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EMPLOYEES FOR WHOM INFORMATION WAS SECURED.

The following table shows the number and percentage of employees of each race for whom information was secured, by sex:

TABLE 100.-Employees for whom information was secured, by sex and general nativity and race.

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CHAPTER II.

RACIAL DISPLACEMENTS.

History of immigration-Reasons for the immigration of the several races-Period of residence in the United States of foreign-born employees and members of their households-Racial classification of employees at the present time-Racial composition of the present population-Probable future immigration-[Text Tables 101 to 103 and General Table 96].

HISTORY OF IMMIGRATION.

The first immigrants to the community were the people of Englishspeaking races. Irish immigration began in 1832, when one Peter Larkins settled in the town. From 1835 to 1860 many Irish arrived. After the civil war there was a rapid increase in the Irish population until, in 1868, probably 3,000 people of Irish birth were included in the population. During the next twenty-two years the influx of Irish immigrants to Meriden still continued, but to a less extent, and immigration during the latter part of the period was much lighter than at an earlier date. By 1900, or even a little earlier, the immigration had ceased, and it has not been revived. The present population of the Irish race is slightly over 6,000.

As early as 1845 there were some English in the community, and men of this race continued to arrive in large numbers up to the time of the civil war. After the war there was a limited amount of English immigration until about 1880, when the movement slackened considerably. By 1890 it had almost ceased. At present there are some 2,000 English in the city, together with about 100 Scotch and 15 Welsh. The French Canadian immigration to this locality began as early as 1850, and has continued steadily since that time. In 1880 the French Canadians in the community numbered 1,150, and in 1908 the population of French Canadian race was about 1,950. Since 1890, or even earlier, many of the French Canadians who have settled in the community have not come directly from Canada, but from other towns of New England. While the French Canadian population has grown by emigration, as well as by its own natural increase, it would have been still further augmented had there not been persons of French Canadian race who moved from Meriden to other cities. The panic of 1907 caused a slight increase of French Canadian immigration, for the reason that the silverware industry, which gave employment to a large proportion of the French Canadian population, was one of the last to be affected by the panic, although it afterwards suffered as severely as any other industry in the community.

There were, in 1909, almost as many German as Irish immigrants in the community. German immigration began as early as 1852. In 1868 there were about 100 families of Germans, numbering some 400 persons, residing in the community, and by 1876 the entire German population was about 500. At about that time there was an

increase in the volume of German immigration. This immigration was largest in the years from 1880 to 1884. It decreased in the years that followed and in 1898, ceased altogether. Its cessation was due, no doubt, to the immigration to the community of numbers of unskilled laborers of other races. In 1909 there were in the city about 5,000 persons of German stock, of whom about 2,200 were males and about 2,800 were females.

The first permanent resident of Swedish race reached the community in 1865, and it was not until some ten years later that a second arrived. From 1875 on, Swedish immigrants came to the city in small numbers, and the Swedish immigration reached its highest point by 1880. Since 1890 very few Swedes have immigrated. In 1909 the Swedish population was about 950. While immigrants from the north of Italy came to the community in 1855 and 1872, Italian immigration did not begin upon a considerable scale until about 1885. The great majority of all the Italians who came to the community have been natives of southern Italy. From 1887 to 1905 South Italian immigration was small but constant. Since 1905 it has practically ceased. The South Italian population of the community in 1909 was about 1,200. Polish immigration to the community began in 1880, when the first Poles settled in the city. In 1882 there were only four families in the city, but during the following year 100 more persons of Polish birth arrived. From 1884 to 1895 Polish immigrants came in at the rate of about 100 a year, and in the following ten years at least 500 more were added to the population. The next three years saw a falling off in Polish immigration. In 1909 the Polish population was estimated at 2,000. The arrival of a Hebrew tailor in 1872 marks the beginning of Hebrew immigration to the community. In 1880 there were 10 Hebrew families in Meriden, and in the following year the first Jewish religious society was formed. A house of worship was built in 1891. From 1886 on the immigration was slow, but there were, in 1898, 50 families in the community. The next year saw an increase of 25 families. In the past ten years only 12 families have been added to the population. There were, in 1909, 175 families of 450 people. Most of these people were Russian Hebrews.

Besides the races dealt with above, other races from southern and central Europe have contributed something to the foreign-born population of the community. The Lithuanians number about 100, the Greeks 50, the Armenians and Syrians 25, the Slovaks 30, the Slovenians 12, and the Chinese about 11. So far as can be determined, these races, with a possible exception of Lithuanians, have come to the city within the last ten years.

Plant No. 1 was established in 1835. The company owning this plant is engaged in the manufacture of plated silverware, and the working force as first constituted consisted of Americans, English, Irish, and a few Scotch. Up to 1850 the immigrant labor of the factory was drawn from the three last-mentioned races. From 1850 to 1860 some Germans and French Canadians were given employment, and a few Welsh and Swedes also entered the industry. Until 1880 the working force was made up of the races above enumerated In 1880 a few Italians, Poles, Slovaks, Russians, and Magyars were employed, and since that time these races have furnished by far the

largest number of immigrant employees in the factory. At the present time no English, Irish, Scotch, Welsh, Swedes, or Germans are coming into the industry, and all immigrant labor is secured from among the races of southern and eastern Europe.

REASONS FOR THE IMMIGRATION OF THE SEVERAL RACES.

The immigration of the English-speaking races to Meriden was due to industrial causes. The Irish came to Meriden because they could secure work on the farms and later in the factories, and the English of Birmingham and Sheffield were induced to come there to work in the silverware and cutlery industries, and they came equipped with their trades. Similar inducements were offered to the Scotch and Welsh, who went into the cutlery industry and to a less extent into the silverware industry.

With very few exceptions the French Canadians came to the city in order to secure work in the plated silverware industry. The large German population is probably due to the demand for skilled workers in the silverware and other industries. High-grade workers were required in the different occupations, and as the majority of the German immigrants had learned a trade before coming to the United States, they found ready employment upon arrival. The Swedes came to the community by chance, but the first arrivals. communicated with friends in the old country, and. in this way the population was increased. Like the Swedes, the Italian immigrants had no particular reason for coming to Meriden, and their number was augmented through correspondence with friends and relatives. With the Polish immigrants, the possibility of obtaining work was the chief reason for coming to the community. The first comers drew their friends, families, and relatives after them.

The Hebrew immigrants came to the community for the purpose of trade, and in some cases in order to secure employment in the factories.

The Lithuanians, Slovaks, and Slovenians have taken up their residence in Meriden on account of the work to be had in the gun shops and foundry; the Greeks and Syrians to enter the candy and bootblacking and cobbling trades; and the Chinese to carry on the laundry business.

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