LIST OF TABLES. TABLE 1. Total immigration to Canada from July 1, 1900, to Mar. 31, 1909, by race or nationality Page. 611, 612 2. Total immigration to Canada, 1901-1909, by specified countries or 612 3. Occupation of immigrants to Canada, including accompanying 613 4. Emigration from the United States to Canada, July 1, 1906, to 617 5. Total immigrants admitted and rejected under Canadian and United 6. European immigrants, including Syrian, admitted and rejected 7. The "net immigration" to Australasia for the five decennial periods 8. Immigration to Argentine Republic, 1863 to 1908, by nationality.. 10. Immigration to and emigration from the Argentine Republic, 1871 623 *624 632 640 641 641 11. Immigration movement to Brazil, 1820 to 1907, by nationality.. 645,646 646 THE IMMIGRATION SITUATION IN OTHER COUNTRIES. PART I. CANADA. Canada affords an interesting example of a country with a definite immigration policy and an immigration law admirably adapted to the carrying out of that policy. The Dominion desires immigrants who will aid in developing the newly opened agricultural regions of the West, but the coming of those whose purpose it is to settle in cities and towns is discouraged. The policy of the government in this respect is officially expressed as follows: " 1. Money is expended and administration is exercised with the object of securing immigrants whose purpose in life is to occupy farm lands, either as owners, tenants, or laborers. 2. Money is voted and administration is exercised with the object of excluding those whose presence in Canada would tend to add to the congestion of towns and cities. In pursuance of this policy organized effort is made to secure immigrants from the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Belgium, Holland, Germany, Denmark, Iceland, Finland, Norway, Sweden, and Switzerland, and in such of these countries as permit the promotion of emigration to a foreign country Canada conducts a propaganda for the purpose of inducing or directing emigration to the Dominion. THE PROPAGANDA IN EUROPE. Salaried agents of the Canadian immigration department are stationed in London, Liverpool, Birmingham, York, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Belfast, Exeter, Dublin, Paris, and Antwerp, and under their direction an extensive advertising campaign is carried on. Officially prepared circulars in several languages, setting forth the inducements offered by Canada to agricultural immigrants, are distributed in large numbers; similar advertisements are carried in newspapers and other publications which circulate among the classes most desired; permanent exhibits of Canadian products are maintained in several cities, and traveling exhibits are sent to various sections of Great Britain and Ireland and to agricultural fairs and other exhibitions throughout the United Kingdom. Another feature of the propaganda, and one which particularly indicates Canada's desire for immigrants, is the payment of a liberal bonus to several thousand so-called booking agents in the favored countries. These booking agents are for the most part local steamship ticket agents, and theoretically the bonus is allowed for the purpose of inducing such agents to favor Canada by directing thereto. "Official circular, Superintendent of Immigration, Canada, June 4, 1909. intended emigrants who otherwise might choose a different destination. The bonus paid is £1 ($4.86) on each person 18 years of age or over, and 10s. ($2.43) on persons between 1 and 18 years. In Great Britain it is paid upon tickets to Canada sold to British subjects engaged in the occupation of a farmer, farm laborer, gardener, stableman, carter, railway surfaceman, navvy, or miner, and who signify their intention of following farming or railway construction work in Canada. Female domestic servants also are included. A like bonus is paid on similar classes of immigrants from France, Belgium, Holland, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and Finland. During the fiscal years 1905 to 1909, inclusive, this bonus was paid on 16.5 per cent of all British immigrants, and on 11 per cent of all immigrants from continental Europe, admitted to Canada. In England the Salvation Army is also utilized as an agency to promote emigration to Canada, and grants of money are made to the army for that purpose. It is stated, however, that no immigrants are brought to Canada at the government's expense. The British press is relied upon as a factor in promoting emigration to Canada through news articles relative to the progress and advantages of the Dominion, and also through the publication of letters from persons who have settled there. British newspaper writers and other publicity agents are encouraged to visit Canada, and it is stated that much desirable advertising has resulted. Some years ago Canada inaugurated the plan of sending agricultural delegates to Great Britain to supplement the work of regular immigration agents, and this proved so successful that the practice has been continued. THE PROPAGANDA IN THE UNITED STATES. For many years Canada has regarded the United States as a desirable field for immigration effort. The propaganda here is conducted under the direction of an official designated as inspector of agencies and press agent, and general agents are stationed in sixteen cities. The efforts of these salaried representatives are supplemented by a large number of subagents, who are paid a commission of $3 per man, $2 per woman, and $1 per child on bona fide settlers induced by them to settle in western Canada. During the fiscal years 1905 to 1909, inclusive, this commission was paid on 5.6 per cent of all United States immigrants entering Canada. How the campaign to induce emigration from the United States is conducted is shown in the following extract from the annual report for 1908 of Mr. W. J. White, inspector of agencies and press agent, who directs the Canadian propaganda in this country: " There is not a State in the Union in which Canada is not advertised. The offices of the government are located in the best agricultural sections, with a view to being in easy touch with the surrounding country so as to make it possible for the agents to cover their respective districts with the least trouble. The offices are located as follows: M. V. McInnes, Sixth Avenue Theater Block, Detroit, Mich. Jas. N. Grieve, Spokane, Wash. J. S. Crawford, 125 West Ninth street, Kansas City, Mo. Report of Superintendent of Immigration, Canada, 1908, pp. 86-88. T. O. Currie, 108 Third street, second floor, Milwaukee, Wis. Thos. Duncan, 30 Syracuse Bank Building, Syracuse, N. Y. The work of these agents is very much the same in character. At almost all the offices there are one or two assistants, whose duty it is to look after the correspondence, issue the certificate which entitles the applicant to the reduced rates afforded by the Canadian railroads to the actual settler, and give to the caller all available information. At the end of the week the assistant keys the letters received according to post-offices and districts. The agent then selects the district that he should visit during the next or coming weeks and advises one or more of the correspondents that he will meet them and their friends at some given place on a set date, or if this is not possible, when necessary he visits the individual correspondent. He carries with him samples of the grains and grasses of central Cañada, has with him a supply of literature, and quotes rates from their home to such a point in western Canada as they may desire to go to. He assists the intending settler by securing him the lowest freight rates for his stock and effects, advises him the best way in which to get cars, and afterwards follows the course of the car to its destination. Very often the male members of the family move in advance of those dependent. When this occurs it is the duty of the agent to assist the family in every way possible in order to get a start. During the fall of the year exhibits of grain and grasses, roots, vegetables, etc., with which the agent has supplied himself, are taken from fair to fair and tastefully arranged, then the agent's time is pretty well occupied in this way for from two to three months. A chain-letter system is adopted, which is very effective in getting the names of those in a neighborhood who would likely be interested in Canada. To the names thus secured literature and circulars are sent, and it is surprising the amount of effective work that is done in this way. It is sometimes the case that the manner in which one State may be worked will differ from another State. In each case, however, the agents keep me advised as to what they feel is the best course to pursue, and I am always prepared to accept and act upon such suggestions as may be safely adopted. In some cases it is found that the management of a fair does not care to allow our exhibits to be placed, but these cases are so rare that it is scarcely necessary to refer to them. In most cases there is no difficulty whatever in securing space, and in others managements have requested that we exhibit, offering a space free of charge. Generally, however, we rent a space in some building, and sometimes, unable to do this, ground space is rented. On this ground a temporary structure is sometimes erected, and in other cases a tent is secured, in which exhibits are placed. It is often necessary, in order to interest people in a certain district, to secure the assistance of one or two or more responsible men. Various ways are adopted in order to do this. One of the best methods is to secure transportation for these people and send them through to our western provinces to report to their friends. The agent fills up his report very carefully, and in this way gets in touch with a good class of people. Again, parties are accompanied as far as the boundary line, as there is a possibility that in passing through some of the Western States towns some of the people who may have been directed by the efforts of local agents to Canada may become interested in American lands. I referred in my last report to the inducements held out by Texas land agents. The railroad rates from St. Paul, Chicago, Des Moines, Omaha, Kansas, Indianapolis, and other points to Texas lands were much lower than those to Canada. The Western Passenger Association, however, has adjusted this, so that the rates are now more even; therefore some of this difficulty has been overcome. There is still opposition, and considerable of it is owing to the fact that Texas lands are reasonably low in price and an army of agents are at work throughout the country setting forth the advantages in Texas from a settler's standpoint. |