1-5733 z Po LC3133 ♦ F? A3 Ijopij 7-- REPORT ON Fresno's Immigration Problem ::;i. sill With Particular Reference to Educational Facilities and Requirements ft 7 / 7 3 State Commission of Immigration and Housing of California MARCH, 1918 37548 CALIFORNIA STATE PRINTING OFFICE SACRAMENTO 19 18 LCZ733 ■ Fj4z Personnel of the Commission. COMMISSIONERS. SIMON J. LUBIN, President Sacramento MOST REV. E. J. HANNA, D.D., Vice President San Francisco MRS. FRANK A. GIBSON _ Los Angeles J. H. McBRIDE, M.D ., Pasadena PAUL SCHARRENBERG, Secretary San Francisco GEORGE L. BELL, Attorney and Executive Officer. Offices of the Commission. Main Office : Underwood Building, 525 Market street, San Francisco. Branch . Offices : 22G Union League Building, Second and Hills streets, Los Angeles. 121 Edgerly Building, Fresno. 101O£ Second street, Sacramento. Council Chamber, City Hall, Stockton. 0. of D. MAY 10 1918 ^ LC3.133 LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL. To His Excellency, William D. Stephens, Governor of California. Sib : We have the honor to submit herewith a report on the immigra- tion problem in Fresno. This is one of a series of publications that the commission is issuing in order to impress upon the people of the state the immensity and importance of the problems presented by our unas- similated, foreign born population. It is hoped that publication of such facts and recommendations as are contained herein will arouse other communities to consider their immigration problems and to immediately undertake the task of thoroughly "Americanizing" all their resident population. Certainly there is no more pressing or necessary war time work than tins of establishing American ideals and unity of purpose among the people of many races who, in a steady stream, throughout the past century, have migrated to this western continent and joined in the building up of our great and democratic nation. The survey upon which this report is based was conducted by Miss Ethel Richardson, director of the Commission's bureau of education. The list of Fresno officials, private clubs and organizations, as well as individual citizens, who aided in this work is so long that the commission can do no more than generally acknowledge and express its appreciation of this generous cooperation on the part of the community. Respectfully yours, Commission op Immigration and Housing op California. TOTAL REGISTRATION IN CALIFORNIA, MILITARY DRAFT, JUNE 5, 1917, 298,989. TOTAL ALIEN REGISTRATION IN CALIFORNIA, MILITARY DRAFT, JUNE 5, 1917, 64,960. PERCENTAGE OF ALIEN REGISTRATION, 21.7 PER CENT. INTRODUCTION. The Bureau of Education of the State Commission of Immigration and Housing was created that there might be a special department, the business of which is to stimulate communities to use all their local machinery for the rapid assimilation and education of their foreign born. It is not the intention of the Commission to form new and expen- sive organizations for carrying out its programs of Americanization, but rather to utilize such facilities as the communities offer — to show exist- ing institutions their opportunity for wider usefulness. With the purpose of working out such a plan as this the Commission sent the Director of the Bureau of Education to Fresno, to study its immigration problems and to submit to the Commission constructive suggestions. REPORT. H. G. Wells says that the most remarkable thing about the foreign born in America is that we do not know he is in our midst. This generalization does not hold so far as Fresno is concerned. That many people are ignorant of his methods of living and the problems which he creates is undoubtedly true, but numerically he is so important that he can not be overlooked. An accompanying table gives the estimated numbers of the most important groups. A large number of these people live "across the tracks," in the so- called "foreign quarter." Fresno is therefore divided nationally as well as geographically and socially by the Southern Pacific tracks. Originally the Armenians lived "on the other side," but, becoming more prosperous, they gradually began buying homes in what is called an "American neighborhood" where they are now settled. The Northern Europeans, Danes, Swedes and Norwegians also live on this side of town. These Scandinavians are numerous, but seem to be most assimilable, and are already fairly well Americanized. However, a new Danish church which has just been dedicated proves that they are still clinging to their own language for worship. One Swedish church in Fresno has a mem- bership of 100 and a congregation of 200. Throughout the county there are numerous towns in which more than 60 per cent of the inhabitants is Danish or Scandinavian. There are also large numbers of Portuguese in both the city and the county, some of whom maintain their national traditions and language. At least two women's clubs and two men's societies are fairly active. However, little study has been made of these people as they are not the group claiming immediate interest. Although the Armenians are probably the most important numerically of the foreign born in Fresno, they are capable of taking care of them- selves. Before the war, according to one of their newspaper men, they numbered 12,000 in Fresno County. They came to California from New York and other Eastern centers about thirty years ago, because they were desirous of devoting their energies to agriculture. A few leaders investigated various places for opportunities and finally decided on Fresno. There was a good bit of suffering and a hard struggle in the beginning, but as a colony they won out. They have been most successful in business as well as in agriculture. Every office building has large numbers of Armenian names on the doors, for the professions as well as for all sorts of business enterprises. As a consequence, the second generation is receiving greater opportunity. Years of oppres- sion have made them aggressive and eager to seize every opportunity for advancement that the freedom of America has to offer. They take full FRESNO S IMMIGRATION PROBLEM. advantage of the public school and keep their children there as long as possible. Last year 50 per cent of the High School orchestra was Armenian, and there were a number of girls enrolled at the Normal School. Unfortunately, the Armenians exhibit certain antisocial traits which stand in the way of their being easily assimilated. They are so aggres- sive that their ambition sometimes carries them into questionable busi- ness practices. Many men report difficulty in holding the Armenians to their contracts. Consequently, although they are not a serious eco- nomic problem, their methods of achieving success have so often stirred up animosity among the native born Americans, that real antagonisms have resulted. It seems reasonable to suppose, however, that this extreme individual- ism is a habit acquired in an effort to survive the oppression of Turkish rule. When it is found undesirable for social welf are in this country, no doubt this objectionable trait will be lost. Already some of Fresno's highly respected citizens are Armenians. The following information on the court record of the Armenians was furnished to the "Immigration Commission by Mr. George O'Hannesian, an attorney who is interested in the social progress of his people. This record covers a period of thirty years. It shows that our civilization has nothing to fear from these people in connection with the crimes covered, which do not indicate all causes for arrest, but show the fine domestic relations of the Armenian people. Divorces H Failure to provide 3 Immorality 2 Drunkenness 10 Murder : Deliberate 1 Self-defense , 2 While there are three large churches conducting services in the native tongue, and many adults do not speak English, their Americanization is going forward rapidly. Since they are so aggressively ambitious, the door is already open for American contact. Therefore, it is impor- tant to break down any prejudice which is founded on national antago- nism. The Italians and Mexicans live in the same location. The former occupy the houses which are larger and in better repair, and the latter are scattered about in the poorer dwellings. The Mexicans are lower economically than the other groups of foreign born. They do not so generally own their homes; they live in the worst houses, and the teachers in the schools report that the children are inadequately dressed and fed. COMMISSION OF IMMIGRATION AND HOUSING. 9 The Italians are of an unusually high class, although they come from both the north and south of Italy, as well as from Sicily. In making investigation into the homes, the desire to learn English and have more association with Americans was often expressed. As is usual among Italians, the home life is superior to that of many native born Ameri- cans. The girls especially are protected until they leave home or get married. As a consequence, few Italian women are haled into court, although many men are registered for immorality and other crimes. Neither the Mexicans nor Italians seem to have any particular leader or esprit de corps. Through their church, which celebrates saint and feast days, the Italians have some outlet for their love of ceremonials. Columbus Hall in the Italian quarter serves as an occasional meeting place for social events. A Baptist Mission has a settlement house which conducts the usual educational and social, as well as religious, activities of such an organization. At a performance of Rigoletto given by the La Scala Opera Com- pany, the balcony was practically filled with Italians, who came in shirt sleeves and sweaters. They showed great familiarity with the score and were most appreciative. No effort is made in Fresno to foster this musical appreciation. The Japanese live behind Chinatown. They keep the rooming houses which cause most trouble to the housing inspector. The Hindus and other migratory foreign laborers stay here during the summer, and overcrowding and insanitation result. More and more women are com- ing to this part of Fresno, and the alleys are full of Japanese and Chinese children. There is a large Buddhist temple and a Frotestant Mission in this neighborhood. In the city most of the men are mer- chants, in the country they are farmers or contractors. Chinatown in Fresno is so like Chinatown everywhere that it need not be described. There are about 40 women and 150 children living in the community. It is in the old segregated district, and still offers a menace to morality, through its six shooting galleries, where women are employed. Policemen, probation officers and the school truant officer agree that the proper protection can not be given the moral standard of the city nor to the girls and boys from the various adjacent foreign neighborhoods while this evil is tolerated. The unique and most difficult of all Fresno's immigration problems is the Russian-German. These people were invited to Russia by the Tzar, because of their agricultural ability. As inducement they were given land and capital to cultivate it. They lived in Russia for 150 years as a superior people. Their only contact with Russian life was with their servants. They never mingled socially and they retained their own churches, language and national traditions. AVhen the 2—37548 10 fresno's immigration problem. promises of the Tzar were not kept and they had exhausted the fertility of the soil, the Germans were persuaded to emigrate by Ameri- can real estate agents. This emigration began about 1880. When the vanguard landed in New York they were required to state their desti- nation in the West. They had no definite place in mind, but gave Fresno County, California, because it was the only place they could recall from the talks that a school teacher had given them concerning America. Thus, by the merest chance, a large colony came to and settled in Fresno County. These people lived in isolation in Russia as superiors, and have lived in equal isolation in America as servants and day laborers. This isola- tion and the consequent inbreeding have left them static. They have not advanced in their habits of living or thinking, and are about 200 years behind the Germans who stayed in their own country at the time of the first migration. They have forgotten most of their best traditions and retained many of the worst. They have the most puritanical ideas of religion and a purely nega- tive, prohibitive standard. Although they have ten churches, they contribute little to the growth or development of the people. Some of their ministers would be glad to broaden out and give their people more ethics with their religion but the parishioners refuse to tolerate this. One minister reported that even a lecture on Palestine in the church would be regarded as sacreligious. Naturally such a church makes no appeal to the young people. One minister said that he had formed a young people's society, but had dropped it because the boys and girls wanted to have "socials" in the church, and he did not approve of that. After confirmation they soon drift away. Only a small part of the community is now in regular attendance at the church, and of the 150 or more young people confirmed last year few find their places at the services. In spite of its inadequacy, the church is the only social institution which reaches the adults at all. This makes a real reason why it should be made to function. There is absolutely no social life of any kind for these people. The streets are very dark at night, the houses dimly lit, often with lamps, and the nearest moving picture show is in Chinatown. One of the most serious problems of the community is created by the industrial life. Both the men and the women work in packing houses during the entire season. When the fruit is disposed of and no more work is available there, the women go into domestic service by the day. In the Kirk School the mothers of 72 per cent of the children are regu- larly employed." This leaves the smaller children on the street from early morning until dark. The investigator called in homes as late as 7.30 p.m. and found the mothers still absent and the children in the yard COMMISSION OF IMMIGRATION AND HOUSING. 11 or on the street. Babies of nine months are left in charge of five-year- olds, or a girl is surreptitiously kept home from school to take care of the children. In some cases one grandmother in the neighborhood is paid to look after all the children. This she is unable to do, as she seldom leaves her own chimney corner. One of the clergymen of the community said, "Our children get their education on the streets and in Chinatown." Because of their industry, poverty is not a great problem among these people — only 65 Russian-German applicants for relief are shown on the yearly report of the County Relief Commission. Their households show extreme frugality even where it is not necessary. These bare, uninviting homes, with their harsh standards, offer little inducement to the young people. Although the children receive as little schooling as possible, they become sufficiently imbued with American spirit and ideas to be thoroughly ashamed of their parents. They resent the dress, the habits and method of living of the older generation. This situation is common aniong all foreign born people, but it is specially noticeable among the Russian-Germans of Fresno. The most deplorable fact about the Russian-Germans is their low moral standard. Whether caused by their harsh religious restraint and the lack of recreation, or by their isolation lasting over generations, there is great immorality among them, especially among the young people. Cases are so frequent that they often fail to get before the juvenile judge, and no effort is made on their own part or that of their American neighbors to meet this condition. Throughout the foreign districts of Fresno there is great need for public health work of all sorts. Pink eye and impetigo were exceedingly prevalent during the fall. Due to lack of understanding of food values, and the absence of the mothers in industry, there is much malnutrition, which offers ready soil for tuberculosis. Social Agencies. Americanization. Any description of Fresno's social agencies that might be truthful at the time of writing will soon be inadequate, as their progressive spirit makes them move so fast toward better and more complete organization, that what is true today is only partial truth tomorrow. However, as practically every social agency in the community must be utilized if these foreign people are to receive any contact, which will work for their amalgamation into a national unit, the available agencies are listed below, and their functions briefly described : 12 fresno's immigration problem. Fresno City Health Department. 1. Health Officer — A part-time physician who directs department. Has all work of prevention of spread of contagious diseases. Of the 11 cases of scarlet, fever in Fresno in October, 1917, only two were ' ' across the tracks. ' ' 2. Sanitary Inspector — Estimates that one-half to one-third of viola- tions exist in houses occupied by the foreign born. 3. Housing Inspector — Has just begun work and is making a survey of downtown rooming houses and tenements. With the exception of those in Chinatown and one Portuguese, five Japanese and two Greeks, these houses are all kept by Americans. 4. Clinic — Opened October, 1917, for tubercular and general work. After two months 300 tubercular cases had been discovered by tubercu- losis nurse. Of cases on treatment 79 per cent are foreign born. Ninety per cent of general cases are foreign born, except emergency street accidents, etc. Playground Commission. A splendid system of playgrounds covers the city of Fresno. In the winter playgrounds are open from 3.40 to 6.00 p.m. The Cosmos playground has Russian-German children; the Fink- Smith has Italians, Mexicans and Negroes ; California Field has Armeni- ans — the easiest to manage. Unfortunately, the Cosmos playground has no clubhouse built upon it, as its location may be changed. Consequently, there is no oppor- tunity for this part of the city to have access to any recreation there except for yard work. The commission is conscious of the great need for recreation in this district, and anxious to meet it. County Probation Office. This office had 173 cases from January to October, 1917. Although no nationality statistics are available, a map was made of the cases in the city, and judging from their geographical location they are as follows : Armenians 33 Russian-Germans 29 Japanese and Chinese 15 Mexicans and Italians 26 Total foreign born 103 Americans 70 Total 173 The chief probation officer, who has been in office twelve years, esti- mated that ninety per cent of the cases are American born, but of these COMMISSION OF IMMIGRATION AND HOUSING. 13 40 per cent are of foreign parentage. He traces mnch of this delin- quency to the breach between the younger and older generation. Fresno County Welfare Commission. There has recently been a reorganization in this commission. All the welfare work of the county, including the hospital, orphanage and out- door relief, has been placed under one department of the county, con- trolled by a commission of six, two of whom are supervisors. This will tend to coordination and better administration. Y. M, C. A. This organization formerly maintained headquarters among the Chinese and conducted classes in English and gymnastics. This has been discontinued. Y. W. C. A. When possible the foreign born girls and girls of foreign parentage are invited to become club members. No other definite foreign work is done. A branch is maintained in the packing house district, where the women employed in the fruit may get hot lunch at a reasonable price. Library, County and City. The library has made no definite appeal for foreign patrons. Branches and deposit stations are established in rural communities which serve only those who can read English. Public Schools. There are 46 nationalities represented in Fresno schools beside native whites and negroes. Of these the Russian-Germans are most numerous ; the Armenians next. The percentage of the foreign born who have availed themselves of the opportunity to become citizens is exceedingly small. The schools in which there are the highest percentage of foreign born have the lowest percentage naturalized. Per cent of fathers naturalized Kirk Edison 93 29 Lincoln 95 22 Columbia 89 Si Emerson 71 49 Fifty per cent of all the fathers in the city schools are foreign born, and only 36 per cent are naturalized. In fact, only 210 people have received their second papers in the last two years. 14 FRESNO 'S IMMIGRATION PROBLEM. More significant than naturalization, is the language spoken in the home. In two schools in more than 90 per cent of the homes a foreign language is spoken. This figure goes to 99 per cent in one school dis- trict. Fifty per cent of the families in five schcools do not use English, and in every school of the city there are some families still speaking their native tongue. It is a matter that should receive the immediate attention of all native born Americans interested in our national unity when in a city of the size of Fresno, a foreign language is spoken in 41 per cent of the homes of the school children. When one considers how many social problems arise from the broken home, it is worth contemplating the small percentage of separations in the foreign neighborhoods. In the Kirk School where 97 per cent of the fathers are foreign born only 4 per cent are separated. This is probably due to two facts, the most important being that the foreign woman is much less independent than the American and considers obedi- ence to her husband a duty; no doubt, however, one can also interpret these figures to indicate closer home ties and more respect for domestic relationship than is common with the native born. Unfortunately, although the separations are few, so many of the foreign mothers go out to work that the homes must receive inadequate attention. Fewer Armenian women work than women of other nationalities, as only 29 per cent are reported from the Emerson School. The Russian- Germans have the greatest number working, 72 per cent in the Kirk School and 53 per cent in the Lincoln. The Columbia School, which is largely attended by Italians and Mexicans, has 35 per cent of the mothers employed. In none of the Fresno schools are there any of the features of the so-called neighborhood schools. There are no day nurseries, penny luncheons, special classes, and the teachers seldom visit in the homes of the children. This visiting is made particularly difficult by the fact that the mothers do not get home until after five o'clock. Nevertheless, a number of teachers are interested in the further development of the social side of the school. The teaching of English to the children of the receiving grades in these foreign schools is unexcelled anywhere in California and offers a fine foundation for starting adult work. Three new kindergartens have been opened this year and their value is proved by the fact that they are all overcrowded. The Edison school is an intermediate school in the seventh and eighth grades. This is the only place where domestic science or any manual work has been taught in the foreign districts; 93.4 per cent of the fathers of children in this school are foreign born. COMMISSION OP IMMIGRATION AND HOUSING. 15 One night school class is maintained but has been attended by work permit children, as well as adults. This makes proper teaching impos- sible. Recently extra rooms have been opened and normal cadets are assisting with the instruction. The social agencies of the school are the school nurse, the attendance officer, and the psychologist. The school nurse is a medical doctor. She has an excellent manner of approach in a home and spends most of her time in the foreign schools. She is making every effort to control the spread of contagion by going into the home and explaining the need of care to the parents. She is indefatigable in her efforts and works overtime and on Sundays to keep up with the 7,000 children under her care. The psychologist is also interested in the homes but teaches a class of feeble-minded children and can not devote much time to other work. Fresno is fortunate in having a superintendent of schools and a Board of Education that are interested in increasing the educational scope of the schools and making them as effectual as possible in the community. In the last analysis the largest factor in Americanization must be the school. Americanization Committee. At the time of this survey, the Vice State Chairman of Americaniza- tion of the Women's Committee for National and State Councils of Defense was just beginning her work in the San Joaquin Valley. She immediately assembled her forces and organized machinery for carry- ing out a suggested program. Due to her efforts, and the progressive spirit of the school superintendent, as well as to the extraordinary activity of all civic and social bodies, this splendid community program is now being initiated. In order to better coordinate the activities of all organizations which are factors in Americanization, the Commission's agent called together representatives of the various social agencies and women's clubs to discuss the foreign problem, especially the problem of the Russian- Germans. This group of people formed a definite organization known as the "Americanization Committee of the Community Welfare League," with an executive committee of four of which the Chairman of Americanization from the Women's Committee is a member, to be responsible for the consideration and execution of a definite program. (See recommendations at end of this report.) In order to divide the work and to put all parts of the program into effect as quickly as possible, the executive committee was later increased to seven members, each one of whom is responsible for one activity. The organization is as follows : An executive committee meets each week at a stated hour and place to discuss the local program. 16 fresno's immigration problem. Each member of committee will take charge of one activity of which he will be chairman, getting the approval of the entire committee before acting. Departments are as follows : 1 — Finance. 2 — Eclison School. 3 — Kirk School. 4 — Columbia School. 5 — Day Nnrsery. 6 — Home Teacher. 7 — Emerson School. Each member will find an assistant, who may assume much of the responsibility of the detail of his department, the assistant, however, not to serve on the executive board. Each department chairman and assistant and suitable committee chosen by them will draw up tentative programs for his department and present same at the meetings of the executive committee. All recommendations of department chairmen, when ratified by the executive committee, will be reported to the Americanization Committee of the Community Welfare League as recommendations of the executive committee and voted upon. The larger committee and its executive body, will keep in constant touch with changing conditions and be ready to offer new suggestions for bringing about the homogeneity of the community. Its adaptability was shown by the request made by the committee that the music director in the schools repeat the splendid patriotic "com- munity sing" which was held in the Fresno Auditorium, using the auditorium of the Edison School which is in the center of the foreign district. This suggestion and the necessary extra work was accepted with alacrity. The children were trained as leaders and their parents, of every race and nationality, invited to join in a patriotic song service. Miscellaneous Agencies. Besides the work of the Americanization Committee several splendid projects are afoot, which will be of great value to the community. The Child Welfare Department of the District Federation of Women's Clubs has started an experiment in feeding the children of the Columbia kindergarten. The purpose of this is twofold — the welfare of the child and the education of the mothers. The latter will be effected by send- ing home, each day, recipes of the luncheon. The children are receiving careful physical examination before and during the experiment, to dis- cover the results of ; proper feeding. This experiment is only a part of a larger work to be carried on by Dr. Flora Smith of the Child Welfare Department of the District Federation of Women's Clubs. COMMISSION OP IMMIGRATION AND HOUSING. 17 The playground commission has increased its activities by keeping open at night both at Fink-Smith and California Field. In the former place an orchestra has been started among the Italian boys. The play- ground work has been still further developed by the employment of a social worker, who can speak German and who will spend most of her time in the Russian-German community. One of the most significant social welfare undertakings in Fresno, is the organization of the Sunmaid Welfare League of the California Asso- ciated Raisin Company. This company has 38 packing houses and employs from 1,800 to 2,500 people in the season. In 1915, an organiza- tion of all the employees from the president to the most casual laborer was effected. Membership is voluntary and about 90 per cent of the employees have availed themselves of the opportunity. The league has committees on every subject which pertains to the welfare of the workers. These committees are chosen by the employees and the man- ager of the plant is the league manager. The most important activity is the health work. A complete system of social health insurance has been established. The plan was worked out with the assistance of the State Social Insurance Commission. If an employee is ill, after five days he receives benefits of $1.00 a day for thirteen weeks. Nurses are regularly employed both in the plants and to do visiting in the home. These women take care of slight accidents as well as give care to those who are incapacitated. In one of the larger city plants there is a well-equipped clinic. To meet the cost of financing this league, each employee gives one day's wage. Whatever amount is realized by this method, is doubled by the association. This donation is made on the theory that a system which secures better standards of health to. its employees is profitable to the company. The work of the league is continually expanding. Next year a program of Americanization is to be inaugurated. This may include care of the children, educational classes at noon, as well as extension of benefits to the entire family. The Association of Collegiate AluninaB is performing a great service by making a financial survey of the schools. Especial attention is to be given to the equipment and expenditures in the foreign schools. This can not fail to be productive of great good. Fresno has grown so rapidly that it has not been possible for the school to keep pace with its development. A ridiculously small amount of money is appropriated for schools and the appropriations have failed to increase in proportion to the increase in population. Even the best administration fails when its funds are so hopelessly inadequate. However, no one who has seen the community spirit of Fresno, can fail to have faith that the people there will meet this larger demand with their usual generosity and enthusiasm. 18 fresno's immigration problem. RECOMMENDATIONS. Through the courtesy of the Board of Education and Superintendent of Schools, the commission's agent was permitted, in addition to the general survey, to serve the four foreign schools as home teacher. This gave her a more intimate contact with the foreign home and a better understanding of the lives of the people than she could have obtained in any other way. After six weeks work and careful consultation with educators, and in cooperation with the various interested individuals and agencies in Fresno, the following recommendations were formulated by the State Commission of Immigration and Housing : I. That a day nursery be opened at the Kirk or Lincoln school at an hour early enough to permit mothers to leave their children before going to work. The school to furnish the room, the salary of a nurse to be furnished either by the school or some woman's organization and the lunch to be self-supporting through a charge for each child. II. That the playground commission use the Kirk school in the even- ing as a part of the Cosmos playground; that the library put in a deposit station; and that a woman's club be responsible for a recrea- tional-educational program one night a week. III. That some club or chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution assume the responsibility of planning a similar program to be given one night a week in the Edison auditorium. IV. That a music leader start a band among the Italian boys who are over school age, at the Columbia school ; that this band, when more pro- ficient, be used for programs in its own and other neighborhoods. V. That a home teacher be employed to work in the Kirk and Lincoln school districts, her hours afternoon and evening instead of morning and afternoon, and Monday or Friday her rest-day instead of Sunday ; that the teacher live in the vicinity of the schools. VI. That the Normal School supply cadets to help this Home Teacher in her group teaching, both for afternoon and evening, provided enough women unemployed in the afternoon can be found. VII. That teachers who have no classes after 2 o'clock in the Columbia School, be asked to devote the hour and a half to home visiting. VIII. That if suitable teachers can be found, a campaign be inaugu- rated to get the foreign born into the night schools ; and that the Normal School assist by sending cadets to aid in teaching. None of this above program can be effective in a community unless all the conditions are as favorable as they are in Fresno, but all groups of people there are eager for a right understanding of their own problems and more than willing to devote their efforts to any constructive plan in which they are asked to co-operate. All the established social agencies as well as the clubs are particularly progressive and willing to co-operate in any constructive plan for the welfare of the community and are constantly readjusting themselves to meet new emergencies. COMMISSION OP IMMIGRATION AND HOUSING. STATISTICS. 19 Estimated Numbers of Foreign Born Residents in Fresno. City County Armenians __ . - .. Russian Germans - - _ 5,000 5,000 2,000 2,000 1,500 1,000 1,000 800 700 700 200 *100-1,000 aw 100 100 1,000 10,000 8,000 3,000 3,000 ? Italians .. ______ Germans . - . . 3,000 9 English - _ . __ .. ._. Danish ._ __ __ Portuguese - ... . _ Chinese .- -- . .__ ... . ._ . ._ French __. . . 2>,500 Canadian _. - - _ __ __ ... Total — _ _ 24,200 * According to season. Naturalization Papers Granted: Fresno. Great Britain _. Denmark Russia Sweden Italy Turkey Germany Switzerland Austria-Hungary Norway Greece France Netherlands Spain Montenegro Totals 122 52 35 28 18 18 17 12 S S 5 3 2 2 1 1 210 20 fresno's immigration problem. Children of Foreign Born Fathers in Fresno City Schools. o c B e g o B 5 W s 3 o B O B s £ B o o s o B B, o Si t- 1 o re 3 3° ire o P 1 re 76 17 131 11 35 14 5 18 1 16 10 2 165 65 399 312 499 9 371 1 6 4 2 40 456 45 10 29 44 93 2 193 520 414 433 3,142 958 10 351 4 101 11 304 1 15 5 4 17 4 15 1 7 4 9 12 4 12 86 1 11 10 7 19 3 2 16 14 6 8 520 431 160 158 4 7 13 3 7 3 1 9 6 16 16 1 2 6 1 16 11 4 10 20 134 11 5 13 18 4 4 11 105 2 30 7 9 5 41 9 85 30 77 Portuguese 18 1 5 6 3 2 1 2 10 3 6 2 2 5 1 3 11 4 7 1 11 5 1 1 5 1 2 1 4 4 7 15 4 10 74 3 35 4 2 1 1 65 58 55 2 1 6 4 2 13 2 3 3 1 2 1 1 2 1 3 6 10 3 6 2 3 3 5 8 1 8 5 4 1 2 40 39 1 14 3 38 1 4 4 2 3 33 Scotch 30 1 21 Dutch - -- 1 9 3 1 2 1 1 2 1 1 2 2 1 1 1 15 Greek 2 9 1 5 1 1 3 15 14 1 1 3 2 2 4 4 2 14 10 1 S 1 3 10 2 10 1 1 1 —- - 2 7 3 1 2 5 1 1 1 1 1 5 1 3 2 1 1 4 3 1 3 2 3 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Polish 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 9 1 5 23 23 2 4 1 14 12 7 9 109 Totals . 700 278 602 84 526 382 603 402 826 349 641 522 550 6,465 COMMISSION OP IMMIGRATION AND HOUSING. 21 Birth Conditions — Fresno City School Children. Name of school Columbia _-— 700 Edison . - 278 Emerson _ — 602 Pranklin* 84 Hawthorne ._. 526 Jackson _ .. 382 Jefferson 603 Kirk --_ 402 Lincoln . _ 826 T ongf ellow __. 349 T owell _ _ _ - 641 Washington -. 522 Webster . . _ 550 Totals . . 6,465 O S 32- 76 17 165 65 399 312 499 c; 40 193 520 414 43 3,142 V, V, 615 9 89.0 191 68 256 5 93.4 75 414 23 71.5 165 80 19 22.6 5 104 23 20.6 51 44 68 2 17.8 25 17 100 4 13.6 51 9 392 1 97.7 35 39 772 14 95.0 161 39 144 12 42.7 57 36 114 7 17.9 92 9!) 9 19.2 S2 1 117 109 21.0 50 1,030 30 3,214 .50.4 363 34.9 29.2 49.4 26.3 85.0 49.0 56.0 9.9 21.9 52.7 80.0 S3.6 57.4 - r~. 172 68 429 307 472 11 39 173 526 411 36.1 3,116 2 604 255 421 16 78 73 78 390 775 128 102 101 106 3,127 222 88.1 93.6 70.9 19.0 15.3 18.9 14.1 97.2 95.2 42.1 16.2 19.7 20.6 50.1 667 270 588 82 520 362 570 381 804 344 628 518 534 6,271 226 344 12 56 30 65 381 730 92 2,577 72.4 83.4 58.5 14.6 10.7 8.2 11.4 99.2 90.7 30.3 6.0 8.4 12.3 41.3 •Report from one class lacking. Home Condit ons — Fresno City Sch doI Ch Idren. H 3 ■a 2 ■a H3 a 2 Tj Si?i «5g B a bb c S a 5 a- *li 3" (0 ? P.C si a B 2 ° a gp. o e wS- ■a o p. 700 65 9.8 26 3.7 667 256 35.3 278 602 33 69 11.8 11.2 14 35 5 5.8 270 588 116 176 42 Emerson 29.9 84 526 7 74 8.3 15.2 1 41 2.4 7.9 82 520 12 107 14 6 Hawthorne 20.5 382 603 49 35 12.9 5.8 25 34 6.5 5.6 362 570 87 83 40 33 2 15.6 Kirk — 402 826 349 19 60 44 4.7 7.7 12.6 12 39 46 2.9 5 13.1 384 804 344 278 390 77 81 38 72 4 53.9 21.8 641 522 58 65 9.7 13.4 37 41 6.1 8.4 628 518 59 78 133 11 9 Washington 15 550 59 10.7 20 3.2 534 95 17.7 VITAL STATISTICS. (a) Births: Fresno City, January 1-September 14, 1917. Americans 3 ^4 Russian-Germans 53 Japanese " ^ Italians 4 " Armenians , 3 British - ?* Turkish (probably Armenians) 14 Mexican In connection with the births, it is valuable to note the inadequacy of the birth registration. 22 FRESNO S IMMIGRATION PROBLEM. The following list of Russian-German baptisms for 1917 shows that 250 children of that nationality were born in the year, while only 53 births were registered the first 9 months. Births or baptisms Cross Congregational . Zion Congregational „ Third Congregational _ St. Paul Lutheran Wartburg Lutheran First German Baptist— Immanuel Baptist Evangelical Association Methodist Church of God Total 250 (6) Infant Mortality: January 1-September 30, 1917. American 37 Japanese 21 Russian-German 18 Armenian 11 Italian 6 Chinese 5 Mexican 4 British 4 Spanish 2 French _ 1 Austrian . 1 Dalmatian 1 Portuguese 1 German 1 Total 113 American , 37 (32.75%) Foreign born 76 (67.25%) (c) Deaths: 1 to 16 years of age. tember 30, 1917. Fresno City, January 1 to Sep- American 16 Russian 13 Italian 5 Mexican 5 Armenian 3 Chinese 2 French 1 Canadian , 1 Swedish 1 Total 47 American , 16 (34.04%) Foreign born 31 (95.95%) COMMISSION OF IMMIGRATION AND HOUSING. 23 HEALTH. The extent to which the immigrant causes a health problem in Fresno is shown by the following reports : (1) Cases under treatment, Tuberculosis Clinic, December 1, 1917. Mexican 35 American 28 Russian 27 Italian 22 Portuguese 13 Armenian . 4 Swedish • 2 Canadian 2 Trench ' ' l Welsh 1 Irish 1 Scotch 1 No report 4 Total 141 American 28 (20.3%) Foreign bom 109 (79.6%) (2) Deaths from Tuberculosis, from October 1, 1916 to October" 1, 1917 are as follows : American 51 Russian-German 17 Italian ; 12 Japanese 15 Chinese — 11 British 8 German 7 Armenian 5 Mexican 3 Swedish 2 Spanish 2 Danish 1 French , 1 Unknown 1 Total 13S Foreign born 85 (62.42%) POVERTY. The extent to which the immigrant causes a poverty problem in Fresno is shown b}^ the following reports. Poverty and economic dependence is not the outstanding feature of the foreign born of Fresno. They are industrious as a class, and the intensive agricultural produc- tion of the past summer has provided work for all the men and women who want it. 24 FRESNO *S IMMIGRATION PROBLEM. (1) Nationality of applicants of the Fresno County Eelief and Employment Commission for the year 1917. (Includes hospital cases in which nationality is unknown.) Unknown 324 United States 32S Russian-Germans 65 Mexico 63 Armenia 39 Italy 35 Germany 21 Indians — 14 Portugal 11 Denmark 7 England 7 Sweden 9 Ireland 4 Scotland 3 Canada 3 Prance 3 Austria 3 Norway Greece 2 Spanish 1 Russia 1 Montenegro 1 Cuba 1 Syria 1 Servia 1 Poland 1 Total 965 American 1 346 (53.9%) Foreign born 295 (49.1%) (2) List prepared by the Fresno County Relief and Employment Commission for distribution of Christmas presents : Total number of families 105 Total number of children 394 Foreign born families 52 (49.5%) Children 217 (55%) (3) Nationalities of parents of children at Fresno County orphanage, November 22, 1917. American 31 Italian . 6 Armenian 6 Portuguese 3 Mexican 3 German 2 Prench 2 German-Russian 1 German-Russian mother, Austrian father , 2 Total 56 American 31 (55.3%) Foreign born 25 (44.6%) COMMISSION OF IMMIGRATION AND HOUSING. 25 The following figures concerning the almshouse and county aid have been furnished by the State Board of Charities and Corrections : Facts Concerning the Inmates of Fresno County Almshouse, November, 1917. Sex. Ages. Male 40 Under 50 years 3 Female 11 50 to 60 years 5 60 to 70 years 14 51 70 to 80 years 20 Over SO years 8 Unknown 1 51 Nativity. Austria 2 Canada 1 China 1 Denmark 1 England 1 France 2 Germany 3 Italy 1 Ireland 2 Switzerland 1 Sweden 1 Unknown 3 U. S. A.— Massachusetts 2 Iowa 1 Kentucky 3 New York 6 California 2 Nevada 1 North Carolina 3 Vermont 1 Georgia 1 Pennsylvania 1 Ohio 2 Missouri 1 Indiana 4 Louisiana 1 Texas 2 Arkansas 1 Tennessee 1 Illinois 1 — 33 Occupations. Engineer 1 Carpenter 2 Laborer 19 Domestic , 6 Cabinet maker 1 Farmer 3 Miner 2 Peanut vender 1 Bookkeeper 1 Sheepherder 1 Teacher ', 1 Lawyer 1 Dressmaker 1 Cook 1 1 Printer 1 Unknown 9 51 51 26 FRESNO 'S IMMIGRATION PROBLEM. Nativity of 155 Families Receiving Permanent County Aid. •Name of country Number of families Armenia Austria Canada Denmark England France Germany Italy Ireland Mexico Norway Portugal Russia Spain Sweden Turkey U. S. A U. S. A. (Indians) Unknown Total INDUSTRY. In seven important plants in Fresno city 856 women were employed in October, 1917. The wages in these industries are often exaggerated. As indicated in the statistics furnished by the State Industrial Welfare Commission- less than half of the women earn as much as $2.50 to $3.00 a day. Half of the' women do not work full time and 30 per cent less than five days a week. Dried and Green Fruit Packing, Fresno County and City. Plants inspected — Green fruit 26 Dried fruit 23 Total number employed— Men Women Green 294 575 Dried 2,303 2,591 In the green fruit packing plants practically no foreigners were reported. A very few Italians, Armenians and one Pole are listed. The following figures are given for the dried fruit plants : Fresno City. Guggenhime Griffln-Skelley Co. Interrieden Cal. Raisin, O. P. O. A..— Cal. Raisin, Nos. 5-6 Rosenberg, Raisin Plant. Rosenberg, Tig Plant Roeding Phoenix 350 350 j 150 500 | 300 280 I 210 500 '! 470 300' ; 200 250 ] 200 200 I 180 Russians, 200; Armenians, 135. Italians, 50; Spanish, 50; Germans, 50. Armenians, 180; Germans, 75; Portuguese, 40. Russians, 75 per cent. Germans, 469. Russians, 175; Portuguese, 25. Italians, 107; Armenians, 50; Chinese, 5. Italians and Armenians, 90 per cent. Russians, 12. Armsby shows 50 Germans, 25 Italians. COMMISSION OF IMMIGRATION AND HOUSING. 27 Summary: City of Fresno. Number of plants employing foreign born— Less than 25 per cent 1 25 to 50 per cent l 50 to 75 percent 3 75 to 100 per cent 4 100 per cent Data on 6 plants incomplete. County of Fresno. Del Rey, data incomplete. Fowler, Raisin Association— all Americans. Oleander, Raisin Association— all Americans. Parlier, Barnwell— data incomplete. Peach Association— 1 Armenian out of 40 employees; 3' per cent. Selma, Peach Association— 1 Hawaiian out of 60 employees; 2 per cent. Reedley, Peach Association— 4 Germans, 1 French, out of 40 employees; 10 per cent. Kingsburg, Peach Association— 5 Scandinavians out of 30; 17 per cent. It is evident that the immigration problem is confined to the city plants. Ages of 369 women employed, at Associated Kaisin Plants 5 and 6, and at Bosenberg Co. The largest group is between 30 and 40 years of age. Under 10 2 16 to 18 26 IS to 25 71 25 to 30 76 30 to 40 118 40 to 50 58 50 to 60 17 Over 60 1 Total 369 The following tables of hours worked and hourly earnings are com- piled for the following plants, as indicative of the industry : Finn Number of women Roeding . 169 Rosenberg Raisin Plant 142 Associated Raisin, Nos. 5-6 227 Armsby No. 2. 56 Griffin-Skelley No. 65 65 Armsby No. 1 52 Interrieden W5 Total -— — *856 The earnings have been reduced to an hourly rather than weekly or daily basis because (see table of hours) so many do not work 48 hours per week. As there is no particular difference either in the regularity of hours or the amount of earnings between time and piece workers they are combined. The total number of piece workers is 762 The total number of time workers is 94 Total 853 ♦Includes 49 minors, 807 adults. 28 fresno's immigration problem. In computing the hours, the division into 8, 16, 24, etc., figures out into days of employment. Week of October 27th, at peak of season. Number of Women and Minors Working Classified Weekly Hours in Selected Establishments in Fresno Dried Fruit Plants. Number Per cent 36 43 43 15 113 169 437 4.2 S to IS - - — - 5.0 16 to 24 _ - 5.0 24 to 32 - 1.8 32 to 40 13.2 19.8 44 to 48 51.0 856 100.0 Average Hourly Earnings of Women and Minors, Week of October 27th, in Selected Establishments in Fresno Dried Fruit Plants. Less than 15 cents. 15 to 20 20 to 25 25 to 30 30 to 40 40 and over 206 348 117 5.0 9.6 24.1 40.7 13.7 Totals 100.0 Forty per cent are earning from 30 cents to 40 cents per hour, which is $2.50 to $3.00 per day. Forty-five per cent earn less than this. When the additional fact is considered, that only half of the women work full weeks, that is, 5^ to 6 days and 30 per cent less than five days, one is convinced that the earn- ings as currently reported are greatly exaggerated. The average season is five months, September 1 to January 1. The peak of the season is October and November. This valuable information on the Industries of Fresno was furnished by the Industrial Welfare Commission. LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 019 635 754 3 LC-S733 CC T\ Z LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 019 635 754 3a~, Conservation Resources T inJEraatS) Tunc I