The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1874-01-09

treachery practised among themselves, and
their ignorance is in many instances appal-
ing, and the women are oltimes worse than
the men. AS an illustration of this there
was a death OF an infant on board during
the voyage the mother was an English.
woman, whose husband, miner, had
settled in the Lake Superior mining dis
trict, and had sent for her to come to
him. She made night hideous with her
| screams and cries when her baby was taken
with commissions, and would not be COM
forted but she would lie by its side all
day and sleep, leaving the little one with
out the care necessary to sustain its lille,
and when awakened by its cries would
evince the greatest Impotence at being dis
turbed. She did not know how to give
the medicines prepared for it, aud in an
ger she would throw them away. The
doctor, who was man of great kindness
of heart, gave the child personal attention
and care during its illness. When taken
with commissions he remained by it until
out of immediate danger, giving it hot
bath himself, when he found the mother
unable to do it properly. When the child
died coffin was furnished, the church
services read by the chief officer and all
the ordinary religious services performed
at its burial. There was also one birth on
board during the passage, and | OBJ
served the same kind treatment
from the doctor. The mother was re-
moved to one Of the hospital compartments,
which were provided with every necessary
comfort for the sick. He remained with
her constantly until the time of her deliv-
cry, and in every way gave attention to
her wants. l will, however, observe in
this connection that | think this officer
possessed an unusually kind and sympa-
thetic nature. lie did not seem to have
the popular appreciation Of an emigrant as
belonging to another order of beings from
| the cabin passc,,- er. | do not think he
could or would have done more for the lat.
ter under the same circumstances than he
did for those two persons.
THE EMIGRANT AT CASTLE GARDEN.
Since the Inauguration of steamship travel
| for emigrants, which has nearly superseded
| that of sailing vessels, and the appointment
of Board of Commissioners of Emigration
by the State of New York, and the Iegisla-
ton which has been enacted within the last
ten years, insufficient as it still is found to
| be, great improvement has been made in
|
The widespread charges Of abuses and
msmanagement which have been so freely
made against the institution of Castle Gar
den am satisfied, from close observation,
if existing in the past, have been in great
aged, munifcent and benefcent in its work.
| ings for the emigrant. There is no doubt
that in the past the emigrant has been the
| Of charporC nd ctav t;orl y.
dered and robbed from the time he landed
until every cent was gone and himself
ruined. Young girls were decoyed by
ruined beyond the hope of redemption,
and in every way they were defrauded and
degraded. This IS now, in great meas
ure, changed, and efforts are made to
render the repetition of such wrongs inn
possible From the moment of landing
the protection of the emigrant is sought by
q well-ordered system of watchfulness and
care until he leaves for his intended desti-
nation. His money is changed, and the
market price given him for his gold and
silver; warm meals are furnished at rea-
sonable prices within the garden, and the
emigrant is warned against sharpers lying
in wait for him outside kilograms are sent
and letters and kilograms awaiting passen-
gers are delivered to them. Such lodging
and clearinghouse keepers only as are
licensed by the commission are allowed in
side of Castle Garden, and a complaint
made against one of them to the superin-
tendent deprivcs him Of his badge. Their
baggage is checked and stored without
charges until such time as they may wish
to claim it.
HOW EXPENSES ARE PAID.
For the purpose of paying the expenses
of these different institutions there is paid
a Communication tax of $3.50 per head fol
each emigrant that lands in New York
This tax is paid in lieu of bond which The
state exacts from the steamship companies
of $500 per head to protect itself from
pauperism. The payment of this tax OF
the execution of the bond is optional with
the steamship companies, as this money
comes through the steamship companies,
from the emigrant. ~
IMPROVEMENTS SUGGESTED.
While there are no such abuses and out
RACES as once disgraced this traffic, there
is still room for advance upon the present.
For the price paid tables should be fur
nished by all the companies, as is now
| SoAo W oonS VI thCu'j upOl WHlCH lQelr
meals should be served, dishes necessary
to eat their food should also be furnished
and kept for their use, as is done in the
cabin. The very limited room allowed
each person, and often the scarcity OF
water to wash them with, renders the care
of these utensils great burden, and in
cases of sickness almost an impossibility.
especially to women who have children
clinging to them for care and attention.
themselves sick in strange place. terrified
by the motion of the ship and the state of
confusion the first few days of the voyage
it is found to be a greattax. The outlay
to the company would be trif1ing, the COM
fort to the passenger very great.
WOMEN AND CHILDREN.
Women, with children, are, constantly
increasing class among the emigrants. The
man leaves his old home for a new one
alone; after locating he sends for wife and
children to follow; with 10 one to help her
care for them she starts on her journey.
The first experience is sea sickness; the next
terror Of shipwreck, crying children cling
ing to her and no one to speak kind word
or offer the much needed assistance. Her
situation is truly pitiable, she finds locomo-
ton about rolling steamer very difficult,
yet she must get out to the food or she and
her children must 60 hungry.
| E1~t H. - A.