Speech #890088131

Originally 31/2 acres in size. it has been enlarged from time to time until it now consists of 272 acres. Prior to 1890 Ellis Island served as a place for the execution of pirates. as a part of the New York Harbor fortifications. and as a naval gunpowder magazine. In 1890 it was placed under the control of the Federal Bureau of Immigration for development as a receiving station for immigrants. It served in that capacity from 1892 to 1954 and as such was host to more than 16 million immigrants. or some 70 percent of all those entering this country during that period of 62 years. For these millions of Americans and their descendants. Ellis Island has a special meaning. It represents the attainment of a longsought goal. a gate of hope to a life of freedom and fulfillment in America. My own congressional district. the 23d of New York. has one of the highest percentages of first- and secondgeneration immigrants of any district in the country. In most cases these immigrants came through Ellis Island. Since 1954. when Ellis Island was closed as an immigration station. many suggestions have been made for its use. During my service as secretary to the Governor of New York State. from 1955 to 1958. I was involved. as was Gov. Averell Harriman. in the consideration of some of these proposals. None proved practical. other than the present proposal to retain the island in Federal ownership and to develop it as a part of the national park system. If House Joint Resolution 454 is enacted into law. the plan of the National Park Service is to rehabilitate the main immigration building for use as a public museum. to rehabilitate one or two other smaller buildings for administrative use. to remove all or nearly all the other structures now on the island. to restore the ferry basin. seawall and utilities. to landscape the grounds for public park use with emphasis. through sculpture and otherwise. on the importance in history of Ellis Island. and to provideprobably through a concessiona restaurant and similar facilities for the visiting public. I understand that the Secretary of the Interior has already arranged for a distinguished American architect. Mr.