Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-04-15
Thousands Of Former lnmi-
grants. are Leaving the
United States for Europe
Every Day and New Arriv-
ais Are Reduced to Min
inum
tBy G. S. s~tzandvold.)

It vas customary only q few years
lso to let pupils in the advanced
grades Of European schools write
compositions ON the theme: "Rea-
6 n why People Emigrate to Ameri-
ca" aud the causes found were as
sariegated as were the minds of the
.~nYenile writer's themselves.
Generally, however. the impression
prevailed that Europeans went to the
New World because they understood
chat the principle Of personal and po-
iitical liberty was more widely recog-
med in tho United States than IN
other countries, and that wages Offer
cd were higher than elsewhere.
Times change, and now American
sociological experts are busy attempt
ing to discover the for emf
grafton from the United States.
Disturbing Faots.
Some Of the facts which are worry
Ing the experts are, as follows:
Since the signing Of the armistce
about $4,000 people have obtained
passports for European points. and 1t
Is estimated that 72,o0o Of these were
returning Immigrants.
Europeans leaving America with
The intantion Of settling permanently
in their home countries are said to
csrry. with them amounts ranging all
the way from $1.5oe to $1,000; in
deed, the savings banks section Of the
American Bankers association esh-
mates that altogether 100000 poo
bringing with them nearly four bill
lion dollars which corresponds to
four-ffths Of the total currency In
circulation and Mn reserve in this
country prior to the war. The saw
ings bank section thinks that proba-
bly, six million people are planning to
return TO Europe within the next few
years.
While these estimates undoubtedly
are somewhat exaggerated, another
H:,turbinE feature Of the situation 1s
tAe fact that the United States con-
@ ,ss is contemplating restrictive i'm
migration for h purpose
Of excluding certain numerous classes
If foreigners from American soil for a
r-riod Of four or. probably, more
y hrs.
European Wages High.
It must also be taken into consid-
as are much higher than wages Of
d in America now. The return
European has an inclination to
~ ,s;der this In q rather superficial
l:eht, for while he Is aIlured by the
lying. amounts aaid to be paid or
- , other sid4 Of the Atlantic for Ia
b.. he forGets the reverss side of the
D4ture-ehe tremendously advanced
Is u living.
IN America We have been voxed bJ
,'gh pricss during tho war, but as Z
'uie wages and salaries have KEPT
j, ce with tho soaring cost Of living
l~. Europe, corresponding fluctuations
y the economic world have been nj
liable, with the difference, however,
mt prices threaten to remain prac.
t'cally above the normal level fol
y~crs to come while a downward
y ,vement 10 generally taking place in
wage scale.
Calculations Were Wrong.
t all events. the pre-armistice pre-.
on that a great tide of European
,igration to America would follow
end OF he war seems to have beer
ed upon erroneous assumptions
.iy a year and a half ago it was est.
mated that millions Of workers woult
leave devastated Europe for the fer
tie and peaceful soil of America
and that, only q very small part o.
Europe wa devastated and had beer
directly affected by the var was otter
overlooked.
The situation now Ia this: An in
creasing number of erstwhile immi'
grants leave America every day of thu
month, and many o will prepar,
to leave IS Don as b difficulties In
cident to the obtaining Of passport
have beer removed.
Figures will illustrate the new de
velopment:
In August, 1918. the department o
labor reports that S.371 left TO
Europe; in September: Ais; Octo
. Der: $685. November: S,286: Do
cember: 10000: January 1878
February: 1864; March: 21,774
During the first eleven days Of tn
present month about 1900 have left
MeanWhile. the number Of incom
ing immigrants arriving at ELL
Island averaged about ono thousand