A REMARKABLE EXODUS

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 1971, 5 January 1907, Page 4

A REMARKABLE EXODUS

No page in history reveals a migration such as that of the Irish to America. Tlie figures are astonishing, from 1840 to IBUU an additional million made a fresh start in life in tho great republic over tho seas, and from rdbU to tlie present time another million was added to their population. Since 1800 the average has been half a million a upcade. The twelve agri..uiLuiai acutes, represented by Ohio,

....liana, imeiiigan, Illinois, Wisconsin, Missouri, lowa, Minnesota, Kansas, Nebraska, North and South Dakota, contain one-fourth of the five millions. Ol tlie portion settled in the North Atlantic States, but one-filth are on farms; but tliis tendency to crowd' into the towns disappears when the surroundings are agricultural, as is shown by tliii large percentage—over 50—ol those who liavo taken to farming in tho twelve agricultural States above-mentioned, it is only because tlie bulk of tlie Irish in America are not in the midst of farming districts tiiat they are less an agricultural people than the other immigrant elements added to the population. They have found an outlet tor tlmir energies in tfip eppgpstecj tricts, and their wonderfully adaptive natures liavo allowed them easily to enter upon the industries of the people among whom they are thrown. It is ill the eastern States that tlie Irish xiromise to ultimately constitute a majority of tlie population. This is already tho case m three New Knglaiid States and in many New England cities. In New York Citv they are barely behind tlip Bermans, and also slightly so in Chicago.