Insane persons. epileptics. those afflicted with tuberculosis or loathsome or dangerous contagious diseases. it shall be compelled to carry such persons back to Europe free of charge and pay the Government of the United States a fine of $100 for each person of these classes rejected. provided the condition of those persons so rejected might have been discovered at the port of embarkation by a competent medical examination. What has been the result of that law? In the 13 months following December 31. 1907. there were rejected at the ports of embarkation in Europe 27.799 intended immigrants as a result of the medical examination held at the expense of the steamship companies. Previous to that time the large numbers of rejections had operated badly upon the German nation. A large proportion of intended immigrants were coming on German lines. and their rejection at Bremen and at the other German ports left them stranded in German cities. to be cared for by the public authorities. To avoid this embarrassment the German Government established along its entire frontier from the south to the north what they call "control stations." At those control stations surgeons are located. and the expense of their maintenance is borne by the steamship companies. Immigrants coming from Russia or Austria or any of the adjoining countries into German territory to take passage. are examined at such control stations. and unless their physical condition is such that they can pass the American test. they are rejected and sent back to their homes. In that one year there were sent back from those stations 11.882 persons. making in all that were rejected by the steamship companies during that period of 13 months 39.681 persons. while we rejected at the American ports all told only 13.064. there were rejected for physical reasons during that period 52.745. but nearly 40.000 of them were rejected by the steamship companies under the operation of that law. Those rejected in 1910 at our ports were only 2 per cent of the arrivals. and those rejected in 1911 were 2.1 per cent. So. when we have looked at the question from all these standpoints. it seems evident that those who have come to us represent a strong physical type. that 95 per cent of them are under 45 years of age. and that they come here with a purpose. These are the encouraging features of this question. It is interesting to notice how the immigrants have been distributed during the different periods. Prior to 1880. as I have already remarked. 55.8 per cent went to the Central Division of the States and 31.1 per cent to the Atlantic. Between 1880 and 1900 the conditions were reversed. Instead of 55 per cent going to the central division only 29.3 per cent went there. and instead of only 31.1 per cent going to the Atlantic division. 61.9 per cent found their way there. During the period of 12 years. from 1899 to 1912. we admitted substantially 9.000.000 immigrants. 70.2 per cent of them went to the Atlantic division of States. which are known as the manufacturing States. 24.2 per cent went to the central division of States: but onehalf of that 24.2 per cent went to the States of Ohio and Illinois. which are manufacturing States. So it is safe to say. I think. that a vast majority of the 82 per cent of the whole number so coming came to seek employment in manufacturing. mining. or smelting industries of the United States.
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immigrants Immigrants