The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1909-10-19

tageS, marvellous example OF CIVIL
lied life to the people in an Italian
village, possess as thelr GROWING
glory, the thing Of primary import
ance, a bathroom, all the equipments
of which bear the firm name and
trademark of a first class American
plumbers supply house.
Protected By the Italian Govern
ment from the misrepresentation OF
u~nscruplous steamship drummers for
trade, the emigrant leaving his home
village for America is at once taken
in hand by the Italian Emigrant Com
mission. With the railway journey to
his port of departure begins an actual
protection over him which never
ceases until he sets foot at Ellis Is
land, and in cases, until some time
a~fterward.
The immigrant arriving at 9 port
from the interior is by law entitled
before going on the vessel to thirty
six hours keep at g city lodging
house at the expense Of the steam
ship company from which he has
bought his ticket. Immigrant lodg-
ing houses are licensed and super
vised by the Emigration Commission.
In each room is posted q notice Civ
ing It's measurements, its air space.
it's allowable number of beds, and
other particulars relating to hygiene.
The food is also prescribed. / visited
one Of these lodging houses and found
it better than might have been eX-
pected; its rooms were light, airy and
tidy, the bedding being clean, though
made Of coarse material.
Before going on board ship, the emf
grant is advised to change his Italian
money into American, or to buy postal
orders, a branch Of the Sank Of
Naples having been established for
these purposes in the Emigration
Commissions building close to the
Quays. h Italian and American doc
tors then take him in hand. His out
fit Of clothing. if suspicious, is run
into a sort of oven ~ retort, in which
it is subjected to a heat that leaves
in it nothing alive. The doctors ex-
anime him for contagious diseases.
especially those of the eyes and scalp,
common among the italian poor. The
Commissions agents and two physic-
ians whom I Intercepted on this point
told me that On the average 20 per
cent of the italians presenting them
selves for passage by sea to America
are rejected on account Of disease.
This system of rejection gives rise
both to hardships and receptions. In
a fa1nily-of three, five. seven, per-
haps-the mother, or father, or a
baby may be rejected. At the last
moment a decision must be made as
to what can be done. with the result
that in some cases the entire family
remains in Naples or the stricken
one is hurriedly provided for and left
behind. Perhaps the disease a
manifested itself only after the fam
lily left home. It is said that since
the enforcement of the strict regula-
tons of the Commission. the emigra-
ton Of Italians from Italian ports has
relatively decreased, while increasing
at Belgian, German and French ports.
The 20 per cent. excluded, or a part
of them, and all others who believe
they might be rejected, take chances
on being landed from n~on-Italian yes
sells at New York, where the exclu-
siOns are less than one per cent. from
all causes. The emigrant will argue
that his ailment may pass away in a
few days. or that examining physician
may have been mistaken, or that the
Ellis Island inspection may allow him
to slip through.
On board the steamer, the immi-
grant has a legally-stipulated number
of cubic feet in the Storage sleeping
quarters, in which the sexes are sep
arated; he has God Of a quality and
quantity prescribed by the Commits
sion. and is protected throughout the
voyage by an agent of the Italian
government. On Friday I witnessed
the embarkation Of about 200 emf
on the Lloyd-Sabaudo steam
ship San Giorgio. If there was posi-
bility to avoid the Italian govern
ment's measures for the protection
of the immigrants on this vessel, the
fact was not apparent. / visited at
my leisure the steerage, the kitchens,
the bathrooms, etc, and the women'S
hospital, the latter having two nurses
in attendance and being well fitted
out. The steerage passengers were a
we1I-appearing lot as to health, ex-
hihiting certain general characteristics
Americans-an incapacity to see why
children should De over-encumbered
with clothing for the purpose Of con-
cealment, an indisposition to study the
arts of manicure, a robust indifference
to the accumulation on the dock Of
the rubbish and waste we call dirt.