New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-02-23
REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONERS OF
EMIGRATION.

ike that immediately preceding it, was distinguished
from all the other years during which the Commission
ers have discharged the important trust committed to
them by the great diminished number OF emigraas who
Arrived at this port las well elsewhere in the United
Statesl, and also by their generally Improved stae as
to cath. means and general condition. There was
no severe or general epidemic disease prevailing among
emipran. either shpboard or after lala-
| iny The number of patients or OF entirely desttoe
and elpess persons in the hospitals or otherwise 90
tanning relief from the funds OF this Comnlss)n mas
continued 10 dmnisb even below the lessened number
Of 1858 while the improy gradually introduced ny
the experience of the Commissioners and their ocers
have placed all the establishments under their mme-
date cbarpe in state of order and efficiency. inns
the Immediate cares and labors of the Commissioners
have been materially diminished, and although the
| decreased numbers of persons paying comnuiason
| continued 10 keep down the income o! the commission
much below that OF former years, the improved econo
nv of heir establishment, snd the leseened demand
unon them for relief enabled them TO meet the current
Expenditure of the year and diminish considerably
the d.bts contracted IN former years INC ads 'nose
10 the counties for the support OF emigraut poor
Their labors and responsibilities have al:o been
leesened by the operation of the last law in relation to
| the removal of the Quarantine. The number OF alien
emigrapts who arrived At this port during the year
| 1855 and for whom communication was paid or SPECIAL
bonds executed was 20 30, being 1873 more tnan IN
1853 but 04 45l less than in the year 1891 and o5o2O
lePs than ie56; while the proportion 70 te aTeTSe o
these emierants % 6J2 from Ireland, 282O from
| Germany, and 1873 from England. The whole num-
Der of patients al the Harne Hospital from January
! | 10 June %, wac 243
| The total number of persons relieved, forwarded,
! and provided with employment by the Commissioners
was IL COZ. Three hundred and four were buried AT
| the expense OF the Commission. wv -
The Commissioners hold in fee 100 acres on wards
Island together with appurtenant wa,er-righs and
marsh partly covered with water The tract has aiso
been increased in sze convenience, ana value du1og
the last three year,, by hllng III ana building stoae
ses-wall along the Shore which performed chiefly
by labor of the inmates. This labor has also been ap-
Piled by the superintendent to the grading and eyelng
the grounds and similar improvements conaacive 70
health and convenience. The buildings and grounds
are amply supplied with Croton water, brought by
line uncer the waters OF the Sound and, carried up TO
a large embarked reservoir which is kept hled be-
eide supplying the buildings with water allords secu-
rty aeains. fire, and gives plentiful supply OF Ice.
There il broad substantial private wharf belonging
TO the establishment with spacious sheds, boat-house
and other conveniences. >,
the number that now occupy them. On the lst JAN
uary 1852 there in the buildings ,o12 inmates
the number on LET January, 1861, was 'ol. Inc
buildings erected since 1850 are OF brick, well aud
dnraby built and in perfect order. The hospitals are
detached buildings, and large ward, with It's appen-
dages on each story, with windows on all sides, ana
large open grounds.
| Wnds Island is about $780, eco. Since the lst of
| October, 1865, the Wards Island establishment has
teen under the charge Ct Amos Plsbury, an officer OF
long experience III the government OF pnOc lnsttu-
tione lie rasgped HE Office on the lst OF July last on
being appointed General Superintendent OF Police and
the Commissioners appointed IA his successor Louis DE-
| PilsbuTy.
The following summary gives the aggregate results of the
whole establishments including the Hospitals POPera'
| well as the Refuge Department:
| Number Of inmates in institution LIST January,
Nnmbcr admitted to institution during iS5a 5Oss
Number Of births IN Institution during iSo9'.'. |oi %,
i herdi
Number OF deaths during the year in both Refuge
# e Hs:s5; /; 5::::;:; "' ' %
Number days spent in Hospital 1929
Numoer Of doysspent inReuss. Sj'd5
Total uunse, of DAYS spent in bo.h........ 2i67Sa
The school for Children under the charge OF the Com
nissoners kept up gard school of the cty,
the Board providing schooiroom and paying certain
expenses.
Tic aggregate results Of the practice both me deal
and surgical, for the ear, are as follows
There cared for in the Hospital during 1879 Including
COS in Hospital jan 1887 together with Pol births 1903
VI whom there ded. 80
Remaining on December 81 i5l
In the RefnRe Department, which has been appro
priatey termed for medical purposes the Dispenslry
Department Of the Institution, there 1896
treated. There "a deaths of infants in the Re-
uge and AZ in the hospitals proper, whose deaths
to be attributed 10 the deaths sickness OF the mothers,
or their inability to afford the natural nourishmeat.
The average number of patients in the Hoop tai through
out the year was 4i6 The Commissioners suggest the
erection Of building for the )mmoi aton Of the
Insane poor and represent that they have excellent
site such institution, with fine quarry OF stone,
which would lessen the expense OF the building.
The Commissioners III their report speak of the re-
moyal Of Quarantine and state that 81 patients
treated III the Marine Hospital from Jan. 10 Juns -,
at " hch time the floating ships were in readiness.
The Commissioners OF Emigration agreed 10 support
OF their charge either the Floating Hospital or az
the Smallpox Hospital according to the diseased all
patients chargeabe to the Communication Fund, and
also TO provide and pay for most of the current eX-
penses Of the Floating Hospital leaving TO the other
Commissioners the appointment OF officers, and the
authority and direction OF the Hospital administration.
In strict construction of all the laws applicable to
this subject, still in force, it would seem doubtful
whether any Of the communication income could be
properly applied TO purely Quarantine objects; and the
yer, limited income OF this year made it hazardous TO
otuer mpOrants inereststo encroa:h AZ all upon funds
collected ana apart exclusively for tho aid and sup
port of alien omgIants. But from the urgent necessi-
ty of the public service in regard 10 the important
nteress OF the and the health OF the whole
Stale, the Commissioners VI Emigration were induced
TO go as far in the advance OF funds their
would permit.
A considerable par. Of the amount advanced at diff
ferent times during the present year, by the Commts
fioners Of Emigration for the support of the 81 rine
Hospital appears 10 this Board TO be Just claim in
favor of she Communication Fund raised fro n em grant
Aliens ard for their uses The sale of tho very valu-
able lands lately occupied by the Marine Hospital,
provided by law, will furnish fund above the debs
now directly charged upon IT, out of which all such
advances may be properly refunded without injustice
or inconvenience 10 the other funds OF the State Urea
sury.
The Commissioners desire 10 be understood az not
wishing to escape any personal or official responsibility
in regard to Quarantine affairs; but as the present
state OF emigration which will be likely 10 continue,
has scarcely any connection WITH need of Quaran-
tine and e. considerable amounts unavodably paid
from al insufficient Emigrant Fund for other than