New-York tribune., 1874-02-10
TIE IMMlGBATION SERVICE.

REPORT OF DR. wooDwoRTH TO THE SECRETARY OF
THE TREASURY on TIE TREATMENT AND coNDr-
r1oy or tyNuGRANrs-THE RESULTS OF ANKvfs-
TIGATIoN LASTING FOUR MONTHS. .
The renort of John NJ. Woodwork, Super
,.ng SURGEON OF the United States Marine Hospital
seryice on the immigration service. has been
prnted His Investigations made at the ports OF
Eew-York Boston. Philadelphia and Baltimore during
the months OF July, August September and October
Of last year. under resolution passed by the United
States in March last Tho report is based upon per
sona examination Of 81 steamships and nine sailing yes
sells and an inspection OF teerage passengers Ow
ing season OF the year each statute passenger occu
pied superficial feet of space instead OF 1922 fee
as allowed by law The official reports OF the COLLECTORS
OF Customs found TO be Inaccurate, vessels peinB
incorrectly reported as to passeDgercarrying capacy
the number Of decks, ventlators and variety OF minor
details These errors 1t is believed arise from the ooso
and imperative law under which examinations are
made The chief evil OF these incorrect reports Is III
impairing the value OF statistics computed from sucn
SOURCES since action has been maintained for
reported violation OF the act OF March 8, lSoo lnero
no uniform system Of ventilation, but the newer steam
vessels are believed TO be quito as well IL not
better ventilated than the average hotel hospital or
other public building Dr. Woodwork does not recon-
mend any particular plan OF ventilation but peneves
that the two systems-" propulsion" and suction -
mi ght be combined with decided advantage. With the
gradual suppiantlng Of sailing vessels by steamers
have come voyages better ventilation food ana
water and superior morale OF officers and crews As
direct result OF these changes the mortality among
has been reduced over 80 per cent In
i've years, the respective per mileases for the two
p'''O'' O'''S % '' 1852. 1872
On sailing vessels a................,..'...'lioa otz
On steamships. lOo 40
This reduction due, Dr. Woodwork says, TO the i'm
proved administration of the immigrant service, an I'M
provement for which the United States Is entitled 10
little any credit In comparing the mortality on the
two classes OF vessels the following figures are given
During the quarter ending March 81 1S3 lG0l seerage
messengers arrived at Baltimore, I'll III sailing Vessels
and 95i vessels or the former 80 ded on the
voyage and only the latter being In the ratios OF
one to every AT OF steam passengers ana one 10
every 222 sail passengers. With the exception OF GER
tain measures looking To the protection ot passengers
from contact with the crew. DR.. Woodwork says there
seems little to be desired in the treatment OF mml-
grants steamships and sailing vessels are rapuy
being driven from the passenger carrying trade IL Is
unnecessary to recommend any specific action In regard
TO them. The reGstabshment OF the National Bureau
of Immigration he thinks, would be inexpedient ana
unnecessary In the draft OF act to regulate the car
rage OF passengers which accompanies the report Dr.
says has endeavored to make 1t as nearly
in harmony with existing laws OF other countries as
consistent with the interest OF this country lu the
appendix the report several tables or important
statistics obtained during the investigation