Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-09-02
SMUGGLING CHINESE IN.
Profit in Bringing in Wool and Other
Matters Described by Officer

Addison H King a United States cus-
toms officer stationed at Richford. Vt. is
visiting friends In this city Mr. King has
had a long experience as an Immigration
omcer Tor the government, and he has told
some interesting stories about the SNUG
sHns OF Chinese into this country across
the Canadian border, as well as how at
tempts are made by Canadians to smuggle
wool and maple sugar into this country.
Mr. King said that the Chinese are very
anxious to get into the United States, be-
cause when they are here they can earn
enough money In five years to return to
their native land and live comfortably for
twenty years. These Chianmen land at
vancouver and are transported across Cam
ada under bond by the Canadian Pacific
Railroad Company. The British govern
ment imposes a head tax Of $500 on every
Chinaman that comes into Canada but
II they claim that their destination is tho
United States they are allowed TO cross the
country under bond. and watched by
immigration officers to see that they do So
When the Cinnamon come to this country
they have to establish proof that they are
merchants or travellers, or that they have
lived in the country before and left it with
an unliquidated debt of 81 900 or more. They
are subjected to a critical examination as
to their physical condition. and If they an
swer all the requirements they are allowed
y N.
they refused admission into the coun-
try make every effort to get in. Mr.. King
cites an instance of an attempt to SNUG
gle two of the Cinnamon across the border
disguised as nuns. There are a number OF
persons along the border actively engaged
in smuggling these foreigners into the
country, and they have formed chain of
stations through the Green mountains, by
means OF which a large number were got
through before the trail was discovered.
The work Of the customs officers, as told
by Mr.. King, is still more interesting. The
Canadians and Americans along the boTGer
find that X is a profitabl. business to SNUG
gle wool and maple sugar across the line,
and when they are successful they are well
paid for their work. The duty on wool Is
eleven cents a pound, and ton of this ma
terial can easily be hauled on one load.
smugger successful in getting ton of
wool across the border could make over
500, besides being paid for the use of his
team The government customs officers are
stationed at points from six to fourteen
miles apart all along the line between this
country and Canada. Between these points
there are numerous roads. The smugglers
do their work at night and run chances In
getting across the line without being
caught. Once the material is across the
line II is hard for the government officials
to prove that ii was smuggled, unless they
had II marked before 1t crossed the line
or one of them saw IL coming. MI King
tells also of what are called line houses.
These are buildings built Immediately on
the line between the two countries. so that
one-half of the building is in Canada and
the other half in this country. In these
structures intoxicating liquors are sold, and
the bar is constructed so that the line
masses across the middle of the board its
entire length. In this way the liquors are
sold nv the bartender in Canada and Amer
leans can buy in the United States Customs
officers make raids on these houses, but
when they enter them everything Is before
their eyes and within the reach of their
hands, but they may not touch them be-
cause they are In Canada.