The New York herald., 1873-12-12
OUR EMIGRANTS.
Omcial Report of IN Lady
Inspector.
Interesting Investigations Made on
Board the Different Lines
Of Steamers.
Emigranl Women and Children Better Treated
Than Is Usually Supposed.

The suboined communication win be found 10 be
OF more than ordinary interest. II Is rom the pen
Of Mrs. Helen NJ. Barnard, who following the in
structions OF Secretary OF the Navy visited the
ports OF New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Bos-
ton, Liverpool. Havre, Brest and Hamburg, and
Also made thorough Investigations on board emf
grant vessels OF the various lines.
WASHINGTON d. c., Dec. I. 1873
To the Hon. WILLIAM A. RICHARDSON, Secretary or
siR-m compliance with your instructions OF
June g. 1s73 directing to report upon the treat
ment OF emigrants on board steamships particu-
larly TO inquire into that OF women and cmidren; ;
authorizing me TO visit the ports OF Baltimore,
Philadelphia New York ana Boston, In the united
States; Liverpool, Hayre Brest and hamburg, IN
Europe, and directing me, In order to iully under
stand the conduct and treatment OF passengers
during the voyage, TO inspect the steerage as ire
quentiy as possible, both IN ordinary anu excep-
tonal weather / commenced my Investigations at
castle Garden on the 10th OF June From that point
visited the different lines OF steamers on their ar
rival and departure 10 and from the port OF New
York, where the greater portion oil all the emil
grants to this country land
During my stay at this point ! observed
closely the condition and appearance OF emigrant
passengers. | talked with them freely on ship
board and on shore, and particularly noted the
provision made for them on landing. on the 2sth
OF June sailed on the steamship Calabria, or the
Cunard line, bound Tor Liverpool at which point
remained several weeks; from there proceeded
10 southampton IN England. went to Southamp-
ton rather than TO Havre and hamburg Tor the
reason that the Hamburg and Bremen steamers
stop at Southampton and remain "a hours in
port and inspection OF them after three days.
voyage is far more satisfactory than one made
when leaving the port OF embarkation. AT all these
points | examined fully the condition OF steer3ge
passengers and the accommodations furnished to
them. TO acquaint myself more fully upon the
suoJect than had been able TO do from the obser-
vations made at these points, took steerage pas
sage on my return from Europe without the
knowledge OF the officers OF my object, on steamer
OF the Inman hne, the City OF New York, bringing
f1o emigrant passengers, representing nearly ali
The nationalities OF Europe-English, German.
Swedes, Russians French and Irish. For IA days
j did not cross the forbidden bar which divides the
cabin from the steerage deck. ate, slept and re-
manned there all OF that period.
STEERAGE LIFE ON RESPECTABLE ENGLISH AND GER
MAN LINES.
Upon the observations and Investigations made
have the honor to report that the treatment OF
steeraga passengers on the responsible and re-
spectacle English and German lines is generally
S1e t6e peer az and ini ignoIant classes in return oT
value given by them; that the food, though OF the
plainest and most inexpensive kind. was good and
wholesome in quality and sufficient in quantity.
For breakfast they gave fresh bread and butter,
hot cof1ee and oalmeal porridge. For dinner, nu-
tritious soup, either salt or fresh beef boiled pota
toes, varied on Friday by fish. For supper bread
and butter, with tea and oatmeal porridge. In
addition beef tea was served during the day TO
The sick.
The sleeping accommodations are not so Tree
from criticisms; they crowd too many in too small
aspace. Although the English Passenger act, which
limits the steamship companies to carry one pas
senger for every 10 superficial feet OF clear
e aSsee aSey s 10 sner e
crowd them too closely together. The English
government officials appointed rs inspectors to
zee that the Passenger act is IN all respects carried
out are always at their posts and vlgiant IN the
performance Of their duty, and the Captain OF
every steamship and sailing vessel is under heavy
bonds not TO violate any OF It's provisions. There
are compartments and divisions for the separa-
ZION OF the sexes on all the regular hines. On anew
German lIne the Eagle, the divisions made
complete by closed bulkheads, separating them so
that there can be no communication save by going
from the deck. On the Inman line the compart-
ments furnished with sliding doors that can be
fastened on the inside that the most perfect
and unmarried men are put In the lore part OF the
steamship the married people and families in the
middle and single women abafr. and no communl-
cation can be had save by going from one to the
other. Especial attention OF late has been directed
70 the subject OF ventilation, which must at
best be bad between decks OF any steamer
sailing vessel; but the agitation upon the
subject through the structures OF the press and the
action OF the Board OF Commissioners OF the state
OF New YORK in calling attention to the subject has
directed inquiry and provoked criticism to such
an extent that great improvements have been
placed in the steerage and cabins, and through
them constant current OF air is introduced.
There were six OF these large ventlators six feet
IN circumference, passing through the cabins of
the City OF New York, and in addition the port
windows were kept open whenever the weather
permitted. The English lines seem to have made
more advance towards an improved system OF
ventilation than the German lines.
ANALYSIS OF sTEBRAGE AIR.
An analysis of the air in the steerage OF the City
Of New York which maze by hanging small vials
of permanganate OF potassium in different parts OF
the cabins and compartments showed the air TO be
tD state OF purity, as the bright red color OF the
mud, which changes to a brown when CON-
Ing in contact with impuiity OF any kind,
dlc net change. The steerage cabins were
thoroughly washed and sanded every day. At
ten O'Clock A. M an inspection made by tue
Captain and surgeon, at which time complaints
IRON passengers could be heard and examined by
these officers. observed that among the superior
officers there was far greater Kindness extended
IL the passengers than among the subordinates
who have charge OF the administration of affairs
With the latter the fundamental principle OF action
seems TO be that an emigrant is an unpleasant
fact with which they have TO deal, and an indi-
yldual ne has no rights they are bound to respect.
The result OF this feeling renders these of1cals
coarse and often brutal in speech and manner
toward the steerage passengers. This would soon
be corrected II the passengers themselves under
stood their rights; but suD0rdination to authority
has SO long been the habit OF their thought and lie
that they never question IT, and are often in conse
quence subjected TO arbitrary rule when unauthor-
iZed.
HABITS oP sTEERAGE PAssESGERs-As INSTANCE
or HUMANITY.
Another fact that the sentimental humanitarian
In his Efforts al reformation often loses sight OF or
SS does ,, not know, know Is that the large majority
humanity. They are filthy In their habits,
coarse in manner and often low in their
instincts. There are frequently petty tnIevings,
discords and treachery practised among Them
serves, and their ignorance is Iii many instances
Appalling, and the women are oitlmes worse than
the men. AS an illustration of this there was
ueath oi an infant on board during the voyage the
mother was an Enghshwoman, whose husband,
miner, mad settled in the Lake Superior mining
olstrict anu mad sent for her TO come 10 him. She
made night ndeous with her screams and cries
Wnen her oaby was taken with commissions and
would not be comforted: but she would lie Dy It's
Eide all day and sleep, leaving the little one with
out tne care necessary TO sustain its life, ana when
awakened by ITS cries would evince the greatest
tmpatience at being disturbed. She did not know
how 10 give the medicines prepared ior IT, and in
anger she would throw them away. The doctor
who was man OF great Kindness OF heart, gave
the child personal attention and care during its liz
ness. When taken with commissions he remained
by 10 until out OF immediate danger, giving IL a NOT
bath himself, when he found the mother unable TO
uO IL properly. When the child died conn was fur.
nIshed the church services read nv the chief ooer
and all the ordinary religious services performed at
Its burial. There was also one birth on board our
ing the passage and j observed the same Kind
treatment from the doctor. The mother was re-
moved TO one OF the hospital compartments, when
were provided with every necessary comfort for
the sick. He remained with her constantly until
the time OF her delivery, and in every way gave at
tention 10 her wants. | WILL however, observe in
this connection that think this officer possessed