New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-12-21
MR. GAGE ON ELLIS ISLAND.
TELLS IMMIGRATION OFFICIALS TO BE
PATIENT AND CONSIDERABLE WITH
THEIR CHARGES.

Secretary Lyman ]. Gage yesterday paid an Of
fetal visit to the new hreproof immigration sta
ton on Ellis Island, which opened on Monday.
He was accompanied by H a. Taylor Assistant
Secretary; Terence V Powderly. Commissioner
General of immigration; Conrad \. Jordan. As
sistant Treasurer at the New-York Sub-Treasury.
and Appraiser Wilbur F. Wakeman; Thomas
Fitchie immigration Commissioner at this port;
Edward S insolvency. Assistant immigration
Commissioner; Alfred B. Fry chief engineer and
superintendent of repairs of the Government build
ings in this city; Colonel Edward Roberts super
intendent of construction of the Ellis Island build
ing: Captain j. J. Howard, supervising inspector
of the Contract Labor Bureau of The immigration
service; DR.. L. L. Williams, of the United States
Marine Hospital Service. attached to the immigra-
ton service, and ". A. Boring and Edward L.
Tilton the architects of new buildings at Ellis
Island. They went over from the city the steam
boat George Starr, arriving the island at Ii LIS
o'clock
After a thorough inspection of all the buildings
Secretary Gage and the other officials expressed
their satisfaction with them and the condition OF
affairs, and expressed the hope that by February
all the buildings would finished. At l o'clock the
party sat down to informal luncheon, served in
the Commissioners
At the luncheon Commissioner Fitchie formally
welcomed Secretary Gage and his party, referring
in the of his remarks to the part which the
station Will play in the history OF immigration In
responding Secretary Gage said;
Mr. Commissioner: In acknowledging your gen
erous welcome take occo sion first to congratulate
YOU and the immigration service, Of which YOU are
the responsible head in New Yo-k upon your home
Coming and your transfer from the incommodious
Quarters of the Barge Office this magnificent
building with its fitting appointments.
The destruction OF the building by fire would
ps8ied by loss Of life and Il is scarcely less than
a miracle that ts many inmates were saved. but
now that We lave the may count the
fire rather blessing than calamity. The money
loss was large and the inconvenience of the Barge
Office for temporary quarters considerable,
the net result after all is a gall Ellis Island was
enlarged and the way cleared for this building,
which with It's companion buildings will form what
the Treasury Department set out TO make IL, the
model immigration station OF the world.
You allude to the history OF the migrations Of the
peoples of the world The movement has tended
steadily westward and we may believe II will
tinue until il circles the globe, the West becomes
the East again and migration returns upon itself
IL finds a halfway station We welcome the
worthy emgrant who comes here with the hope OF
improving his condition and with the purpose OF
becoming a good American citizen This sta
tion is his gateway to the new world and 1t is
OF no little Importance that his first impression
of us is favorable He comes in trepidation and
Let ne impress upon you and those who must
assist in this great work that the spirit OF pa
thence. consideration and kindness toward him
should be the memorable rule OF your conduct A
threshold OF new and untrfed life. He is entitled
20 sympathy and goodwill Through this humble
door have come many who. Under the spirit OF
instruction and under the protection of laws.
have achieved prosperity and happiness. and they
In turn have contributed TO the protection, the
honor and the greatness OF our land.
This great work for the time is committed 10
You and your assistants. That you have merited
commentator for work we'll done in the past in
spires belief than you will merit it In the future.
About o'clock the visitors returned 10 the city.
and Secretary Gage ana Assistant Secretary Taylor
started for Washington