New Britain herald., 1922-12-21
SEEK EXTENSION OF
 IMMIGRATION PORTS
Secretary Davis Discusses Need
 Tor Better Accommodations

Washington. Dec. 21.--Citing over
 crowding and lack of adequate facili-
 ties at the immigration ports through
 out the country, Secretary Of Labor
 James J. Dayis proposes immediate
 extension and enlargement of many
 immigration stations At four of the
 larger ports. New York, Boston, Seat
 tie and San Francisco, Secretary
 Davis urged immediate reform. Dis
 cussing conditions at these ports. he
 said;
 The station at Ellis Island is in-
 tended to normally house about 1,2O0
 people. It usually has 50 per cent
 more than that and at times twice
 that number to handle. Serious con-
 sideration should be given to the thought of enlarging the available equipment at Ellis Island so that the
 periodically crowded conditions will
 be avoided. Much of the equipment
 at the Ellis Island station is anti
 Guated and not in good repair and
 therefore not functioning 100 per
 cent. earnestly recommend careful
 consideration for improving and en-
 larging the physical equipment at this
 important station.
 'The station at Boston is woefully
 inadequate and has been ever since its
 completion. There is no opportunity
 within the station for either hospital service or recreation. We had hoped to perfect an arrangement for moving the station to the Boston side of the harbor into unused piers built during the war by other agencies of the gov ernment. We find, however, that in order to comply with requirements of law the immigration service would have to pay rent for the use of this pier space and the sum required is vastly in excess of any available funds under existing appropriations. It was therefore necessary to abandon this plan I earnestly recommend careful consideration of the suggestion that proper legislation be had which will make possible the use of otherwise unemployed government buildings for the immigration service at Boston.
 "The station building used at the | port of Seattle belongs to private own | CTS and is rented for government use. The rentals required are very high and | the building used is more than 50 per | cent. too small for the needs of the | service. The location of the building also is awkward and not connected | with tidewater respectfully recom- mend the construction by the govern ment of suitable immigrant station at the port of Seattle in keeping with the volume of business transacted there and in the interest of economy as well as efficient service.
 ''The station at the port of San Francisco is located on Angel Island in San Francisco bay. Just why it should have been located where 1t is is a mystery to me. The island is many miles from the city of Sai. Francisco and is wholly unsuited for the purpose for which it is being used. The buildings are of wood without even a semblance of fire protection. They are wholly unsuited for the pur pose for which they were built and in every way so arranged as to make operation most difficult and expensive. There is no water supply on Angel Island and all fresh water must be carried there in scows. The plant is voefully out of repair and would re- luire the expenditure of thousands of ,ollars to put in repair. Careful con alteration has been given to the ques- ion of abandoning the station on An gel Island and establishing one on the mainland within the city of San Fran ,isco. Several sites have been found which would be suitable for the pur- ,ose, and proper buildings could be ,rected at cost of approximately '600.O00. It has been estimated byl nen we'll posted on the subject that saving in overhead of operation ould be made of anywhere from $75,- 00 to $100,000 year if the station we're located in San Francisco instead f on Angel Island. It would seem hat good business would dictate the rection of a new station on the main- and and abandoning the plant at Angel Island. With all possible re- airs and Improvements that could be nade at Angel Island there would onstantly remain the factor of fire azard and the factor of loss of time y employees in daily spending more han an hour in travel between the fty of San Francisco and Angel Is-