The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-01-05

NEW ORLEANS. Jan. 4.-The 37S Porto
Rican immigrants who arrived here yes
terday on the Arkadia were transported
this morning to the cars of the Southern
Pacific Railroad and started on their
journey to Hawaii, via San Francisco.
Special precautions were taken to pre-
vent the immigrants deserving, as the
first party did. They were hept aboard
the Arkldia, which anchored in the mid
die of the Mississippi, and none of them
was allowed to land or visit New Or
leans, but they were taken direct from
the steamer to the cars.
Three representatives OF the Hawaiian
planters go with them en- route to San
Francisco to prevent any person inter.er-
ing with them or soaring them, as the
first party was scared into deserving by
the story that they were being sold into
slavery in Hawaii. If possible. the i'm
migrants will be transferred direct to the
Pacific steamer at San Francisco. On the
other hand, kilograms of enquiry from
San Francisco indicate that something is
afoot there to prevent the Porto Ricans
entering the city or leaving for Hawaii
The Porto Ricans are from the centre Of
the island, and are the most miserable
looking lot of people who have ever
passed through New Orleans. looking as
though they had been half-starved for two
years. The general comment of Louisiana
planters who saw them was that one
negro could do the work of four of them.
They would have been shut out under the
ordinary immigration laws because OF
physical disability and likelihood TO be-
come public charges, but under instruc-
lions from the Treasury Department their
status was not called in question, and
they were not examined immigrants,
but all passed.
The Hawaiian planters have contracted
for 10000 Porto Ricans for their pianta-
lions. The immigration inspectors here
examine the immigrants only to make sure
that Jamaicans and people of the other
West Indies are not taking advantage of
this immigration to step into this coun-
try or Hawaii in violation of the con-
tract labor laws.
W. G. Waltars. a Hawaiian planter, who
is experimenting the movement and will
take the party to San Francisco today,
expressed himself as well satisfied with
the immigrants. The planters wanted
men who would settle in the islands, and
they gave the preference to men with
families rather than to single men. The
trouble with the first cargo of immi-
grants-who deserted al Sar Francisco
was caused by labor agitators.
DR.. Fulton. who accompanied the Ar
kadia on her voyage from Ponce here,
says that the Porto Ricans are in good
state Of health. It was a point with those
who selected the immigrants to get hardy
men. ard while they appear very anaemic,
IL is surprising what hardships they can
undergo. DR.. Fulton thinks that the re-
moval OF the islanders to a country where
they can secure employment will be like
giving them the elixir of life.
He says that they Will be content when
they find employment, and that they i'm
proved wonderfully on the voyage over
here. Just the idea of getting work and
having plenty to eat makes them like new
people. and they live In anticipation OF
what the future will bring forth for them.
The Porto Ricans regard going to Hawaii
as ono would think of going TO a modern
EI Dorado. DR.. Fulton said further that
the people of Porto Rico are starving.
They live in squalor and flth," he said,
in houses that are worse than pigsties,
and they are without doubt the most
wretehed lot OF human beings I ever laid
my eyes or. Their actual condition beg
gars all description. They are sick and
dying fer lack OF the proper kind of food.
This was especially due to the interior
mountain district from which most OF tine
Hawaiian immigrants have come.
Tie race is degenerated; 1t is inbred-
to a startling degree. They have no code
Of morals. and the stock has worn out
Nearly all of them are suffering from
anaeuia and their blood Is nearly color
less. They consume vegetable matter en-
tirely. The children develop great stom-
achs like animal. 1t is because Of the
plantains and bloodless vegetable foods
They do not seem 20 know what is the
matter with them. and call 1t asthma. but
the real trouble is anaemia. a iistless.
blOOdiess condition"
DR.. Fulton thought the movement would
be great blessing TO the island. To &C
eomnodate this movement the Porto Rican
Steamship Company viii put on two addi-
tional steamers Of 5000 tons. and each
VIII accommodate nearly 900 persons
a party Of 100 negroes passed through
hero today en- route to Hawaii, under con-
tract to work on the sugar plantations
They are from Alabama