New-York tribune., 1872-09-25
ABUSES AND DIFFICULTIES ENCOUNTERED
IN GREAT BRITAIN.

alluded to IN fuIl
ABUSES AND DIFFICULTIES ENCOUNTERED
IN GREAT BRITAIN.
By the Act of 1s47, creating the Board Of
Commissioners OF Emigration for the State Of NewYork,
directing the manner which the spirit and letter OF
act intended 10 be carried out at the depot at
Castle Garden and the Refuge and Hospital on Wards
Island protection and assistance given to the emf
grant landing in this city. They are to be guarded from
exorton their passage into the interior is to be fac
lated they to be aided with good dadyce sometimes
with pecunary aid; they be assisted to procure
employment, and should they, at any time within five
years Of their landing, become destitute or sick, the
Refuge and Hospital be open 10 receive them, and
all this without cost to the state
But on the high seas in spite Of subsequent act OF
1863 empowering the Commissioners to investigate and
TO administer oahs ia any Of complaint the emil
grants still, certain extent at the mercy OF tho
snlpowners and officers. The reason is obvious. The
passengers Ignorant of the proper authorities TO
complain to- and of the tender care which America mas
for all the children she receives within her capacons
bosom, and landed they are eager only to reaeh
their homes. Thus in few days they arc scattered
over all parts Of the UnOn forgetting the hardships OF
the voyage Thus many abuses perpetrated without
redress or public attention being called to them. True
the condition of emgrant ships and the treatment the
passengers receive greatly altered since S47 IN when
year. it Is stated, than 10000 emigrants died en-
route the hospitals of the ports where they landed
but now as they too often treated with scant
consideration instead OF being looked upon az the most
valuable part OF the cargo for with the continual 1a
ia freghts, if not for the unceasins supply or
steerage passengers, many OF the Large companies
trading to the ports Of the Union would only realize
small profits IT, in fact they would be able to continue
running their vessels without loss.
ovERcHARGEs AND "sPECULATORs."
In Great Britain the first difficulty Of the intending
hun f,t b, Ia- -I..II
travel. six large steamship companies-the Cunard,
the Inman the Guon the National the Allan, and the
White star-running from Liverpool and other compa-
nes from London, Belfast Derry, Glasgow, and South
ampton compete for public support. Many sailing yes
sells also carry emigrants, though happily the majority
now arrive here by steamer. In almost every English
journal the advertisement, "sseam to New-Tork. Bos
ton Baltimore, Quebec six guineas," is conspcuousy
posted and agents Of the companies are established In
every goodszed town. In the larger English cities too
are agencies OF Of the Western railroads. Tho
burlington aud Missouri" is above others noted for
its lavish outlay in advertising II combines Also tho
business Of land company in the glowing prospects t
holds intending emigrans, who, should they pnI-
chase tickets in Great Britain, pay heavy percentage
for the cost of agencies aud advertising. Ignorant
country villagers have little knowledge Of this continent
or the distances to trayersed to their destination,
and plausible men may and often do swlndle them
by charging per cent over the legitimate price TOT
the contract tickets from New-Iork into the interior
Many heads OF families who have gone before TO found
a home in the West send prepaid contract tickets Ior
their wives and children. These it is to be presumed
are purchased at legitimate prices, the sender, after
short residence in this country, ought to be awe tc
the frauds practiced by railway agents. All the steam
shin companies also advertise booking 10 all parts OF
the States" and such they OF course charge their
percentage. .
II the emigrant has been successful IN escaping the
tolls of the railway agents in England aud avoiding the
agents of the steamship companies in his neghborhood
many Of them none Of the most respectable, he writes
direct to the head offices for information. From each OF
them he will receive BILL the conditions which the
contract Of passage made They nearly all fol-
lows after setting forth the conditions OF payment rail-
| way bookings, &c:
Passengers will be provided with berths to sleep on
each adult having separate berth, but they win have
to provide themselves with plate mug, knife fork.
spoon, and water can, and also oeofing a Of which
ried couples and their children Will be Dcthcd together
| If they desire it.
Bill of Fare-Each passenger will be supplied with
three quarts OF water daily, ana WIN a. mueh proyis
ions they eat, which are all Of the best quality
Inspection OF Her Majesty's emigration officers, and
| cooked and served up By the COmpany's servants.
and butter or biscuit and butter or oatmeal pordge
and moasses. Dinner at o'clock Soup and beef pork
or according 10 the day OF the week. with bread
potatoes, and on Sundays pudding Will be added. sup
per O'clock Tea, sugar, biscuit, and butter. oat
II
| Females totH be placed R rooms by yuemSetccS."
The conditions dietary scale, &C., nearly word for
word the same those OF other companies, and are
copied from bill supplied by Messrs Ismay, Imrie
Co. OF Liverpool the representatives OF the Oceanic
Steam Navigation Company" White Star Line
running to New-York. 1 applied to the White Star Line
as reputed TO have the best Accommodations for
steerage passengers, IL not being wished this
sensational narrative, but description OF the egrants
trials under the most favorable conditions at present
attainabe. accordingly wrote TO Messrs. Ismay q Co.
engaging my passage in the steamship Republic sailing
August 15 and the afternoon of the ith was al the
Offices OF the Company. paid my passage money and re
ceived contract ticket which printed the same
conditions as ON the bill sent me.
AN OUTFIT FOR LONG LWR.
An lrishman in nautical uniform who said he was the
agent OF the White Star Company and also kept a
boarding house, asked me II did some tins
aud bed" Admitting the same he took from the
office To the Quitting establishment OF Mr.. Hart "A
meanoOking shop in mean street. but once inside I
found stored with everything emgrant could and
many things ho could not possibly reQure from floor 10
ceiling 1t was crowded with mattresses. blankets rugs
tins OF preserves. meats. pickles &c. and every de.
scrpton of tinware danged from the roof procured
a small ehaH mattress, u water can plate mug, aud
basin OF tn and knife fork and spoon for the small sum
OF nx shilpgs and sxpenee, but t was decidedly bad