Der Deutsche correspondent. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1841-1918, 1916-05-14

1891 to $500 per capita, and while
the classes of aliens who are debarred
from entry have been increased, the
space for the steerage aboard ship
has been enlarged better ventilated
and better lighted.
The inspection at Baltimore is in
the hands of experienced and capable
officials, and from the moment the
ship Is boarded in the harbor until
the immigrant starts on his inland
journey, he is protected from outside
interference.
Baltimore has become known as
Family Port" because of the large
proportion of women and children
brought here by the North German
Lloyd's and also in recent years by
the Hamburg-American Line The
average has run over 4096 of the
total inward passenger movement.
A steamship differential of two dol
lars per capita and lower railroad
rates to the West, in addition to the
fact that there is no barge transfer
as at Ellis Island has no doubt at
tracted this class.
Baltimore reached her high water
mark in the fiscal year ending June
80, 1907, when over $4,000 aliens
passed through her gates. From that
date until the beginning of the pres
ent War it has dropped off, falling as
low as 20,601 in 190S-09; but it
reached over 10000 in 1913-14.
War in Europe brought it down to
3,165 for the fiscal year ending June
80, 1915, and since tat time it has
practically ceased.
Going back to the past, as immigra-
ton gradually increased, conditions
for the proper handling and care of
immigrants at Locust Point became
q serious question. Baltimores hos
pitfalls had no facilities for caring for
the aliens suffering with the contag-
ious diseases Of childhood, and the
situation one winter during an epide-
mic of measles became acute How
ever, after years of argument, with
hard and faithful work on the part
of those interested, Congress saw fit
to answer her pleadings and about
three acres of Fort McHenry were
given over for an immigration site.
More work and more push and finally
Congress appropriated $550,000.00
for the erection of Station on this
land Probably few of our citizens
realize that this station is now in
course Of erection; but such is fact,
ground having been broken in
November 1915, and the buildings
are to be completed within two years.
1t will consist of q three story Re-
ceiving and Detention Building, $50
by 207 feet; two-story Administra-
tion or Office Building, 40 by 100
feet; four-story Hospital, 40 by 100
feet; a two-tory Power House and
Laundry, A by 56 feet; and wharf
rs feet wide and $50 feet long; all
buildings are to be of brick, with
stone trimmings.
The Supervising Architect Of the
Treasury told the House Committee
on immigration and Naturalization,
and the House Committee on Approp-
riations that 'profiting from past ex-
perience with immigration stations it
was intended to give Baltimore the
best and most up-to-date layout in
the United States"
1t has always been the aim OF the
Bureau of immigration and especial
ly of the present Commissioners
eral of immigration, to better dis
tribute the newcomers to our shores
and to relieve Ellis Island from con-
gestion Baltimore can and should
be made the Gateway of the South
with her new station and the close
of War will come her opportunity.
Will she avail herself of it? New
steamship lines are not coming to
Baltimore until Baltimore goes after
them. Since 1907 both Boston and
Philadelphia have outstripped us,
and 1t will take the united efforts OF
our City Fathers, our merchants, and
manufacturers, and the public press
to induce new passenger carrying
lines to use our Port.