The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1905-07-26
MILLIONS OF M MIGRANTS.


populated and one of the most inner
emily rich and attractive states in the
union, gains the smallest number o.
desirable immigrants. The reasons
are many. Freight rates on house
hold goods and agricultural products
are prohibitive. Montana is the leas,
advertised of any state in this cOun.
try.
There is an impression abroad that
immigration is decreasing and that
Montana is getting its share OF what
business there is. This is not true.
The impression of the average citizen
is that this country saw its great i'm
migration movement during the twenty
years of railroad construction and the
opening up of the western homestead
lands during the twenty years follow
ing the civil war. Tue average bust.
ness man, east and west, would have
positive convictions to the above eff
feet.
The strange fact of the case is, that
the United States is receiving its
greatest tidal wave of immigration at
the present time, in the year 1905. The
years 1902, 1903 and 1904 broke all
previous records. and 1905 will sur
pass ever the banner record Oft19O3.
Immigration from 1880 to 1890 aver
aged about $4,000 per annum: the
highest records being in 1882 and 1892,
when GOO, 900 was exceeded.
In 1900 the twentieth century record
opened with an immigration for the
fiscal year of 1882. In 1901 the in
vas 49, ,9lS. There was q
marked gain to Gas, TAB in 1902 and
then came the banner record of S51,04t
for the fiscal year ending June 30,
1903, and $50, $50 for the calendar
year ending Dec. 81, 1903.
There is every prospect that 1905
will officially record over 1000, 900
both for the fiscal year ending June
30 and for the calendar year ending
Dec. 81. This is about double the
average annual immigration move
ment of 20 years ago, when immigra.
ton conditions looked the most prom.
Using, and when the country was bid
ding for immigration. During 1905
about 10000 more immigrants have
arrived monthly than during either
1903 or 1904, the former banner years.
It is true that the immigration tide
OF the past three years has been most
notable from southern Europe, rather
than from northern and western Eu.
rope, as in former years. At the
same time, the official figures when
complete for the fiscal year will show
100, 900 arrivals from the United King.
dom, conspicuously from England, to.
gether with about $4,000 from Ger
many Switzerland, Belgium and the
Netherlands, aud about $4,000 nor
from Norway, Denmark and Sweden,
or a total OF 25O, 900 from the countries
OF northern and western Europe, which
is we'll up to the average from those
countries in former years.
The great increase, OF course, is
from Austria-Hungary, Italy, Fin
land and Russia, perhaps $4,000 as
the aggregate of these nation lties for
the fiscal year. The mines, lumber
camps and railroad construction will
divide with the farms and city street
work in furnishing this new labor with
employment, and the southern states
will compete with the north in handl.
ing the new population.
After all it is only a natural and
logical condition, says the CONNER.
cial West. that during this period OF
rapid industrial development in the
southern states of North America the
Immigration movement should draw
heavily upon southern Europe. The
Scandinavians, Germans, English,
Irish and Scotch have naturally i'm
migrated to the northern states, wher,
the climate approXimatcs that in which
they were born in northern Europe
The south Atlantic, gulf, lower Mis-
sissippi valley and Southwestern!
states, which are showing such grea
recent development and have sue
heavy labor and agricultural. ue
mands, can scarcely expect heavy in
migration from northern Europe: Will
southern Europe has hardy worker
acclimated to southern conditions.
The south and east can well tak
care of the 2225,OoO arrivals fro
Austria.Hungary and 100000 fro
Italy: while the north and west a
providing for the 100000 Of Scand
navians, Teutouic and British a
rivals, and perhaps 100000 from FL
land and northern Russia. DOut
less, the greatness OF the country's i
dustrial demands, and the proueue
of the average American TO seek pr
fessional and commercial life to q