Mr. Chairman. the Appropriations Committee is entitled to our acknowledgments for having inserted in this bill the item of $105.000 to complete the Philadelphia immigration station at Gloucester. N. J. This item. added to the $250.000 originally appropriated from the "immigrant fund" before it was absorbed by the General Treasury. will admit of the completion of a firstclass immigration station at the port of Philadelphia. where it has been long and urgently needed. The new station is eligibly located on the Delaware River. opposite Philadelphia. and will be equipped in such manner as give a favorable impression to the newcomer to our shoresa matter of much civic importance. since the quality of citizenship arising from immigration is frequently influenced by first impressions. which. in the instance of the old Philadelphia immigrant shambles. were certainly not calculated to inspire confidence or hope in the breast of the immigrant seeking a haven here. Just now there is reawakened interest in the Delaware River. due to channel improvement. Shippers are coming to regard the river at its true worth as a carrier of commerce. and the port of Philadelphia has induced a number of large steamship companies to avail themselves of its facilities. An increased number of immigrants arriving at Philadelphia has been a feature of this development. In this respect the city has taken second place in the number of immigrants received. being exceeded- this year only by the great port of New York. Five years ago it held fourth place. being behind New York. Boston. and Baltimore.
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