mists from all sections of the country. The immigration figures show that during the year 1905 a total of 1,026,490 aliens entered the United States, an increase of 213,629 over the preceding year. Of these new comers 26,174 entered Connecticut, some 6,000 more than the year previous, while since 1900 the number coming into the State has nearly doubled, only a little over 12,000 having entered Connecticut in that year.

What is going to be done with this alien flood is one of the pressing problems of the State at this time and is deserving of most serious consideration. Fortunately, according to the best opinions, the character of that portion of the yearly immigration coming to Connecticut is better than formerly.

IMMIGRANTS IN DEMAND.

A silent but titanic struggle is now on between two great economic forces in this country, says Broughton Brandenburg in the Technical World, and the bone of contention is the European immigrant.

"It takes people to work the thousands of great mills in the industrial sections of the North and East; and labor that is cheaper is in such demand as to be powerfully attracted.

The vast undeveloped reaches of the South and West cannot be made to become productive without population, so that from the vanguard of the nation builders comes the unceasing cry of 'People, people, more people!'"

As mentioned on page 244 the National legislature plans to revise the immigration act of 1903 along the lines suggested in the resolutions adopted at the conference of the Civic Federation, the thought being to improve the quality of the imigrants and to provide for a wider distribution of them after they reach the shores of America. The bureau of immigration declares that "the incomers will number more than a million for the fiscal year, and may reach a million and a half.” The proposed revision of the present law may be summarized thus: The proposed law places

its administration with the secretary of the department of commerce and labor. This, it is explained, is necessary, as the bureau of immigration, which is attached to the department of commerce and labor, has to do directly with the enforcement of the law.

The revision proposes to raise the head tax from two to five dollars. The present law says it shall be unlawful to prepay the passage of any alien or in any way to encourage immigration. The revision strikes out the word "unlawful" and says it shall be a misdemeanor.

An entirely new section relating to aliens leaving the United States is inserted, the object being to persuade immigrants to take out naturalization papers promptly. It is provided that aliens brought to this country in violation of law shall be taken back without charge to them.

A new section provides for a division of information within the bureau of immigration for the purpose of securing a distribution of immigrants among the several States and Territories. It is proposed that this new division of information shall gather all the available statistics regarding the resources, products and physical characteristics of each State and Territory, the opportunities for employment, the prevailing rate of wages, the cost of living and all other information that may tend to aid aliens in selecting a place of residence.

INVENTIONS.

Part VIII briefly relates Connecticut's position among the States patent-wise. This chapter gives a review of the inventions of citizens of the State during the last year, and also makes a thirty year comparison of the ratio of population to each patent granted.

APPENDIX.

The laws of the state, relating to labor, as amended by the legislature of 1905, are printed as an appendix.

The report proper follows:

NEW FACTORY CONSTRUCTION DURING

THE YEAR ENDED JULY 1, 1905.

As has been chronicled in previous reports of this department, the bureau first began to secure data concerning the matter of new factory or mill construction in the year 1900.

The chapter of the report devoted to this subject seems to have met with public approval and its continuance from year to year has been deemed advisable.

It should be understood, in making comparisons, that the data herein contained covers the period from June 30, 1904, to July 1, 1905; and in this connection it should be stated, that from information at hand at the time this chapter of the report was completed, indications pointed to a very large increase in the amount of building operations for the succeeding period.

The tabulated statement of the material contained in this chapter is similar in form and detail as has been the custom in previous issues, thus enabling the reader to make accurate comparisons and correct deductions.

NUMBER OF BUILDINGS.

For purposes of comparison the number of separate buildings erected for manufacturing purposes during the past six years, including the current year, is here given.

During the period covered by the investigation, in the year 1900, two hundred and forty-five factory buildings were constructed by one hundred and seventy-three parties. During the same period in 1901 nine-two additions were erected by the eighty-seven establishments represented.

In the following year, that of 1902, one hundred and twentysix concerns constructed one hundred and fifty-eight separate buildings.

The year 1903 witnessed the construction of one hundred and eighty-five buildings which were erected by one hundred