ITALIAN AND OTHER LATIN IMMIGRANTS. 341 



ITALIAN" AND OTHEE LATIN IMMIGRANTS. 



By Dr. ALLAN MCLAUGHLIN, 



U. S. PUBLIC HEALTH AND MARINE HOSPITAL SBRVICE. 



ITALIAN immigration was insignificant until 1880. In that year 

 we received about 12,000 Italian immigrants, and since that time 

 the number increased steadily until the year 1891, when 76,000 arrived 

 in the United States. This number was not exceeded until 1899, when 

 the total yearly Italian arrivals began again to increase and in the past 

 year (1903) leached the astounding total of 233,546. Eighty-five per 

 cent, of this total was made up of southern Italians. The following 

 tables indicate the distribution of Italians landed in the United States 



in 1903: 



North Italians. 



South Italians. 



In considering Italian immigrants it is necessary to recognize the 

 differences existing between northern and southern Italians. The 

 northern Italian is taller, often of lighter complexion, and is usually 

 in a more prosperous condition than his brother from the south. The 

 northern Italian is intelligent, can nearly always read and write, and 

 very often is skilled in some trade or occupation. He compares favor- 

 ably with the Scandinavian or German, and his desirability as an im- 



