The New York herald., 1873-12-12

with its clouds There was no place tor hight or
sn small N pane Of sH glass. which ed an aper
tuIe in the wall. but was so begrimed
that 10 had long ceased to serve either
purpose. In this room nved family consisting
o. three adults and four cnildren. 1t Is from this
class tnat large portion OF our emgrant army Is
another class ol different order, having lived In
comfortable homes and been accustomed 10 many
of the social amenities OF civilization. To these
constant contact and association with the frst
mentioned class render the passage TO them nor
ror. This class, fortunately for themselves is small
THE EMiGRANT AT CASTLE GARDEN
since the inauguration OF steamship travel lot
emigrants which has nearly superseded that Of
sailing vessels and the appointment or Board OF
commissioners OF Emigration by the state OF New
YORK and the legislation which mas been enactea
WITHIN the last ten years insufficient as 1t still Is
found to be, great Improvement mas been maue
IN the treatment OF emigrants-
The widespread charges OF abuses and mlsman.
agement which have been so freely made against
the institution OF Castle Garden am satisfied,
from close observation If existing In the past have
| been in great part done away with. II Is, as now
managed munlfcent and benencent In It's work
| ings for tne emigrant There is no doubt that in
ers and systematically plundered and robbed from
| the time he landed unil every cent was gone ana
curesses to houses OF ilfame and ruined beyond
the hope Of redemption, and IN every way they
were defrauded and degraded. This is now, IN q
| great measure, changed and efforts are made to
| render the repetition OF such wrongs I'M
possible. From the moment OF landing the
by well-ordered system OF watchfulness and
care until he leaves Tor his intended destination.
His money is changed, and the market price given
him for his gold and silver; warm meals are fur
nished at reasonable prices within the Garden, and
the emigrant is warned against sharpers lying IN
wait for HIM outside; teegrams are sent and let
ters and kilograms awaiting passengers are de-
lvered to them. Such lodging and boarding house
keepers only as are licensed by the Commission are
allowed inside of Castle Garden, and complaint
made against one OF them TO the superintendent
deprives him OF his badge. Their baggage Is
checked and stored without charges until such
time as they may wish TO claim IT,
CRIMINAL AND INCAPABLE EMIGRANTs.
The great tide OF emigration that brings TO our
| shores annually SOC, 600 working men and women
flows In great part through the city OF New York.
The strong and able bodied the thrifty valuable ar
mers and artisans move on TO the broad prairles,
fertile hills and rich mines OF the great West The
refuse from the slums of the great European cities,
the poor, Incompetent and good FOR nothing save TO
enter the workhouse and prison, are lett for the
commission to care for. For the benefit OF this
class lett as charges upon their hands, they have
established on Wards Island a hospital, refuge
and an insane asylum. Here all the poor, who Tor
friends, are sent to be provided for until such time
as they are able to care Tor themselves. There is
also labor bureau attached TO Castle Garden,
where employment Is sought to be furnished Tor all
those who have not engagements made upon
HOW EXPENSES ARE PAID
For the purpose OF paying the expenses OF these
different institutions there is paid a commutation
tax OF 81 90 per head Tor each emigrant that lands
In New York. This tax is paid in lieu OF bond
which the State exacts from the steamship compa-
nes of 1900 per head protect Itself from pauper-
ism. The payment OF this tax or the execution OF
the bond is optional with the steamship companies
as this money comes through the steamship
companies, from the emigrant. Although the price
OF the steerage passage has not been raised since
the exacton of the head money nor reduced since
its reduction from 81 SO, which was paid previous
TO May, 1871 at which time 1t was reduced by the
Legislature of New York. it still could not be paid
him. in fact, relief association, to the benefits OF
which, II needed, through misfortune he is
TITLED lor the period S Of nye years AZ the time the
and systematically worked steamship lobby, who
which would put into their own Golfers $500, 900
year. There is large number arriving on every
steamer who are without friends money; all
such become charge at once.
COMPETITION BETWEEN THE VARIOUS LINES.
is its greatly increased and constantly increasing
value. The great competition between the diner
ent companies to secure 1t has covered the Con-
tinent OF Europe with their agencies and compelled
them TO offer the best possible inducements in
order to gain it. The profit OF this trade is greater
to the steamship companies than any other por-
ton OF their traffic, and If the emigrants them
selves knew the value OF 1t, and were sufficiently
informed TO understand the fact, the abuses would
soon correct themselves. Six guneas, the price OF
steerage ticket is nearly half the cost OF cabin
passage; but In TINS as IN all the wants OF the
proportion to what they get, than the rich. For
the price paid for steerage passage not one
twentieth part OF the value Is given as the cabin
passenger receives Tor his outlay. They are obliged
| to furnish their own bed to sleep upon, plate,
cup, knife and fork to eat with and also to keep
clean ior They are furnished with the plain
est and most inexpensive food and hundreds are
crowded into space that twenties occupy IN the
cabin.
While there no such abuses and outrages as
once dlsgraced this trafllc there Is still room for
advance upon the present. For the price paid
tables should be furnished by ali the companies,
is now done Dy some Of them, upon which their
meals should be served, dishes necessary to eat
their food should also be furnished and kept Tor
their use, as Is done in the cabin The very limited
room allowed each person, and often the scarcity
OF water 10 wash them with, renders the care OF
ness almost an imnossipility esneniass 10 womsn
who have children clInging TO them ior care and
attention, themselves sick In strange place, ter
rihed by the motion OF the snip and the state OF
confusion the first few days OF the voyage-it is
found to be great tax. The outlay to the CON-
pany would be trining, the comfort TO the passen-
ger very great.
WOMEN AND CHILDREN.
women with children, are a constantly increas-
ing class among the emlgrants. The man leaves
his old nome Tor new one alone; after locating
he sends lor wlle and children to follow; with no
one 10 help her care for them she starts on her
journey. The first experience is sea sickness the
next terror OF shipwreck, crying children clinglng
TO her aud no one TO SPEAK kind word or oner
the much needed assistance Her situation is truly
pitiable. She nnds locomotion about rolling
steamer very dilicut, yet she must get out to the
lood or she and her children must go hungry
For the purpose OF protection against arbi-
trary rulings and TO receive the proper treat
ment OF woman stewardess should be provided
for the especial purpose OF looking after this
class, and she should be held to strict
accountability for the performance OF that
state OF New YORK memorlalized the steamship
companies upon this subject last year. The reply
was that favorable consideration OF the subject
| would be taken by them, and the result has been
TO place them upon some oil the steamers but more
/ trips are made without them than with them, and
| In many ways compliance with the request ie
\ avoided. The Cunard line selects some one among
the passengers coming over, and makes an arrange
ment with her 10 refund the passage money paid,
| II she Is able TO and performs this duty. mo-
ments reelection win show that this is only
sion, as these people are, for the first few days,
generally sea-slck, and this Is the time their SER
vices most needed II is in cases OF sea sick
ness their services are wanted When attacked
with other illness the passengers sent TO the
hospital where everything necessary for their CON-
tort Is furnished Ior them. They pay enough 10
entitle them TO q regular stewardess; one who is
accustomed to the situation, Is not frightened
when II storms or sick in rough weather.
ABUSES On MISCELLANEOUS STEAMSHIPS AND SAIL
ING VESSELS
While the regular steamship companies, follow
ing the requirements oil laws Denencent when COM