Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-10-26
PARADISE FOR ALIENS.
San Francisco to Erect the
Finest of Stations For Con-
veniencc of Immigrants
WILL BE A COMPLETE VILLAGE

Surrounded by Walks and Roads
Angel Island Station Will Have IL,
Own Lighting and Power Plants
Hospitals, Stores and Hotels.
San Francisco bay Is to have the
finest immigration station In the world
writes Louis j. Stelmana In the San
Francisco Chronicle In another year
Angel Island, now almost uninhabited
VIII be n very lively place. Upon ii
Will be erected model village, which
If present plans are carried out, will
be the cleanost, best arranged and
In all respects the finest and healthiest
immigration station ever established
even by Uncle Sam, whose hospitality
to aliens is famous. Indeed, the new.
Corners from foreign shores will prob.
ably think they have struck paradise
when they emerge from the steerage
quarters Of an ocean liner and land al
the summer resort which the immigra.
ton bureau has provided for them.
Here is how 1t all came about.
Some years ago congress passed reso-
luton asking Secretary Victor Metcalf
to investigate the growing immigra-
ton demands of the Pacific coast and
report thereon. Metcnlf did thor.
ough job Of it-so thorough that he
made congress see the needs of San
Francisco through the eyes Of her OVID
people Congress was so impressed
that it Immediately appropriated $780,.
600 as starter for the work and &C.
cepted the bid and plans Of Walter ].
Mathews. California architect.
Mathews took trip east and visited
the big Ellis island station, secured
data and information from headquar-
tiers and returned to draft a set of
plans and specifications which Com
missioner General Of Immigration Sar-
gent Endorsed as the best and most
complete he had ever seen. According
ly work was begun without delay and
is now well under way. The big dock.
where vessels of the greatest draft
may tie up without difficulty, has been
completed, and the task of grading Is
now being pushed as rapidly as pos.
sible.
The Angel island station will be
complete village, surrounded by walks
and roads for every purpose. having
its own lighting and power stations,
waterworks, hospitals, stores and ho-
tells, SO to speak, and will be con-
structed with the strictest regard for
sanitation that is possible. 1t will
have capacity for handling from
1900 to $500 immigrants and sleeping
and feeding accommodations for LOCO.
The principal building will be the ad-
mtnistration building, close to the wa
ter front. This is designed for the re
ceiving and discharging OF immi-
grants. 1t contains separate dining
rooms for Europeans, Chinese and
japanese, for employees, visitors and
officers, baggage room, Offices Of the
custom inspector, board Of inquiry,
Chinese inspector, commissioner of
immigration, ETC., as well as Chinese
and japanese detention departments.
Immigrants are first received and
taken to an examination room, divided
into compartment s separated by iron
ratings. The Chinese and japanese
are separated from the Europeans, and
the women of the latter class are also
received in separate compartment.
Here. under skylight, the first test
for trachoma, the dreaded Asiatic eye
disease, is made, and If suspicious are
aroused which render further exam
nation necessary the applicants for
admission thus classified are passed on
to the physicians quarters, where,
from a waiting room, they pass to a
private examination room equipped
with every late appliance for the ex-
animation of patients.
If found to be diseased-unless the
disease be contagious-the applicant Is
placed in the hospital and detained to
await developments. If at the end of
a certain time 1t is found that he can
not pass the physical requirements for
admission to the country, he Is deport-
ed. If suffering from contagious
disease, he is of course deported at
once unless his life would be endan-
gered by such action.
If the applicant passes the first test,
he goes into another room, divided into
compartments according to his mani
fest, which gives his mental, moral
and financial qualifications. Here he
is subjected to further examination
and if passed goes to the baggage
room, where he receives his property
anti proceeds on his way rejoicing to
the realms Of Uncle Sam
II not passed, he is transferred, If an
Aslatic. to the oriental quarters, some
distance away, until his case has been
decided. If European, he goes to the
Caucasian quarters on the second floor
of the administration building Here
the sexes are again separated and the
detained immigrants confined until per-
same method is followed in the case
of Asiatics after they have been trans
ferred to the quarters allotted to them.
The Europeans sleep in q dormitory
on the second floor of the main build
ing and will have excellent accommo-
dations, including baths. layatories and
Showers, Il roof garden for daily exer-
cises and most of the conveniences of
a first class hotel. On the same floor
of the administration building are also
sleeping quarters for visitors to the
station, quarters for resident physi-