-09-21
ITALIAN IMMIGRATION.
Many TO This country---Commen-
dation of Their Thrifty Char
acter.

from Italy are coming to the United
States, and since not few of them
are settling in Louisiana and other
southern States, some particulars
from the recent annual report Of the
Italian commissioner general Of emil
grafton will be not out Of place.
That emigration Of Italians from
their. native country is growing at
rapidly Increasing rate, IS seen IN the
fact, according to the report mention
ed, that there were 1,052, 1872 Italians
living abroad in 1881, 1883, 206 in
1891. and 3,439, Ola in 1901. Of the
latter number, 654, 900 were scattered
over Europe: 1e8, 900 were in Africa
{Tunis, SO, 900; Algeria, 33, 600: Egypt.
:sS, O001 745, O0e were in North America
i729, 600 in the United States and II :
600 In Canada), and ], $50, 900 were in
South America {68, eco Ia Argentina
and ], 600. coo in Brazil). It is plain
that the new world has the greatest at
traction for these people, South Amer
lea leading North America in that
respect. Brazil Of the yarioEs nations
has the largest nubmer; the United
States come second, and Argentina Is
third.
In his report the Italian commits
sioner general of emigration states
that emigration is necessity for
Itaiy, and If it were not for this safe.
ty valve, this possibility of finding
occupation elsewhere, grave disorders
would occur against the public peace
for the reason that existing territory
and capital In Italy are not sufficient
to give occupation to the mass of the
people. There is no doupt, he says,
that economic progress is being made
in Italy in agriculture as well as in
the industries lin some parts of the
country more, in other parts less.
Anyone who can give good security
can always find credit. Nevertheless.
it is evident that the supply of
hands exceeds the demand 1t is nee
essary that progress along certain men
tai and moral lines keep pace with
increase in capita2, in order that In
dustriai expansion may take place,
and since the spirit Of enterprise and
association, professional instruction,
and good faith in commerce eanaot
easily be spared inpromptu, it is
sometimes necessary to export labor.
Emigration, then, assumes an econ
omic usefulness in different ways,
direct and Indirect; above all through
the savings that sfnlgrants send home
or bring back with them for the relief
of the families, for acquiring hand
and bettering It. and for building
houses, all of which increase the we'll
being Of the villages which send forth
emigrants. Indirectly emigration
stimulates property owners in parts OF
Italy where labor is becoming scarce
to Introduce modification in the rota-
tion of crops, the employment Of
machinery, the use of chemical ferti-
lizers, ETC., by which progress can be
realized. Property owners In certain
sections complain that the land is be-
ing abandoned for lack of workers and
that merchandise is becoming dearer.
1t happens not rarely that land own
ers fail to give active attention to
these matters until they find their pro-
perty deserted. Even then the vacan-
ciss are speedily filled from surround
ing provinces if the wages are aade
somewhat higher.
It is fortunate for Italy, the com
missioner general remarks that The
United states ean always employ 8
large number of Italian workasen,
especially aow thas times are hard in
Brazil, and Argentina is not what i,
was some time ago. The United Sta-
| tes, the report continues in substance,
are IN pe;ed OF extraordinary expsn-
sioon, and there are no signs that
this prosperity is likely to decline.
The report of the oommisssione,
general of emigration states that from
September. 1909, to March. 1904, more
than 6,0O0 emigraaS5s left Italy foi
North an6 South American ports WITH
| prepaid tickets, that is, tickets reeeiv
ed from friends or relatives abroad.
The proportion of prepaid tickets is
| one quarter of the total namber, aad,
| in the case of the Prince line, foi
New York, the proportion of prepaid
tickets was nearly one half the nom-
Der of tickets.
/ The report records that the Banco-
di Napoli, recognized by Italian Law
as suitable depository for emigrants'
money, bad, in 1903. established 4.
branches in the United States. These
banks received 1886, 500 of such none,
| III 1900, and S3,5S3, 81 in .9c5
There are no more Industrious and
| thrifty people who come from abroad
to New Orleans to find the means OF
| subsistence and to- make homes than
the Italians. They know bow te
make a living where our own people
cannot, they are not afraid TO work,
and although some criminals and re.
| tugees from justice are found among
them, an Italian beggar is a rare sight
in this part of the country. The chill.
oren inherit the thrift Of their parents
and rapidly become Americanized il
the public schools and make good citi
zens. There is plenty of work and
opportunity for them in the southern
I! States. New Orleans Picayuue.
Madrid, Sept. 15.-The police today
arrested well known and dangerous