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

AuHD ~ asuNhhy SktRDONtu.
The subjoined communication will be
found to be Of more than ordinary interest.
Il is from the pen of Mrs. Helen M. Bar
nard, who, following the instructions of
the Secretary of the Navy, visited the
ports of New York, Philadelphia, Balti-
more, Boston, Liverpool, Havre, Brest and
Hamburg, and also made thorough inves.
LEGATIONS on board Of emigraut vessels of
the various lines.
WASHINGTON. ID. c., Dec. /, 1878.
To the Hon. William A. Richardson, Secretary Of
The Treasury.
Sir-In compliance with your instruc-
tions OF June g. 1878, directing me to re-
port upon the treatment Of emigrants on
board steamships, particularly to inquire
into that of women and children; author
izing me to visit the ports of Baltimore,
Philadelphia, New York and Boston, in
the United States; Liverpool, Havre,
Brest and Hamburg, in Europe, and direct
ing me, in order to fully understand the
conduct and treatment of passengers dur
ing the voyage, to inspect the steerage as
frequently as possible, both in ordinary and
exceptional weather, commenced my in
vestigations at Castle Garden on the 10th
Of June. From that point | visited the
different lines of steamers on their arrival
and departure to aud from the port of New
York, where the greater portion of all the
emigrauts to this country land.
During my stay at this point l observed
closely the condition and appearance of
emgrant passengers. | talked with them
freely on shipboard and on shore, and par
ticularly noted the provision made for them
on landing. On the 18th of June sailed
on the steamship Calabria, of the Cunard
line, bound for Liverpool, at which point l
remained several weeks; from there pro-
ceeded to Southampton, in England. |
went to Southampton rather than to Havre
and Hamburg, Tor the reason that the
Hamburg and Bremen steamers stop at
southampton and remain twenty-four
hours in port" and an inspection of
them after three days. voyage is far more
satisfactory than one made when leaving
the port Of embarkation. At all
condition of steerage passengers and
the accommodations furnished to
them. To acquaint myself more fully
upon the subject than | had been able to
do from the observations made at these
points, | took Storage passage on my re-
turn from Europe, without the knowledge
of the officers of my object, on q steamer
of the Inman line, the City Of New York,
bringing 40 emlgrant passengers, repre-
senting nearly all the nationalilies of Eu-
rope-English, German, Swedes, Russians,
French and Irish. For IA days did not
cross the forbidden bar which divides the
cabin from the steerage deck. ate, slept
and remained there all of that period.
sTEERAGE LIFE ON RESPECTABLE
ENGLISH AND GERMAN LINES.
Upon the observations and investga
tons made have the honor to report thai
the treatment of steerage passengers or
the responsible and respectable English
and German lines is generally good
Judged by the popular standard Of what is
due the poor and ignorant classes in return
for value given by them that the food
though of the plainest and most inexpen
siye kind, was good and wholesome il
quality and sufficient in quantity. Fol
breakfast they gave fresh bread and butter
hot coffee and oatmeal porridge. For din.
ner, nutritious soup, either salt or fresh
beef, boiled potatoes, 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
free from criticisms; they crowd too many
in too small space. Although the Eng
fish Passenger act, which limits the steam.
ship companies to carry one passenger fol-
every 10 superficial feet of clear deck space
allotted to their use, is strictly adhered to,
they still carry too many and crowd them
too closely together. The English govern.
ment officials appointed as inspectors to see
that the Passenger act is in all respects car.
ried out, are always at their posts and vigi.
liant in the performance of their duty, and
the captain Of every steamship and sailing
vessel is under heavy bonds not to vic
late any of its provisions. There are com.
partments and divisions for the separation
Of the sexes on all the regular lines. On
new German line, the Eagle, the divisions
are made complete by closed bulkheads,
separating them so that there can be no
communication save by going from the deck
upon the Imam line. The compartments
are furnished with sliding doors that can
be fastened on the inside, so that the most
perfect privacy is secured. On the other
lines the young and unmarried men are put
in the fore part of the steamship, the mar.
ried people and families in the middle and
the single women abaft, and no communica-
ton can be had save by going from one to the
other. Especial attention Of late has been
directed to the subject of ventilation, which
must at best be bad between decks of any
steamer or sailing vessel; but the agitation
upon the subject through the structures of the
press and the action of the board of COM
missioners of the state of New York in
calling attention 10 the subject has directed
inquiry and provoked criticism to such an
extent that great Improvements have been
made in this direction. VentiIators are
now placed in the steerage and cabins, and
through them a constant current of air is
introduced There are six of these large
ventilations, six feet in circumference, pass
ing through the cabins of the City of New
York, and in addition the port windows
were kept open whenever the weather per-
mitted. The English lines seem to have
made more advance towards an improved
system of ventilation than the German
lines.
! observed that among the superior Off
GERS there was far greater kindness extended
10 the passengers than among the subordi-
mates who have charge of the administration
of affairs. With the latter the fundamental
principle to action seems to be that an EN-.
grant is an unpleasant fact with which thew