TABLE 6.-Persons for whom detailed information was secured, by sex and general nativity and race of individual-Continued.

The table next presented shows the number and percentage of male employees of each race engaged in furniture manufacturing in Grand Rapids, Mich., for whom information was secured:

TABLE 7.-Total number of male employees for whom information was secured, by general nativity and race-Grand Rapids, Mich.

TABLE 8.-Male employees of each race for whom information was secured-Grand Rapids,

Mich.

The table below exhibits the number and percentage of male employees of each race for whom detailed information was secured, for the entire industry.

TABLE 9.-Male employees of each race for whom information was secured.

CHAPTER II.

RACIAL DISPLACEMENTS.

History of immigration-Racial composition of working force in 1900-Period of residence in the United States of foreign-born employees and members of their households-Racial classification of employees at the present time-[Text Tables 10 to 17 and General Tables 4 and 5].

HISTORY OF IMMIGRATION.

As illustrative of the racial movements to the industry, the history of immigration to two representative furniture manufacturing localities in the Middle West-Grand Rapids, Mich., and Rockford, Ill.— may be briefly given.

GRAND RAPIDS, MICH.

Grand Rapids, Mich., has a national reputation as a furnituremanufacturing center. The names of its shops are known in every part of the United States, but to a very small number of the thousands of persons who regard the city as a center of the furniture industry is it known that more than 85 per cent of the employees in its shops are aliens. The specimens of the wood-carver's art which are offered for sale in the stores of the larger cities of the United States and the plain kitchen chairs found in the homes of the laboring classes are both the production of the furniture plants of Grand Rapids. Dutch, German, Swedish, Polish, and Lithuanian immigrants have developed these shops and have given the city its present industrial recognition.

From an industrial standpoint Grand Rapids is essentially a furniture-manufacturing community, but its activities are not limited to this one industry. There are several large machine and foundry shops, wagon and carriage shops, brickyards, flour mills, and a number of smaller miscellaneous establishments that offer employment to the immigrant residents of the city. The United States census of 1900 states that there were in the census year 824 industrial establishments in the city that gave employment to 14,361 wageearners. Thirty-four of these establishments were furniture plants, employing 6,236 wage-earners, just a little less than half of the total number of persons employed in the industrial shops of the city. In 1908 there were 49 furniture factories operating in the city, employing over 7,000 workmen, of which 85 per cent were immigrants.

All races found in the community have helped to build up the industries, and in the development of the furniture factories the Dutch (Hollanders), Germans, Poles, Swedes, and Lithuanians have been conspicuous. During the last few years the Poles have filled all vacancies occurring in the labor forces of the furniture manufacturing establishments.

a

Prior to 1840 the people settling in the territory now known as the State of Michigan were French, from the Canadian provinces; natives from the eastern part of the United States; Irish and Germans in small numbers; and a sprinkling of the other European races. These last were so few in number, however, as to almost escape notice. But about 1840 the people of Michigan suddenly realized that the surrounding States were receiving large numbers of immigrants, while they were securing hardly any. An attempt was made to discover the reasons for this condition, and one historian, in writing on the subject, said: "This was due partly to the influence of the boatmen on the lakes and partly, no doubt, to the very discouraging reports which had been made in previous years by government officials and others of the character of the soil and climate of Michigan." This agitation resulted in the establishment of several societies in different communities throughout the State for the promotion of immigration, and in 1842 the movement was organized in Grand Rapids at a public meeting. A number of persons wrote pamphlets setting forth the advantages which the State had to offer to immigrants, and distributed copies of them over the United States, sending some to Europe. In 1843 the newspapers of the State took up the effort and attacked the state government on the grounds that no attempt was being made to induce immigrants to come to Michigan, while the States of Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Iowa were being rapidly settled. In answer to the public clamor for some action, the governor of Michigan appointed an "immigration agent" in 1845, and the State appropriated $700 to encourage immigration. These efforts soon bore fruit, and in the year 1846 began what soon developed into a general immigration, which has continued during the past sixty years.

The city of Grand Rapids was first settled in the year 1825, when a mission station was established by a French priest acting under the Roman Catholic Church. In 1832 a number of pioneers from the Eastern States entered the community and built permanent homes. These early pioneers were followed in 1835 by a small group of Irish, who added a permanent colony to the new settlement. These Irish settlers were attracted to the locality chiefly by the opportunity to secure employment on a canal which was then being surveyed. Later, in 1841-2, when the canal was extended, the Irish colony was again enlarged. In 1840 several families of Germans from Westphalia entered the locality and established permanent homes. Eight years later these first German settlers were joined by several hundred more of their countrymen, and an important German colony was established.

As a result of the efforts on the part of the State to induce immigrants to settle in Michigan, a large number of Dutch (Hollanders) from the Netherlands arrived in 1846 and formed a large colony in Ottawa County. A few of these Dutch removed to Grand Rapids in the same year. During the years 1848-9 a large number of the same race who were leaving the Netherlands to escape military serv ice and for religious reasons settled in Grand Rapids. Until the

a Baxter's History of Grand Rapids, Mich., P. 191.
b Everett, "Memorials of the Grand River Valley."

close of the year 1881 their immigration to the city showed an annual increase, but since that date the Dutch influx has gradually fallen off, until at the present time only a very few of the race are settling in the community. The year 1850 brought English, Scotch, Russions, Hebrews, and Canadians to the city. The Scotch came in large numbers, and to-day they are among the most representative citizens of Grand Rapids. The English who arrived at that date are now leaders both socially and industrially. Only a very few Russian Hebrews entered the community in 1850, and nearly all of them became identified with its mercantile life. The first of the Poles arrived in 1854, and after the civil war, until 1880, quite a number of them settled in the city. The early Polish settlers were farmers, although numbers of them secured employment in the factories and shops. In the year 1854, also, Bohemians came, but there have never been many members of that race in the city. From the close of the civil war to 1890 Belgians, Swedes, Norwegians, Danes, and Finns were added to the list of races in the community, and important additions were made to the foreign colonies which had been established in previous years. During this period the Dutch (Hollanders), Poles, and Irish immigrants were numerous. The Dutch now constitute about 31.8 per cent of the total population of the city. The Scandinavian immigrants, principally the Swedes, who have settled in Grand Rapids, have brought a skilled industrial training with them. They entered the different factories and shops, and to-day are regarded as among the best mechanics employed. The Dutch were in nearly every instance skilled workmen and men of education who were able to adapt themselves to American methods and institutions. What may be termed the recent immigration to Grand Rapids began in the year 1890, when the Lithuanians made their appearance. The Lithuanians were followed in 1900 by the Syrians, Russians, and a few South Italians. Of the older races in point of residence in the city the Poles have greatly increased in numbers since 1890. The Dutch can also be mentioned in this regard. The Lithuanians and Russians have entered the factories and are found to be very good workmen. The Syrians have entered the street trades chiefly, while the South Italians are found in the laboring occupations, such as general construction and repair work. The South Italians are regarded as the least desirable group of immigrants in the city.

The total population of Grand Rapids in 1909 was estimated at 110,000. Of this total only 39.1 per cent were Americans. The immigrants numbered 67,000, of which the Dutch (Hollanders) composed 52.2 per cent, and about 31.8 per cent of the total population of the city. The estimated population of the city in 1909, is set forth in the following statement by races, and nationalities. Opposite each race or nationality is set forth the date of the arrival of first representatives in the city.

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