“That also is to make it easier for them,” the other said.  “Most of these people are poor, and we try to make traveling as cheap for them as possible.  Nearly all the railroads run one train each day that carries special cars for the immigrant service.  They give, accordingly, a cheaper rate to the government.  Supposing, for example, that the regular number of the Lehigh Valley train was always numbered ‘9,’ then every man who purchased a ticket for a point on the Lehigh Valley would be given the ticket ‘9.’  Then, when the boat that was taking the passengers for Lehigh Valley points left Ellis Island, all the 9’s would be gathered together and no one would be left behind.”

“Nothing seems to have been forgotten,” said Hamilton, “even food, for I see there’s a big counter over there.”

“That’s quite a thing, too,” the other said.  “A man can get two days’ food, six meals, for a dollar, or a little over sixteen cents a meal.”

“And what in the wide world can he buy for that price?” exclaimed the boy.

“Here’s a sample of the contents of one box,” the other said; “read it, it tells you what there is.  ’Four loaves of bread, two pounds of cooked beans, twelve ounces of sausage, one can of beef, one can of sardines, six ham sandwiches, three pies, and four oranges.’  I’m sure you wouldn’t starve on that.”

“No,” said Hamilton, “I think I could get along if I ate it all.  But why is it that most of the immigrants here are men?  Have the women been lost in the shuffle?”

The immigration official laughed.

“They’re not lost,” he said, “most of the women pass through the ‘temporary detention’ rooms.  We’re going to visit there now.  Of course there are some women who will be able to take the train directly, but we try to see that they go with some one, or that their being met is assured.  The tickets pinned on them are not given until an inspector has seen their railroad tickets, and they do not land in New York streets at all.  A boat takes each group to the railroad pier, and they are escorted to the train by an inspector, who places them in charge of the conductor who is responsible for their arrival at their destination.  Nearly all go West or South and start from the Jersey side.  It is an entirely different matter with women and children who want to land in New York City.  In every case they are detained until called for by some relative.  And that relative has to prove to us that he really is the relative in question.”

“How do they meet?”

“I’ll show you right now.  In this room,” he continued, entering another large waiting room, “are all the people ‘temporarily detained.’  Most of them will he released shortly.  If you listen you can hear just how it is done, because that clerk who has just come in has a list.”

As he spoke a young fellow stepped forward and read a list of nine names.  Seven of the nine were in the room and came to the front, the clerk ticking off their names on the sheet.