New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-07-29
ELLIS ISLAND STATION.
RAILROADS TO BUILD.
Trunk Lines to Erect S200,000
Structure for Immigrants.

IT., facilitate thu characterization OF immigrants ad
mitted TO this country by the authorities at Ellis
Island and TO give the government absolute CON
troll of the immigrant from the time he arrives on
the island until ne reaches his destination. huge
immigrant railroad station Is to be erected on tns
western end OF the island at a cost asgreganns
500 600. The station Is TO be built ny the trunk
lines interested with the steamship companies
in the immigration business. The erection OF lhAs
station. It was learned yesterday, practically mas
been forced on the roads doing an immigrant ous|
ness. and ia one of Commissioner Watchorns Dig
gest ideas for the improvement in the metnoos OK
handling the increasing flood Of immigrants
few days after his appointment the Commission
err found that hundreds Of immigrants who had
received g clean bill OF health at the island fre-
quently were taken to piers uptown and allowed 10
find their way to the stations from which tnoy
were to take trains for the West as best they
could Some OF them wandered about the city, ana
complaints reached the Commissioner from all parts
OF the country. In some instances & was found
that the treatment OF the immigrants by the minor
officials of the carrying roads was little snort OF
irhuman.
After his second month Commissioner Watchorn
determined to make Ellis Island a humans nsutu-
ton and, incidentally, to facilitate the general
business, Immigrant station was needed He
lost no time In suggesting tbs scheme TO the rant
roads doing business with immigrants. Some OF the
lines could not see the wisdom OF such an ex-
penditure, but within the last few days every line
interested has come to Commissioners Watchorns
way of thinking. 1t was announced yester-
day that the Central Railroad OF New-Jersey'
the Pennsylvania, the Iackawanna- the ontario
and Western the West Shore. and other railroad
systems have appointed a commission TO carry OUT
Commissioners Watchorn's ideas. They Will meek
In a few days and call in expert engineers to de-
eide on the point where the new station VIII Dc
erected.
The new station will be built practically on the
same system as the new hospital, by filling In and
erecting on a solid stone foundation huge steel
pier to project from the tracks Of the CentraI
Railroad OF New-Jersey to tne station Each OK
the lines doing immigrant business VIII nave us
own tracks
Commissioner watchorn, when seen yesterday.
said;
You needn't mind about referring TO this work
as an idea Of mine. 1t is absolute necessity No
station. Yes, believe the railroads have come to
think it necessity also. I understand they nave
plans and cost OF such structure WITH ms
station at our door pracaca a tine bs
ness and can see for itself that those admitted 70
I have complaints by the hundred come to. me
The moment immigrant passes the bars here our
ali thor ne aboTt he dsay m taxing these peops
70 their destination, but it is fact that In many
leaves this island is little short of inhuman With
an immigrant station at the door we shall hold
ton TO their friends.
Commissioner watchorn has made several impor-
tant changes the island since his arrival Just
now half of carpenters are busy remodelling
the floor space in the immigrant building proper so
that, instead of standing for hours awaiting their
turn to be examined. the immigrants may sit at
Heretofore women with their little ones the
aged and infrm. have been compelled TO stand two
hours more in close lines. while the physicians
examined them one by one. Often at luncheon time
entire line would be standing awaiting their
turn. and would have to stand there until the en-
ployes returned again. By tomorrow the floor
space will be enlarged and seating space provided
for all.
The new railroad room erected on the north side
of the main structure. at cost of $40 000 Is COM
pleted now, and will be turned to the govern
ment next week.