Evening journal., 1905-04-17
FAIR FOR IMMIGRANTS
Sargent's Proposition to Distrib-
ute Incoming Aliens.
SCHEME MAY COST sloOo,OOO.

Commissioner General of Immigra-
tion Win Ask Congress For an Ap-
preparation TO Erect Exhibition
Hail on Ellis Island Where Immi-
grants May See Samples of ne
Country's Attrnctions.
+. p. Sargent, commissioner general
pf immigration, viii ask congress upon
its reassembling for an appropriation
TO be devoted to the construction Of an
exhibition hall at Ellis island in which ,
the industrial resources OF the diIerent
states may be displayed for the benefit
of the newly landed alien, that he
may determine for himself just what
locality best fits his abilities, says the
New York Times.
Announcement to this effect has
been made by Robert Watchorn, the
commissioner in charge at Ellis island,
after a long conference with the COM
missioner general, who was in New
York few days ago. Just how large
an appropriation viii be asked has not
yet been determined upon, but before
the hall is completed and the exhib=
its installed it is likely that more than
S1000,O0O will be spent Indeed, this
figure is rather conservative, for it will
be necessary to make the ground for
the hall, there being no room for it on
the island
There is not the slightest doubt IN
my mind" said Mr.. Watchorn, that
the hall will be erected. Mr.. Sargent
was never more in earnest about any
thing, and congress comes pretty close
to realizing that he never asks for any
thing to which the service Is not enti-
tied
ITO my mind. the display of the re-
sources of the different states will go
a long way toward solving the immi-
grafton problem by diverting aliens
from the congested cities and sending
them where they are really needed In
a speech l made the other night at
dinner which l attended I made the
statement that there were millions Of
hands who wanted acres and millions
Of acres which wanted hands In
bringing the two together lies the Sc
crct
'This IS what NIr Sargent hopes to
achieve by the Industrial exhibit. The
immigrant agrlculturist will be able to
see Al a glance what section Of the
country raises the products with which
he is best acquainted. The mechanic
win be able to find where his services
are most required, and the miner can
tell where he will be most likely to find
lucrative employment. 4-h
"The plan means that the Omitted
States government viii offer its good
offices in providing the immigrants
with homes best adapted for them and
in supplying citizens to those states
which wish TO increase their popula-
tlon
"The average immigrant comes TO
this country with scant appreciation Of
its opportunities. If he has a definite
idea Of where he wishes to go he buys
a railroad ticket. If he doesn't know
where he wants to 60 there is no ON |
to tell him what is best and the cons
quence is that he stops in some one o.
the larger cities where he is usually
much worse Off than be would be II he
had found suitable ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
roundings which would utilize the best
in him and give him adequate returns
for his labor
"Air Sargent has already received as
surances thar the different states ap-
prove the idea heartily. AS a matter OF
course the hall will be under govern
mental control and operated as a part
/ of the immigration service, but the ex-
/ hibits will be installed by the state and
commercial bodies throughout the
country A competent corps of guides
viii be employed who will give fuh
and detailed information regarding the
/ displays 10 the immigrants, and it is
not impossible that some of the states
\ may wish 20 keep men at the hall to
maintain their exhibits and explain the
advantages offered settlers in the local
tiles which they represent
"The tide of immigration is growing
stronger every year. In 1904 over 6O6,-
600 immigrants passed through Ellis
island This year l believe the figure
will run about 10000. and the million
mark, in my judgment, is but a few
years removed In February Of this
year 60, 116 immigrants came into the
United States. In February, 1904, but
33,96T arrived.
"There is work waiting for the mil
lions who are yet TO come If they can
only be put in the way Of getting it.
1t seems to me that the industrial ex-
hlbit not only offers the best way prop
erly to distribute the immigrants, but
that it is due to the prospective citizens
as their right This is the way Mr..
Sargent looks at the situation.
"To no state or city will come great
) er benefits from the practical method
Of turning the immigrants in the right
, direction than to New York In 1904
out of the total Of something over $780,
600 immigrants 2G3,15O stayed in New
York. This is about 81 per cent Of the
, total. Five hundred and forty-one thou
, sand nine hundred and seventy-nine, or
about 67 per cent, settled In New York.
! New Jersey, Massachusetts. Rhode Is
land. Connecticut and Pennsylvania
: But 3 per cent went to the south At
] lantlc states. The south central di-
vision got but 1904 immigrants com.
? bined. The western division gained
5 Al, ,221, or 6 per cent
t There is never day when l do not
+ hear Of sections Of the country which
e are doing everything in their power to
aftroef imnaiarauts Particularly Ia