CHAPTER IX.

GENERAL PROGRESS AND ASSIMILATION.

Accumulation of property and money sent abroad-Ownership of homes-Immigrants in business Immigrants in the professions School attendance-Status of children in the households studied-Citizenship-Ability to speak EnglishGeneral influences for and against Americanization-[Text Tables 467 to 484 and General Tables 253 to 261].

ACCUMULATION OF PROPERTY AND MONEY SENT ABROAD.

Thrift among immigrants shows itself in two ways-in the establishment of bank accounts and in the purchase of homes or business property. Closely connected with the first is the remitting of funds to Europe. Recent immigrants and those expecting to return to their former homes, those who have relatives there dependent upon. them for support, or who intend to bring relatives to this country are in the habit of accumulating funds in the banks. Others have arrived at the stage where permanent settlement of the entire family in this country has been accomplished, and these are in the habit of investing their savings in homes and sometimes in small businesses. Originally the aliens deposited their savings with immigrant banks. They lost confidence in these institutions, however, because they cheated in many ways and in numerous cases defrauded depositors of their entire savings. There are now no immigrant banks in Community C. Within the past year or two the aliens have acquired the habit of depositing in American banks. The bulk of such deposits are placed with the community's National Bank.

Of the $150,000 withdrawn from this bank in connection with the recent exodus of immigrants, it is not strange that the greater part was withdrawn by recent immigrants who had acquired no permanent attachment to the country, and who hastened with their accumulated earnings to return to their homes and relatives abroad. The order of various races according to amounts withdrawn was: 1. Servian.

2. Croatian.
3. Magyar.

4. Macedonian.

5. Italian.

6. Slovenian.

715

The following table shows by race and ward the aggregate assessed value of property owned by recent immigrants in the community:

TABLE 467.-Aggregate assessed value of property in each specified ward of Community C, by race of owner.

The table next presented exhibits by race and ward the number of immigrant property owners in the locality.

TABLE 468.-Number of foreign-born property owners in each specified ward of Community C, by race.

It will be noted that in value of property owned the order of races is quite different from the above. Referring to the population of the principal races a truer view of the progress which each has made in the acquisition of property is made possible.

TABLE 469.- Value of property and number of property owners of the foreign-born population of Community C, by race.

Funds are sent home by means of post-office money orders or remittances through New York banks which deal in foreign exchange and which have branches in the community. These branches are usually connected with a steamship agency. The alien does not make remittances home every month, but sends two or three times during the year, in amounts of $30 to $50. The alien who has a wife and family abroad, usually sends them about $100 each year, and he claims this amount is ample for their support.

The amount of money sent from this community to the Old World during 1907 amounted to nearly $700,000; during the period January 1 to December 10, 1908, it amounted to only $220,000. This is due to the departure of many aliens and the reduced earnings of those that remain. Of these totals slightly over 90 per cent was sent to AustriaHungary, although in what proportion by races it is impossible to say.

OWNERSHIP OF HOMES.

In addition to the data obtained from the records of the local assessors, the following table shows the number and per cent of families studied who owned their homes. The exhibit is by general nativity and race of head of family.

Table 470.-Number and per cent of families owning home, by general nativity and race of head of family.

Of the 467 families from whom information was obtained in this community, 24.6 per cent own homes. Upon comparing those whose heads are native-born with the foreign-born, it will be noted that the proportions are practically the same, the former reporting 24.2 per cent, as compared with 24.7 per cent of the latter. Comparing persons classed as native-born of foreign father with those classed as native-born of native father, it will be seen that the former show a much larger proportion than the latter owning homes, or 30.6 as compared with 10.3 per cent.

As regards the several foreign races, the Irish, with 47.6 per cent, show the largest proportion owning homes, followed by the Germans, Slovenians, and South Italians, with 37.5, 33.3, and 31.4 per cent, respectively, while the smaller proportions are shown by the Croatians, Magyars, and Servians; the last named, with only 2.6 per cent owning homes, exhibit a smaller proportion than any other race either of foreign or native birth.

Of persons native-born of foreign father, the Germans, with 31.8 per cent owning homes, have a larger proportion than the Irish and a smaller proportion than the foreign-born Germans; while of the families whose heads are native-born of native father, the native white show a smaller proportion, with the exception of that of the Servians, than any other race. The Magyars in the above table report six families as owning their homes, while only one Magyar family appears on the book of the assessor of the community. This seeming disparity is explained by the fact that the Magyars, in the table immediately preceding, are probably acquiring their homes on an installment basis and the property is assessed in the names of other persons.

IMMIGRANTS IN BUSINESS.

The opportunities for the establishment of businesses by immigrants in Community C arise largely from the ordinary demands of the immigrant population for clothing, groceries, meat, milk, and other necessaries and conveniences. The foreign merchant is willing to live in their midst, and as he speaks their language, he offers advantages not found in the more distant American stores on the leading business street. The Russian Hebrew is in a particularly strategic position in these respects. The goods on sale in immigrant stores are usually of domestic manufacture, the clothing, shoes, and notions being of a cheap grade, the vegetables and groceries, however, comparing more favorably with those bought by the native population. The only stores carrying imported stocks are the Servian bookstores and one of the general stores patronized by several of the Austro-Hungarian races. Clerks are, practically without exception, of the same race as their employer. In many of the smaller places the wife conducts the business while the husband is employed elsewhere. Several Hebrews have established two or three small businesses in different sections, all but one of which they leave in charge of a trusted employee, often a relative.

Delivery wagons are used by the dairies and the general stores doing a business of over $200 a month. A great number of small steamship agencies and subagencies are maintained among the foreign population, many of the stores eking out their sales with business of this kind. The foreign merchants seem to stand well in the eyes of the community. Some of them are men of long residence in the country, thoroughly acquainted with American ways, leaders among their own people, and apparently enjoying the respect to which their achievements entitle them. On the other hand there are, included in the list of foreign merchants, men pointed out as parasites by those familiar with the situation.

It is thought that the tables which follow will present the main facts, so far as they are susceptible of numerical treatment. The

figures for capital invested and sales per month must be regarded rather as careful estimates than as exact statements.

TABLE 471.-Number of immigrants in each specified business of Community C, by race.

Approximate capital invested (premises, fixtures, and merchandise) in immigrant business.

Some of the property included above is used for tenements, as where the store occupies only a portion of the building in which it is located. Stores are also conducted in the front rooms of dwellings. In such cases the total approximate value of premises can hardly be called business capital. It is believed that the figures, although imperfect, will throw some light upon the part played by the various races in the business carried on among the foreign population.

TABLE 472.--- Value of sales per month and number of business enterprises of Community C, by race.