A Look At The People Coming Through Ellis Island
Photo 317: Cossack Immigrants, of whom about 5,500 were admitted in 1906.
THE following series of illustrations, showing different types of the immigrants who are now pouring into the United States in even greater numbers than in 1905 and 1906, were obtained through the courtesy of Hon. F. P. Sargent, Commissioner General of Immigration.
The immigrants were photographed immediately after disembarking, and are here shown just as they landed, most of them were still clad in their native costume, which will be discarded, however, within a few hours.
No migration in history is comparable to the great hordes that have crossed the Atlantic during the past 20 years to enter our territory. In 1905, 1,026,499 immigrants were admitted; in 1906, 1,100,735, and in the present year the total will exceed the record of 1906 by many thousands. Since June 30, 1900, 6,000,000 have been admitted, of whom probably 5,500,000 have settled permanently in the United States.
The report of Mr. Sargent for 1906, recently issued, contains much interesting information about the character and qualifications of the immigrants. Perhaps the most striking fact is that less than 5 per cent of the newcomers have reached or passed the age of 45.
Of the arrivals in 1906, 913,955 ranged in age from 14 to 44, 136,273 were less than 14 years old, and only 50,507 had reached or passed the age of 45. More than two-thirds of the immigrants were males, the figures being 764,463 men and boys and 336,272 women and girls.
About 28 per cent of the total number were illiterate, which is a very large proportion when we consider that only 6.2 per cent of the total white population of the United States and only 4.6 per cent of the native-born whites in 1900 were illiterate.
The immigrants brought to the country cash amounting to $25,109,413. It is exceedingly interesting to note the difference in financial condition between certain of the races.
For instance, while the number of Hebrew aliens admitted was more than three times as great as the number of English, the former brought $2,362,125 with them and the latter $2,610,439, while the 144,954 Germans and Scandinavians brought $5,091,594 ; the 263,655 South Italians and Greeks brought only $4,183,398, and while 16,463 Scotch were able to show $820,759, more than twice as many members of the Slovak race produced only $526,028.
There were debarred during the year 12,432 aliens, of whom 2,495 belonged to the Hebrew race, 2,121 to the Italian, 1,000 to the Polish, and 1,867 to the German.
More than one-third of the entire number of immigrants-374,708 stated that they intended to stay in the State of New York, while one-sixth of them-198,681 —asserted that they were going to Pennsylvania ; 86,539, or about one-twelfth, were avowedly destined to Illinois; 73,863 intended to reside in Massachusetts, and 58,415 were en route to New Jersey ; 880,036 entered through New York, 62,229 through Boston, 54,064 through Baltimore, 23,186 through Philadelphia, 6,201 through Galveston, and 2,051 through New Orleans.
Photo 318: A German Family of One Daughter and Seven Sons
While the proportion of Germans arriving is much less than in former years, considerable numbers are still seeking the United States, the total in 1906 is 86,813. Less than one-half of these, 37,564, came from Germany
Photo 319: A Scotch Family of Seven Daughters and Four Sons
The United Kingdom sent us 102,193 immigrants in 1906, as follows: England. 49,491; Ireland, 34,995; Scotland, 15,866; Wales, 1,841. More than two-thirds of our total annual immigration are men and boys, the figures for 1906 being 764,463 males and 336,272 females.
Photo 320: Typical Russian Hebrew Family
153,748 Hebrews were admitted in 1906. This year the number will be greater. They come principally from Russia
Photo 321A: Finnish Girl
Photo 321B: Russian Sisters
14,000 Finns arrived in 1906. The Russian Empire contributed 215,665 of our immigrants in 1906 most of them being Hebrews
Photo 322A: Alsace Lorraine Girl
Photo 322B: Finnish Family
Photo 323: Polish and Slovak Women
135,000 of these people were admitted in 1906
Photo 324A: Ruthenian Girl
Photo 324B: Typical Southern Italian Girl
286,814 Italians arrived in 1906, of whom 240,528 were from Southern Italy and Sicily. The Roumanians come from Galicia, in Austria-Hungary, and numbered 16,257
Photo 325A: Holland Children
Photo 325B: Holland Women
About 5,000 of these people arrive yearly
Photo 326: Typical Roumanian Peasant
Little Rumania sent us 4,500 of her men and women in 1906
Photo 327: Roumanian Shepherd's Family as They Appeared on landing in New York
Photo 328: Hindus and Parsees
Less than one hundred arrived last year
Photo 329: Arabs
Only a few representatives of this people come to the United States
Photo 330: Hungarian Family
Photo 331: Servian Gypsies
Photo 332: Children's Roof Garden at Ellis Island
Photo 333: Excluded Gypsies About To Be Deported
SOME OF OUR IMMIGRANTS
Immigrant Aliens Admitted into the United States, by Countries, During the Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 1906
| Country or Region | Immigrant Aliens Admitted |
|---|---|
| Austria | 111,598 |
| Hungary | 153,540 |
| Belgium | 5,099 |
| Bulgaria, Servia, and Montenegro | 4,666 |
| Denmark | 7,741 |
| France, including Corsica | 9,386 |
| German Empire | 37,564 |
| Greece | 19,489 |
| Italy, including Sicily and Sardinia | 273,120 |
| Netherlands | 4,946 |
| Norway | 21,730 |
| Portugal, including Cape Verde and Azore Islands | 8,517 |
| Romania | 4,476 |
| Russian Empire, and Finland | 215,665 |
| Spain, including Canary and Balearic Islands | 1,921 |
| Sweden | 23,310 |
| Switzerland | 3,846 |
| Turkey in Europe | 9,510 |
| United Kingdom: | |
| - England | 49,191 |
| - Ireland | 34,995 |
| - Scotland | 15,866 |
| - Wales | 1,841 |
| Other Europe | 48 |
| Total Europe | 1,018,365 |
| China | 1,544 |
| Japan | 13,835 |
| India | 216 |
| Turkey in Asia | 6,354 |
| Other Asia | 351 |
| Total Asia | 22,300 |
| Africa | 712 |
| Australia, Tasmania, and New Zealand | 1,682 |
| Pacific Islands, not specified | 51 |
| British North America | 5,063 |
| British Honduras | 80 |
| Other Central America | 1,060 |
| Mexico | 1,997 |
| South America | 2,757 |
| West Indies | 13,656 |
| United States | 32,897 |
| All other countries | 115 |
| Grand total | 1,100,735 |
The new immigrant law, which goes into effect July 1, contains important restrictions which will enable the immigration officials to debar imbeciles, weak-minded and other undesirable classes with greater effectiveness than in the past. It also includes a provision preventing the entrance of children under 14 years of age unless accompanied by, or plainly intended for, the parent or guardian.
The law also increases the head or entrance tax on each immigrant from $2 to $4. While the law defines more sharply the undesirable classes, it is doubtful if it will reduce the number of immigrants now seeking our land.
The National Geographic Magazine, Vol XVIII, No. 5, May 1907
