El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-12-30
FRANK G. CARPENTERS LETTER
The Story Of an Immigrant


that he could see the whole ban OF the
eye. He then took the left eyelid and
did the same He was looking for con
tagious trachoma or ophthalmia. and
had it been there he would have taken
me out Of the ranks and made the
whence came. This is done with
every immigrant, and the lmmls grafton
doctors look into 2,00e, coo eyes IN this
way every year
Ny eyes were all right. however, and
I was showed along with those who
could be passed, as far as their health
was concerned 1t was far different
with others. but OF them I shall speak
cent were held back Tor special inquiry.
each receiving a yellow card bearing
their names and the reasons why they
we're held.
Passing the inspectors.
ny gext experience was in the reg
istry hal. This is great room COW
ering about half an acre and filled with.
q network Of alleys inclosed By iron
pipe fences. Each Of the alleys is re-
voted to one group Of immigrants, and
the groups are labeled A. 3, @. ID, =.
etc. 20 correspond with the letters
borne by those who come from the
snip. At the end Of each alley is an
Inspector in uniform with q tall desk
before him He speaks a half dozen
languages, and catechises each immi-
grant as he goes through. He makes
him pass all the tests for admission.
and if he belongs to the objected
classes decides against MIN. marks him
J. p C., or liable TO become a public
charge, and puts him on the road back
to Europe. There We're two pretty Ser
Wan girls in front Of me- and the
questions asked them made me think
thar Of the officer suspected that they
might be white slaves Behind me
was a fine looking old woman. with a
white handkerchief over her head She
was asked IS 20 her relatives. and
whether they would support her on
landing.
moved along with the crowd. and
when I came fo-the gate I found that
the Inspector had the long sheet Of au-
swers which I had written out on the
steamer. He asked each question over
again and crOss-eXamined me to see II
] was telling the truth. When I told
him I had S+5 he made me take it out
and count it before him. i observed
that the two girls in front OF me each
had eight gold pieces or the denomi-
nation Of 90 marks The man talked
to them in German, and the party in
front OF them was addressed in Polish.
Indeed, he seemed to have q whole
babel of languages at his tongues
end.
II took him about two minutes to
finish my examination. and after he
was convinced that / was honest and
not liable to become a public charge
he gave me a yellow ticket stamped
o. K. and as I passed out I was at
Railway Arrangements.
This ticket only was given me be-
cause I intended TO stay I'm New York.
Many of the other immigrants who
were passed through had in addition
were badged with the names of the
railroads by which they were to so
to the gest or to other parts Of the
country. ] followed some Of them into
road depot There was bank at ons
end for the changing OF money with
the rates Of exchange plainly pub
lished over the cashiers window,
There were offices where one could
buy tickets and places where the bag
gage could be checked direct upon
them There were also lunch counters
selling bags Of food for SO cents or 81
and every other convenience TO help
the immigrant on his way. The bags
were large and the food was good. In
deed. I doubt whether one can get as
much for the money anywhere else in
New York. This is all regulated by
The immigrants bound for other
parts Of the country are taken charge
Of by the railroads and put on the
right cars. and they are caretully
watched and cared for by the railroads
until they reach their destination.
sent Back to Europe.
% mucn Tor Lle lliiHl grant "liy Hr-r
in I think there is too many Of him
and that the country would be far bet
ter off if tWO-thrids at least Of him
and his family were kent out Of the
United States. but according to the
laws he is admitted and the future
must be settled by congress.
And now as to the Would-be immi
grants who sc sent back They are
brought here at the risk Of the steam
shin companies who carry them and
- - I1es sent ia by countries ana
- TO get rid OF