The New York herald., 1876-07-10

had been transformed into theatre Il was iavcrto
place of But in May, 1855, tins part ol It's
history end, for Il was taken possession oi
by the Commissioners of Emigration. As
AN EMIGRATION DEPOT
Castle Garden was probably one OF tho greatest emf
grant depots the world. No other building Of lis size
despatched many people. who severed
all ties Of home family and country TO seek their ior-
tunes IN new land. Now that il is gone the manner
in which the business conducted cannot 'a'l TO
be of interest The Rotunda the main feature
of Castle Garden. In 1t nearly all OF the
business incident arrival and forwarding Of cm-
igrants WIS transacted. In the first place, on The
arrival of a steamship or vessel with emigrants the
passengers were formed into line and the name. or'h
place and destination of each newcomer registered
This work was oftentimcs accompanied by more u'i-
cutics than first appears on account OF the different
languages spoken and from other circumstances
After having registered the emgrant passed over
to .booker that Is, clerk OF the Railway Associa-
ton whose duty 1t was to ascertain destination o.
each passenger and furnish him with a printed
slip upon which was marked the number of tickets
wanted and their in currency 1t then at the
option of the emgrant which road he should paironzc
or whether he should go the emgrant or regular
passenger trans Many ludcrous instances are told
of ignorance of cmgrants arriving as to the state
or Territory which they were destined one, some
years ago. asking Tor ticket to Pennington. United
states and as there less than twenty-one cities
ard villages by that name in the country tho tronbe
OF the ticket agent better bo imagined than de-
scribed Directly opposite the railway counter
were the desks OF the exchange brokers' who, being
also under the control OF the Commissioners, mado
purchases and sales of icrcign ana domestic money.
at current rates In tho Garden clerks employed
la,te fore Is
away places; u telegraph Office, bathroom, RESTAURANT
in fact everything that could conducc their com
fort, although, naturally enough, was OF crude
kind. On the dock outside inc enclosure were the bag
gagcroom, scales (where the emigranis' baggage was
weighed), as well several Offices for tho Custom
House officials and police detailed for duty there There
was also lady inspector the employ OF tbc Commits
sioncrs to prevent smuggling by lemae emigrans.
There also connection with tho Garden several
departments, the most important OF which
was the Wards Island and Medicinal
departments There was also largo we'll
ventilated room set the receptlon of imn'
grants by their friends. Above the wash rooms on
the second floor Offices of tho Commits
soners OF Emigration their meeting rooms Treasurcrs
Office and the office of the General Agent and superin
tendcnt
On May 23 1870 the Garden had narrow escape
from destruction by fire; but tho flames had not got
sufficient hcadway tho arrival OF the frcmen TO
prevent them cxtingushing the fire. which they did
alter a loss OF $4,000 occasoncd
WHO OWNS cARDEyY
Mr. James Lynch, Commissioner OF Emigration md
President Of the Irish Emigration Society, who was
called upon last night by HERALD reporter was
priscd and shocked to hear OF tho catastrophe which
had bealen his wards The regular meeting of the Com
mssioners he said would be held Tuesday, but he
supposed he and hts colleagues would hold special
meeting at early nour to-day 10 devise some
means of relief for the sufferers. In the
course OF brief conversation, Mr. Lynch
sad the Commissioners must under tho
laws OF tho State, designate landing Place for emf
grants Castle Garden had been designated and
had been used for the purpose during the past twenty
ono years They may, however, designate any other
place within the State, and tho steamship companies
arc obliged land the cmgran.s Mt the place desig
mated When they arc landed 1t becomes the Commits
soners' duty TO take them Tho building
has been held by the Commissioners OF Emigration Of
the OF New York by tho common consent Of the
authorities of the State and OF the United States for
the specific purpose for which It used The
ershp Of the properly Is vexed question. Tho city
claims ownership in the premises, but they might ind
il hard prove their title The State also claims to
own hem but 1t would be equally difficult for it to
support its claim. Many years ago the federal
government gave tne VropeIy W tne S'hte
to be used MS a landing depot for mmi-
grants; but it did relinquish its claims
upon the premises, and thcre to-day evidences
of the ownership of the State in existence 1--WE do
not admit said he ''the claims Of the city to it's
ownership although have steadily paid rent for the
property to the Comptroller believe the property
really belongs to the United States government"
The exact value of the burned building Mr.. Lynch
did not know, ho stated that 1t was fully covered
by insurance..
SEEN FROM
Standing on the ridge Of Palsade avenue, overlook
ing the lower section Of Jersey City and commanding
wide scope OF tho North River and New York Bay, the
dense black column Of smoke conveyed the impression
shat large portion OF tho FIRST ward was on nre Al
first sight fire seemed to be located nt the Penn
sylvanin Railroad wharves, from pier No. to pier
No 5 From the lower part OF the CITY the outline Of
tho old Castle Garden could be distinctly traced as It
succumhed to the dcvourng element About iorty
men set out in boats from the Central Railroad and
Delaware and fackawanna docks for the scene. Two
tugbas also despatched render assistance hat
before they arrived the fire had gained such he dwav
that no efec tual AID could DO rendered