Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1907-12-17
INCREASED IMMIGRATION

immigration for the year ending
June 30, reached the total of 1,285,349
foreigners, a gain over the previous
twelve months of II per cent One
noticeable thing was the increase of
more than 100 per cent for the Jap
anse, chiefly at Honolulu as the port
of entry. However, the total from
the empire of the Mikado was only
30,226.
A few years ago it was common to
hear alarms sounded against immi
grafton, even when the total was
considerably lower than now. But
with the devising of a rigid inspec-
ton as to health, financial ability and
previous record, the great bulk of the
undesirable" are barred out, the
line being drawn so rigidly that fin
some instances newcomers are de-
ported who would no doubt have made
good citizens, but who failed to pass
the standards in every line
One reason why the influx of able
bodied immigrants is viewed with
such satisfaction, is that the indus
tries of this country have expanded
so rapidly that shortage of labor. ex-
listed throughout the entire period
cover by the report. Railroads, mines
the farming industry and manufacture
ing eagerly accepted he incoming tide
as a boon and the men soon were
receiving pay which would have
seemed fabulous in their own coun-
try
immigration to the Southern States
was a new feature of the report. New
Orleans. Galveston and Charleston all
received shiploads of immigrants, and
since June 80 the tide has turned
with greater force to this section.
Heretofore the immigrants nearly
always landed at New York, and
either settled down to increase the
already unwieldy foreign population
of that cosmopolitan city, or were
carried in train loads to the West
The South badly needed additional
labor, following the increasing worth
lessness of a large part of the negro
population, and with climate equal
ed only by that of southern California,
it was believed that exceptional adj
49,, 4o.c.or. ,,,o,,o offocod Dotory,,ipad
efforts resulted in securing a consider
able number of foreigners and these
have, sent back to their old homes
favorable accounts of the situation,
making it easier to get yet other COM
ers.
One unexpected turn i'll the immi-
grafton problem has come within the
last few weeks, when the letting up
in industrial activity somewhat cut
down the forces employed by large
concerns. Instead of these workmen
remaining to be a weight on the la
Dor market, they have been hasten
ing to their old homes in a record
breaking stream. In fact, so large
has the movement become that it has
caused some uneasiness. The foreig
ners had evidently taken advantage
of their high wages to save liberal
sums, and when the stringency came
on, they gathered up their money and
departed to their homes, where living
is much cheaper, until the storm blows
over.
Instead of being a problem as to
keeping away immigrants-eXc the
Asiatics-the Southern states es-
pecially are bending their energies
to inducing desirable foreigners to
come and help in the development of
a land flowing with wealth which
needs more help in the gathering.
For many years there will be room
for desirable immigrants and under
normal business conditions an in
crease will be matter of congratu-
lation rather than of fear