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IMMIGRATION AND EMIGRATION.
141
is about 175 %,. The mortality amongst legitimate children in Sweden for the
years mentioned was 78 amongst illegitimate children, 132
Deaths by violence (not including suicides) amounted annually to about 640
per million of the population, during the period 1821—40 ; this figure sank to
404 for the decade 1901—10.
During the period 1901—-10 the various months of the year showed the
following death-rates per annum, in %„: January 16’32, February 17*16, March
17’os, April 17’ is, May 16*04, June 14*56, July 13*33, August 12*38, September
12 ’17, October 12’im, November 14*33, and December 15*37. The average for
the year was 14*ss. In former days, spring was the most dangerous time, now
it is rather winter. — The influence of the seasons on mortality is considerably
less in the north of Sweden than in the south — just the contrary to what we
should expect. Between the rural districts and the cities, the difference is
greatest during the summer months, especially for the male sex. For the most
advanced ages, the death-rate is greatest during the winter; during middle life,
in the spring. For the earliest years, winter is generally the most disastrous, but
at times, in towns, midsummer also; more especially formerly was this the case.
The rates of mortality in the different läns of Sweden, are exhibited by the
map on page 140. In the läns about Lakes Vättern and Vänern and also in
several northern läns, the mortality now amounts to only about 14 — really
a most satisfactory result. In former times, mortality was lowest in the län of
Jämtland (for 1841—50 only 12*96 % — probably a world’s record), but later
it increased there, as a result of the development of the timber-trade and the
consequently great immigration, though a return to lower figures has taken
place in most recent times. The mortality in the city of Stockholm was formerly
very great, but nowadays the position is, on the contrary, very satisfactory.
During the period 1906—10, the mortality in Stockholm amounted to but 14’8
or less than in the majority of the other European capitals.
Immigration and emigration.
As is well known, the modern emigration movement can be said, to date
— roughly — from the decade beginning with 1840. In Sweden,
however, it began somewhat later, the Swedish emigration-periods proper
being between the years 1867—73 and between 1879—93. In general,
it has been somewhat less of låte, though rushes occurred in certain
years, notably in 1902 and 1903.
It bas already been shown (in the chapter dealing with Civil Status
and Marriages), how the great stream of emigration from Sweden, during
the periods named above, (the relative greatness of which was only
exceeded by that of Norway and Ireland) can be in the main explained by
the unfavourable conditions under which the transition to modern
industrialism took place in this country.
That emigration assumed the great proportions it did at one time, is
also partly to be ascribed to that inborn love of roaming and adventure
which the people shares with the other Germanic races — a spirit which
is unusually developed amongst them. And a Swedish population of more
than one million souls having established itself in America, it naturally
exercises such a great power of attraction, on account of kinship and other
ties, that we can hardly suppose that emigration will ever quite cease.
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