Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1905-08-06

49, lowing article:
LAS many rivulets and brooks go to make
up and feed the mighty and extensive
water courses of America, so have many
and varied ethnic streams, Of greater or
less volume, contributed to the rapid
growth of our population and the swift and
extensive development and expansion of
our country.
In 1920 our population was a little less
than 100000. It was mainly of Anglo
Saxon origin and nearly all Of 1t OF the
Germanic race. 1t was very homogeneous
and composed almost entirely of the de-
scendants Of the immigrants who came to
the country prior to the revolutionary war
There were no regular statistics of immi-
grafton prior to 1870, but 1t is estimated
that between 1888 and 1920 only 100000 i'm
migrants came to our shores, Since 1920
immigrants have poured in from all parts
Of the old world, in fiuctuating but ever
increasing numbers, until che aggregate
equals nearly 2S,OOO,OOO OF this number
about 100000 belong to the various
branches and elements of the Germanio
race, such as the people from Germany,
Great Britain, Holland and the Scandi-
navian countries, while about 6,OO0 600 be-
long to the different branches of the Latin,
Slav, Polish, Hungarian and other kindred
races
The larger portion Of this immigration
has come from the lower and middle
classes Of the old world. Economic condi-
tions and drawbacks have in the main
been the chief inducement for emigration
although in many instances political and
social conditions have increased the vol
ume. To a very largo extent the immi-
grants have reinforced and added TO the
laboring and producing classes. They have
constituted the great labor supply of our
country, commencing at the bottom of the
Industrial ladder and gradually working up
ward. And a new and comparatively I'M
developed country, such as ours has been,
stood in need OF just such a reinforcement,
Our great industrial army needed privates
and subalterns rather than commissioned
officers. And the advantages of our coun-
try have been suca that the thrifty and
industrious laborer could by his efforts
soon reach the higher ranks become his
own labor giver and in many instances be-
come a captain OF industry
What Newcomers Bring in Money,
While Il Is true that as a whole the immi-
grants have not brought much ready money
with them--a low and safe estimate would
DO at least $40 per head, or an aggregate
OF A~zHtuNNtVNN--Atl NutlI ldDOT NdluG 10 lue
country has IN the aggregate been i'm
mense and far-reaching. The labor value
OF an immigrant between the age of Il
and 40 years has been estimated by our
statsticians at from $500 to si.2OO per cap
tia. II is estimated that 70 per cent of ouI
immigrants are between these ages TAX
ing the lowest estimate Of the labor value
Of an immigrant-SSOO-as a basis, II ap
pears that immigration has added in labor
value upward Of $4,000. 10000 TO the wealth
and resources OF the country, a sum largely
In excess OF the production OF our gold and
silver mines since 1872 Aud this has beer
one OF the great factors in the rapid and
immense Industrial and economic develop
meut and expansion of our country, with
out which We could not have made th'
progress and advancement We have made.
The 2S.OO0,Oo0 immigrants ana their di
rect descendants constitute more than one
half OF the 100000 people now within tn
continental boundaries OF the Unite,
States. Without this immense immigra
ton there would not IN all probabilities
today. be over 100000 people within ou
borders on this continent.
While all this Immigration has been va
ried and heterogeneous, our country hal
50 oar fouad no difficulty in absorbing an,
Amsrieanizing the same. No compulsor!