102 WESTERN HEMISPHERE IMMIGRATION

Fe Railway system, written from the president’s office, Railway Exchange,
 Jackson Boulevard, Chicago, under date of May 24, 1907. It
is written to Mr. John D. Trenor, Produce Exchange Building, New
York City. It seems that Mr. Trenor sent a questionnaire out to all
railroads’ presidents, to governors, and others, and got a lot of replies.
Mr. E. P. Ripley, of the Santa Fe writes him on May, 24, 1907 as
follows:
Arcuison, Topeka &amp; Santa FE RAILWAY SYSTEM,
PrESIDENT's OFFICE, RAILWAY ExcHANGE,
Chicago, May 24, 1907.

Mr. Joan D. TreNoOR,
Produce Exchange Building,
New York City.
Dear Sir: I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter of May 22, and in an
swer to your questions have to say:
First, I think the general influence of immigration to the West in recent years
has been beneficial.
Second, whether or not the tide of immigration has reached a point where it
constitutes a menace to the interests of the American laborer depends upon the
condition of business in this country in the future. Your question seems to limit
inquiry to the State of Illinois, whereas I am speaking of conditions in the country
through which our railroads passes, and which covers 13 States and Territories.
For the last three years and up to this time it has not been possible to obtain
sufficient laborers, either for our own work or for the agricultural communities
along our line.
Third, IT am certainly in favor of some kind of distribution of immigration, if
it is to continue in its present large amount. Immigrants, are not, as a rule,
wanted in the large seaport cities, but they have been badly wanted in the West
and Southwest, and probably also in the Northwest, although I am less familiar
with that country. At the moment, owing to the abandonment of a large number
of enterprises and the hesitation about embarking capital in new enterprises
there seems to be planty of labor for our purposes, but it is well known that it is
difficult everywhere to obtain labor for that purpose, and that domestic servants
are still very scarce everywhere. It is also probably true that there are not enough
coal miners in the country to supply the coal as wanted. Notwithstanding this,
there is still the serious question whether the enormous immigration of the past
two years is desirable as a continuing matter, and whether a slight check in the
development of this country might not result in a very unmanageable mass of
unemployed and ignorant persons constituting a menace to the peace and safety
of the country, and also it is a question in my opinion, whether a little less speed
in the development of the country might not be better borne than to risk the further
 admission of so large a mass of the ignorant, superstitious. and, perhaps.
anarchistic element of southern Europe.
Yours truly.

E. P. Rirrgy.
The CaairmMan. That is what the Santa Fe said in 1907.
Now, Mr. McInnis, are you going to talk for the Sante Fe, or for
the western railroads?
Mr. McInnis. For the Santa Fe and the western railroads.
The Cuarrman. All right; which one are you going to start with?
Mr. Mclnnis. I will carry them along together, sir. I have not
seen the statement which the chairman has been reading, but it
appears to me that a down-to-date statement of the position of the
president of the Santa Fe would be of interest to the committee and I
will file a letter which is in my files addressed to me on January 4,
1930, by Mr. W. B. Storey, who, at this time, is president of the
Santa Fe. This is the letter:

CHicaGo, January 24, 1930.

Mr. E. E. McInnis,
General Solicitor, Chicago, Ill.
Dear Sir: I understand the House committee is holding hearings on a bill,
or perhaps more than one bill, which if adopted would put Mexican immigration