The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-06-19
THE STEERAGE PASSAGE

10 THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD
As constant reader, Your enterprise in expos
ing the steerage abuses in no way astonished me.
After careful reading, in due respect to all con-
cerned and entirely as o disnterested party let us
look squarey at the whole case. Tea, c0nee,j
bread, biscuit, his passage and sleeping arrange
ments are what the emigrant buys. All the secret
attempts to discover and unvei the treatment OF
the emigrants will never do much to better that
condition on board ship while competition is
allowed Tree scope and the carrying premium re-
duced ut all times to the lowest minimum, which is
doing more TO encourage emigration than all the
reform that can be forced on steamship companies
and make them advance to high rates. As steer
age passenger l have crossed the Atlantic live
times from an economical point, and would book
to-day steerage on any OF our best steamships.
Take the mechanic, agricultural laborers aud
clerks and huddle them together on board even the
large ship Egypt and then we see strange medley.
Inc emigrant Is generally warned to take every
for thief. He holds ms baggage and often has
1t tied to him.. In great many cases there are
each other, holding on to everything The vessel
steams on; sickness begins; ''neels are uR;,
svsriynng is "a state o. n ts vow mS
sympathy was with the stewards. 1t ~ notice.
able TACT generally. tnat those who give the most
trouble are the last to reward the stewards ana
the first to cry out about the shameful usage ON
board the ship. l have noticed that there was
and not the faut of the victuals. 1t Is wrong Ill
principle to disseminate feelings among the emil
o. that sass are oaa IS
agement. II we would attribute the fault more to
the disorderly system OF our body in UNDERGOING
sea voyage, ana buckle ourselves up to meet the
hardshlps we would see less IN the provisions on
board. Take again the $50 charged ior passage.
ing house would swallow up one.half. Then what
is left the voyages tits the cheapest travelling
in the world. encourage It, sir, for 1t Is bringing
into this country millions Of emigrants. II pos
sibe let the rate be only $40. More will then
come. Every emlgrant enriches this soil. Let r
look nearer home, treat them well on arrival an
send them West cheap. An enilgrant ticket tIN
Chicago, 1000 miles, costs nearly equal TO the sea-
voyage, not including board Can that not be
remedieds The old method OF receiving emigrants
has been wonderfully improved upon. Could 1t
ties could do good work BY investigating proper
cases upon arrival. l shall consider have only
done my duty to effect peace and good VIII among
all men. ELEVATION.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD r0
Your correspondent, who recently crossed from
Liverpool in the National line steamship Egypt, de-
serves much praise for the manner In which he has
fulfilled his duty. His statements fully carry out
many Of those which made through the columns
OF the HERALD and entirely coincide with the
statements made to me by passengers on the
last trip OF the Egypt The appointment Of q spe-
cial commissioner by the HERALD to travel as a
steerage passenger is another proof OF its wonder
full enterprise, and clearly demonstrates Its intcn
ton to fulfil its pledge, given on the 27th OF jan
uary last, to wit:--That my exposure should result
in thorough investigation and complete dis
closure OF the actual facts. The efforts which I
| then made through the HERALD, and have since
| made IN various ways on behalf OF emgrants, are
| now beginning to produce FRUIT The govern
| ment OF Washington has already acted upon some
| of my suggestions, and when Commission will be
appointed will be able to render valuable assist
| ance, owing to the abundance OF evidence which
| week after week l collect rom recently arrived
| immigrants. In England the band OF Parliament
ary steerage refOrmers is growing stronger. On
| his arrival in England my friend MI. Munster,
| Member OF Parliament for Mallow, lost no time i'm
bringing the matter before Mr.. Herbert, Mr.. Ma
! thews, Mr. Taylor and other members, and the
question will be brought before the British Com
! mons with every prospect or success as soon as
| certain evidence which l have been collecting
| reaches England
The prospects of an international law and speedy
reform In the steerage OF Atlantic steamships are
bright. The efforts oil the HERALD, the approach
| ing debates IN Congress and Parliament, and the
| commissions OF inquiry which VIII unquestionaby
sit this year will bring about the desired result
and happier aud more honorable state Of things
! in the steerage oil ocean steamships. am, SIR,
yours truly, J. r. MCDONNELL.
JUNE Is, 1873 - William street, New York.