New-York tribune., 1901-07-22

and beautify the grounds The main building
for the reception Of immigrants was finished
and accepted eight months ago. but the grounds
about 1t are still ungraded, and to-day they
present a picture of neglect and misuse which
surprises and shocks many observers
Throughout this summer, while immigrants
have been landed in large numbers at Ellis
Island, the condition Of the grounds has been
growing instead of better. No step has
been taken to remove the heaps OF ashes. scrap
iron and rubbish that were left the grounds
after the fire that destroyed the old wooden
buildings on the island in June, 1897, and there
has been added varied assortment of worth
less materials which were rejected by the con-
tractors who put UP the new buildings Large
quantities OF earth from the Bowling Green site
OF the new Custom House have been taken to
Ellis Island and dumped on the grounds and in
some places these mounds OF earth look like the
beginnings Of fortifcations On the north side
OF the island weeds have grown rankly partly
concealing from view IN places the heaps of
rubbish. and making the burrows and hollowa
less conspicuous; but the struggling growth OF
vegetation has not much modified the unsghtiy
and foriorn appearance OF the place
Uttered WITH RUBBISH
On the south side of the main building there
is a temporary wooden platform at which the
steamboats, make their landings. and from the
platform are several wooden gangways leading
to the entrances OF the building. These gang
ways extend over broken and rubbish encun-
bered grounds. To the west OF the gangways
the grounds are Uttered with more rubbish and
some building materials.
West of the main building are the newly com
pleted buildings for steam and electrical plants
baths. laundry, disinfection plant restaurant
and detention quarters. and near them are the
of,1
terials and the temporary powerhouse that has
been in use while the larger buildings were
being constructed.
South Of Ellis Island proper, but connected
with IT by long. low building erected on pill
ings, s an island OF three acres on which stand
the new hospital building and house for the
medical director. The little island IS still in
unfinished state. and the grounds around the
buildings arc Uniformed, although the filling In
behind the bulkheads was practically completed
about three years ago.
The pictures of the grounds at Ellis Island
shown herewith were taken by Tribune pho
tographer yesterday, when the place was com
parattvely deserted. For both views the camera
was pointed toward the west. One view shows
the grounds at the north side of the main build
Ing and the other shows the grounds 10 the
south Of the building. According to approved
plans in the possession of th.. architects
these grounds are to be graded and made into
small parks, with lawns, trees walks, flower
beds and strawberries. The contemplated i'm
place for immigrants to land at. It Is declared
and the present hideous contrast between tho
buildings and the grounds will no longer exist.
THE DELAY IN IMPROVEMENTS.
How much longer II will be before the contem-
plated improvements are completed nobody
about the offices of the Commissioner of Irnml-
grafton can guess, All contracts for work at
Ellis Island have TO be let through the supervls-
Ing architects office OF the Treasury Department
at Washington. The contract for the grading OF
the grounds has not been let yet Probably It
VIII not be given out until all the buildings on
the Island have been accepted and are In use.
Ahother Improvement that has been planned for
staee' with covered passageways leading to the
main building. and with moving platforms for
the handling Of baggage.
Buildings the island have been erected NV
three or four different firms of contractors The
only building that has been accepted as COM
peted according to contract thus far is the
main building, In which the Commissioner OF
immigration has his office, and which is now
the receiving station for the immigrants Work
on that building was begun In the spring of
1898, and the building was accepted and occ,l-
pied In December last year. The other build
ngs on the island are nearly completed that
only few finishing touches are needed Appro-
priations amounting to $1,400O0O for Improve
ments on Ellis Island were ordered by Congress
after the old buildings on the island were de-
stroyed by fire.