Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-10-04

, no man can say how long the war will
last or how greatly 1t will exhaust the
countries. 1t is unthinkable. however,
| that any OF the countries will forever
remain PROSTATE. and il is more rea-
sonablc to believe that England, France
and Germany Will at once start upon
program of reconstruction; Austria
hungary, Serbia, Italy and Russia Will
he apt 10 recover themselves moro
slowly: Turkey is not prosperous in tho
best CT times and may be left out OF
the calculation.
With some Of these countries actively
rccoi structing and others engaged IN
an attempt to start work. industry Will
demand great numbers OF men. There
VIII be thousands OF things to do.
towns and cities must be- built rail-
roads and bridges reconstructed fac
tories erected: in short, because this
war has been the most destructive
known. the required reconstruction
VIII needs be the greatest known.
Europe viii not only have much
work TO do but she " i'll have compare
lively few workmcn; enormous num-
bers OF able bodied men have been and
VIII lie killed in battle and an even
| greater number Will end the war
manned and crippled or so racked by
disease that they will be useless for
their former daily tasks
Immigrants VIII Not Come ms Formerly
Europe VIII have more work than
men II the reconstruction is undertaken
on any extensive scale. Shortage OF
men means a rise in wages. Therefore
Europe and tho United States will be
competitive bidders in the labor mar
ket' but not on equal terms. Imrni-
grants come TO the United states to
Detter themselves, and they will not
come unless they have reasonable
chance OF obtaining a Job at a higher
wage. considering the increased cost
! OF living, than they can find at home
only the Russian Jews enter the United
states because OF religious and political
conditions at home, and want TO escaoe
| oppression. The ordinary Immigrant
comes here for a lob
Inc United States has always paid
higher wages than Europe: Europe has
never been an active competitor with
! us for labor Therefore Immigrants
VIII not come 10 us in the future an
they have in the past. II Europe re-
covers itself in the manner II is ex-
, pectcd The immigration laws will
PROBABLY shut out most of the Grip
pies ana those who might become i'm
mediate public charges. There remain.
the immigration from Poland and other
sections or Europe which have been
so torn and worn that rebuilding will
De most difficult; many OF the peasants
VIII not care 10 undertake the task
~ sepa'rihG inc devastation of the shot
ana shell and they will immigrate
Many immigrants do not come her. 70
stay; they do not go out into the conn
Try and make homes for themselves and
| mus become permanent inhabitants.
Instead. they flock TO the cities. content
with conditions as they find them. an
lohG As they can save money for a re-
turn voyage and competency at hon,o
great proportion Of all the immi
grants live in cities. and more than
Two 'hirds OF them are east OF the Miss
issippi River and north of the Ohio
River. 'o
DO not look for an Immediate turn
In the course of immigration after the
war unless Europe starts its recon-
struction moro quickly than now seems
possible.