The sun., 1901-12-18
THE IMMIGRANT TRANSFER
SERVICE.
How the Newcomers Fare In Gold weather
Detw cen the Dock aud Eliis Island.


To THE EDITOR OF THE SUN-Sir: I wish
20 call attention to what seems to be gross
abuse In connection with the service OF
transferring immigrants from the steam
ship docks TO Ellis Island. 1t is no exag-
geration TO say that horses, cattle, swine
and sheep are entitled TO, and do generally
receive, better treatment than is accorded
these people. Under the system now fol-
lowed, the steamship companies first land
the steerage passengers at their respective
docks, and after the examination OF their
baggage by the Customs Inspectors. they
are transferred to Ellis Island on tugs and
barges by a company that operates under
q sub-contract with the various steamship p
lines. The steamship companies pay the
transfer company a stipulated sum per hour
for the services Of each vessel employed.
This company has In this service a fleet OF
three tugs and two barges. The immi-
grants are usually carried by the barges.
especially where the number discharged
by a ship Is over 300. These barges are OF
the type used for freight in bulk or for mud
scows. They have two decks and roof,
but the sides are open so that the wind
sweeps through both decks without OBJ
struction. These barges are not supplied
with any means OF artificial heat. They
have no toilet rooms. no seats, no supply OF
drinking water. They carry neither life
boats nor life preservers, notwithstanding
the average number Of passengers per trir
Is around six hundred. An accident 10 one
Of these barges through collision or other
wise would imperil the lives 81 all on board,
including the customs officials The tugs
In use are but poorly equipped for the COM
fort Of passengers. One OF them has a
standing room capacity OF 800, while the
two others carry 2JO zach, sardine fashion.
The average minimum time for covering
the distance from the steamship docks 10
Ellis Island, including the time consumed
IN putting passengers and baggage on and
of the barges, is about two hours; yet II
often occurs, on busy days, that passengers
are kept on board these iceboxes for four
hours or more After the barges have
reached the pier at Ellis Island, II frequently
occurs that the immigrants are sept on
board shivering in the cold for an hour
longer than is necessary, in order that the
leisureiy employees of the Immigration
Bureau on the island may knock OF an
hour, from II TO o'clock, for luncheon
Th' other day single steamship landed
over 200 passengers. The wind Mas
very cold and was blowing a gale. The
thinly clad women and children were com
PEELED 10 stand huddled like dumb animals
on the open, exposed decks Of the barges
while being transferred from the Hoboker
dock TO Ellis Island The women stood II
mute endurance. while the children cried
In pain
Eighteen vessels carrying immigrants
are due to arrive the present week. with the
thermometer standing close around twenty
The average daily arrivals for the present
week will not fall short of 200. There
seems to be absolutely no excuse or justin
cation for the general scheme OF barbarity
that exists in the promises. Congress
should take this transfer service entirely
out Of the hands of the steamship com
panies. A fleet Of suitable transports IL
demanded to be owned and operated 10y
the Government, the steamship companies
TO be taxed in an amount sufficient TO covei
the operating expense OF this service
These Government transports should be
oommodious, and equipped with devices
OF comfort and safety for passengers Such
a change should meet the hearty approva
OF the steamship companies, FOR, while
being no more expensive to them, II would
be immeasurably more creditable anc
satisfactory than the present abominable
system The United States Government
so long as it sanctions by law the landing Of
these passengers on our shores. is under
obligations To guarantee to them humane
treatment while they are passing through
the official channels essential 70 such free
entry. JAMES ). GARRISON
NEW York. Dec IL