The Crisis of Immigration

The Crisis of Immigration

The greatest changes will be in the Pacific Coast States and those immediately contiguous to them. It is reported that twenty-six great steamship lines9have already arranged to establish lines direct to the Pacific Coast points from Europe, South America, and the eastern part of North America. Here these tides of “trade and travel” will meet the tides from the Orient and Australia and the “islands of the Pacific.” It has already been reported that rates from Europe will be little more to the Pacific Coast points than from Europe to New York. Already large numbers have booked for these points, to come as soon as the canal is opened. Advance agents have been here in great numbers to spy out the land and arrange for colonies from all parts of Europe. In a recent interview a representative of a great steamer line is said to have predicted that beginning with two hundred thousand from Europe the first year, the tide will rapidly increase until it rivals the tide now breaking on our Eastern shores. Not only so, but the tide of population coming from all the States east of the Rocky Mountains is increasing every year. Passenger officials of some of our railroads estimate that this year, 1914, the number of American citizens removing to the Pacific Coast States will number at least two hundred thousand. Large numbers also come from Canada, and this number increases rapidly. The unsettled conditions in Mexico have thrown many thousands of the best people in Mexico within our borders, and most of them will find permanent homes here.