The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1898-03-07
A NEEDED IMPROVEMENT.
The New Immigration Station in
New York Described


New York March 6.-The new immi-
burned structure on Ellis Island will be
in marked contrast to the disgrace of
Castle Garden, the barge Office and the
first Ellis Island station.
1t will be fireproof. and furnished with
fire escapes. There will be no possibility
of a repetition of the night fire which
jeopardized so many lives.
The new station is the first TO come
under the operations of the Tarsney act
by which the Secretary of the Treasury
is empowered to invite ii few architects
TO compete for proposed Government
buildings
The problem which confronted the ar
chitectS was to design building which
would enable the officers to administer
the laws most efficiently and economic
ally. keep immigrants free from all out
side Influences until discharged, and to
provide for the public so far as it has
a legitimate interest In the immigrants
The immigrants will come up from the
barges through a space fenced off from
the public. enter the main building at the
front, and then go up the main stairs
landing Thence they pass by the ex-
be separated in the medical eXamina-
ton detention pens.
Those detained by the surgeons Will
be conducted into the medical examina-
ton rooms. In connection with these tot
let rooms for men and women and offices
for the medical staff will be constructed
The general current not detained by the
medical examiners will pass along within
the large examination room, where there
"a a q aiSlpS toilets for
men and women, and large central
space for the chief registrar.
After passing the registrars, all dis
charged immigrants will go directly down
a main stairway TO their respective des-
tination. All the detained go to the diff
ferent rooms
Discharged immigrants who want to use
a railroad or steamboat TO reach their
destination win go downstairs on the
right to a large railroad room with sixty
feet of counter Eastern passengers are
directed to the baggage room and then
into the eastern transportation room. All
other railroad passengers go to the gem
eral waiting room, which will have five
pens, all connecting with the lunch coun-
ter and toilet rooms. From here they can
select their baggage and have it weighed
and checked In passing out they will go
through the corridor leading to the land
ing place of the barge.
Opposite the New York detention room
there will be large room with the
floor rising at the back, amphthea ter
style. so that friends can see the immi-
grants as they come into the detention
room. From this room lunch can be
procured and the telegraph Office reached.
II will also be connected with the infor-
nation bureau and commands a view of
the immigrants who pass to the ferry
boat in the rear.
The detained persons pass to the right
of the main stairway to the special
inquiry room. Nearby will be the wit
ness room, and the arrangement is such
that there can be no communication be-
tween the witnesses and the immigrants
From the special inquiry examination
rooms immigrants can be sent to the ex-
cluded detention rooms.
The dormitories for the New York de-
tanned are to be over the New York de
tention room. There will also be sepa-
rate dormitories for the excluded men
and women. The dOrmitories will accom-
modate about 900 persons. If 1t should
become necessary to use the third floor
400 or 800 more can be accommodated in
that space.
corridor surrounding the entire cen
trail part of the main floor will permit
the freest circulation TO every depart
ment. All those parts of the building
which are for immigrant uses will be
cut off in sections by steel freproof
doors
The building will be wholly of fire
proof material, and the most careful con-
siderat1on has been given to hSgienic ne
cessit'es. 1t Is as far in advance of the
old Ellis Island building as that was in
advance of the barge office.