Gilpin observer., 1907-12-19
INCREASE IN
IMMIGRATION
NEW coMERs AGGREGATE MORE
THAN ONE AND ONE
QUARTER MILLIONS
SOUTH SHOWS GAINS
COMMISSIONER SARGENT ADVo.
GATES AN INTERNATIONAL I'M.
MIGRATION CONFERENCE.

shington.-Immigratio to Amer
lea during the year ended June 30,
1907, was vastly greater than in any
previous year Of the history Of the
United States, according to the an
nual report of Frank P. Sargent, COM
missioner general of immigration and
naturalization, which has been made
public. OF this great flood of immi-
grafton Mr.. Sargent says:
"An army Of 1,258,349 souls, that
have come. drawn hither by the free
institutions and the marvellous pros
perity of our country-the chance
here afforded every honest toiler to
gain a livlihood by the sweat of his
brow or the exercise of his intelli-
gence surprising in number the rec
ord of all preceding years.
1.-THE immigration for 1907 exceeds
that for 1906 by 1864 and that for
1905 by 258,S50, or an increase over
1906 of more than seventeen per cent,
and over 1905 of more than twenty
five per cent. During the fiscal year
lJUO lS,foS dlleuS were TeJeCItu dl
our ports during the past year 49,
1G4, an increase of 632; hence the
total number of those who have sought
admission in 1907, viz: 1,29s,513, ex-
ceeds the number who applied in 1906
viz: 1,113,1G7, by 1S5,346."
Commissioner Sargent says it is OF
particular Significance that many i'm
migrants landed at ports in the South
during the past year. and he refers
especially to party of 473 Belgians
excellent types of immigrants-re
ceived at Charleston. South Carolina,
having been induced to go there by
the state authorities. The increase
of immigration to the South, the COM
missioner says, is directly connected
with the growing desire of the South
ern states to draw within their bound
aries number of the better class Of
immigrants, it being considered by
practically all of the leading men Of
the section that the future develop
ment and welfare of the South de-
pends upon its ability to receive and
absorb reliable laboring and farming
element. Striking increases are also
shown at New Orleans, Galveston and
Honolulu.
Twenty-seven countries showed in.
of immigration of some of the coun-
tries is indicated by the following fig
ures:
Austria-Hungary 33S,452, increase
1884; Bulgaria. Servia and Monte
negro 1889, increase 6,G93; France
9,731. increase 345; German Empire,
37,SO7, increase 243; Greece 36,560, in
crease 1901; Italy, including Sicily
and Sardinia 2S5,7S1. increase 1861;
Russian Empire and Finland 25S,943,
increase 1929; Turkey 20, ,767. increase
11,257; England 56,C37, increase 7,146;
Ireland 34,530, decrease 4G5: Scotland
1870, increase 3,S74; China 961, in
crease 5s3; Japan 30,22G. increase 1G,-
391; British North America 1S9.9S1,
increase 1856; West Indies 1869,
increase 3,033.
Interest nominally attaches to the
proportionately large immigration
from Japan. While the exclusion laws
have rendered practically nil the i'm
migration from China, the immigra
ton from Japan, while relatively not
great, has trebled in the past year
This increase is significant, too, be-
cause it comes in the face Of the regu-
lations adopted by the American gov
ernment with the assent of Japan
"hhNh ~ "oo SuPpooOu "ouiu Cui
the immigration of Japanese to this
country very materially.
OF the 13,O64 persons who were
turned back during the year. 1,434
were contract labor, but the number
of contract laborers deported during
the past year was thirty-eight per cent
less than in the preceding year.
The aggregate number of outward
bound passengers, 5G9,SS2, was 73,145
larger than in 1906.
In a discussion Of the new immigra-
ton act. Commissioner Sargent
strongly urges that advantage be Ia.
ken Of provision It contains for call
ing an international immigration con-
ference on immigration and immi.
grants.
Among the recommendations made
by Commissioner Sargent are the fol.
lowing:
That legislation be enacted to check
violations pf the law by professed sea
men.
That marine hospital surgeons be
stationed at the principal ports Of EN-.
barlation abroad to examine aliens
before they start for America.
That surgeons and inspectors. male
and female, be placed on vessels of
the principal steamship lines to ex.
anime incoming aliens.
That arrangements be perfected for
the detention " members OF criminal
classes who seek to come to the Unit.
ed States.
That treaty be negotiated with
Mexico respecting immigration trusts
through that country. Or. II that can
not be done. that the Mexican border
be closed to all aliens except our own
citizens and bona fide residents oi
Mexico.
That harmonious arrangement be
made with the Canadian government
respecting the enforcement OF the i'm
migration laws OF that country, ant