The Adair County news., 1920-08-18
WEST is MAGNET
FOR IMMIGRANTS
Majority of Ellis Island Arrivals
Drawn to Industrial CenterS
by Higher Wages.
IRISH GO TO NORTHWEST
Women and Children Predominate-
Work Increased by New Laws Gov
erning AIiens-Europe Loath
to Let Them Go.

New York.-The stream Of immfgra-
ton flowing through Ellis island has
been noticeahGv DETECTED from New
York city 70 inland center turing the
last twelve months. and onic,als give
this as one explanation for the fact
that the city's 1920 census was only
5,G21.121 instead Of the 100000 ex-
pected.
Official statistics regarding the desti-
nation Of arriving aliens are sent to
Washington to be tabulated and digest
ed. For this reason destination figures
for the last twelve months were not
available. One who most closely
watches alien arrivals is J. F. Rowe,
official money changer He is quick
to notice any unusual movement in the
flow Of immigration.
To the Manufacturing Centers.
Mr.. Rowe asserted that money ex-
changed for immigrants whose destina-
ton is New York city does not amount
to 1 per cent of the amount exchanged
for those giving other parts as their
destination.
"In former years." said Mr.. Rowe,
immigrants poured into New York
city by the hundreds Of thousands.
They are now going to manufacturing
centers such as Pittsburgh, Detroit
and Akron, Ohio, or to the coal and
iron mining regions.
For the most part those arriving
here now were in America before the
war, and are acquainted with the coun-
try and attracted to sections where the
best wages are paid Before the war
a majority of the arrivals had only
hazy ideas as to where they were go
ing or what wages they were to re-
ceive.
Another interesting fact is the
change of location of some of the
races. Not so many years ago most
of the Irish arrivals flowed into Mas
SachuSetts or scattered along the North
Atlantic seabOard. Now they are going
into Oregon. 1t is noticeable, too, that
more aliens are going to California
than ever before"
In January $4,000 aliens arrived
here; February, $1,000; March. 10000:
April. 10000; May, 10000. and in June
up to and including the 10Th, 31,OO0
Superintendent Baker of Ellis island
said this immigration was made up
mostly Of women. children and return
ing reserviStS. These latter are most
ly Italians. and the figures for this
month will show that most of those
who left America to fight for Italy
have returned.
Passports Hard to Get
The fact that no great number OF
male aliens is arriving here does not
mean a lack of desire to come to Amer
ica. the immigration officials say. Rath-
er it means that European govern
ments are not willing to further de-
plete the male adult population by al
lowing it to emigrate. The intending
emigrant is finding it difficult to get
passports under the new immigration
laws. Also ship accommodations are
harder to obtain.
Before the war from four to five
thousand aliens arrived at this port
each day, or about 10000 a month.
Notwithstanding the falling off in ar
rivals, however, Superintendent Baker
said the work probably increased. This
is because Of the changes in the law.
Not only do arriving aliens have to
pass examinations as to moral and
physical fitness, but they must pass
a literacy test and be armed with pass
ports vised by the American consular
agent nearest their home and Endorsed
by the American authority at the port
of embarkation.
Under amendments to the law GER
tain persons are now exempt from the
literacy test and all of these must be
detained to prove that they are en-
titled to exemption. Again, many wom-
en- and children are coming to relatives
here, and these must be detained until
such relationship is proved.
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