The New York herald., 1851-12-23
The Annual Visit OF the Commissioners Of
EmigratIOn to Wards Island.


Emigration to Wards Island.
Although the weather was very stormy, the Commits
oners Of Emigration and several members elect of the
Legislature, assembled at early hour yesterday
morning st the Office In Chambers street for the
Ct visiting Wards Island. At eleven O'Clock they ven.
On board steamboat and arrived at Wards Island
about They received by Mr.. Joseph wsster-
field warden, Doctor Williams, and the medical staa
The Commissioners and company were shown over the.
vAious departments by Doctor Williams and every thing
appeared in admirable order The first place visited was
the infsn. school department in which three hun
dred children are educsted-this Der does not in
elude all the children the island, but merely those
who are healthy old enough to attend, The wash
house the place next in order This department
viewed with great interest, the work accomplished
in one day Is truly wonderful Mason, walwcrth Co.'S
patent rotary washing machine used and by its great
powers sufficient quantity ef linen for two thoussnea
I've hundred persons be washed in day.
IN he second story, immediately the wash
house, is the drying room, which contains the
cstern which supplies the water for washing and which
eupplies the bath house The drying room is heaec
y the steam Of the washing machine and capsule Of
place visited the ward appointed for sick children
il is capable OF accommodating some sixty children, but
the number at present is about thirty four the majo
rty Of them being rick with fevers. The Commissioner
then proceeded to the soreroom which is in separate
building from the above and is well supplied with all
kinds Of provisions suitable for the inner man. guam
titles OF clothing, boots and shoes, &c. outer
The bskehouse adjoins the storeroom, s spacious
well adapted for the purpose 1t contains three
ovens each being capable Of baking many two
hundred and sixty hve loaves the consumption gene
rally is about thirteen hundred loaves per day From
the bskshouse the Commissioners proceeded to irsoect
the ward for pregnant women the lyipg.in ward,
the ward for convsescent women. Some objections
made by of the visers to the propriety of
inspecting this department
The hospital was Lext visited. 1t is frame building
ana is divided into separate departments wards
being devoted solely to the treatment Of opthslmic dis
Others to diseases Of females The drug
store situated in the lower part OF the h spta in which
they sometimes prepare as many as five hundred pre-
scrptons in day The Commissioners next inspected
NUN OF shanties appropriated to sick emgrants OF
both sexes The sbantes the last places inspected
after which the Com misoners visiters and the prnc
pal officials Of tie island, adjourned the supernten
dents houee where an ample collation. prepared for
their retreshment Mr. Julian O. Verplsnck, President
Of the Board Of Commissioners was elected Chairman
and after justice had been done by al present to the
good things provided he related several circumstance.
attending the establishment Of Wards Island place
Of refuge Eve years ago.
Doctor WILLIAMS Head Physician of the island, Their
and read the following statistics relative TO the
number Of emgrsnts received and discharged from
Wards leland, births and deaths, &c. -
Number n institution 3lst August 1880. l47l
Admissions since Aug 3D. 1850, to Nov 29 1851. l37s
.