Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1886-10-15

tue GllO VI d NSuSE-
able man whose history is coeyal with
that of the board of emigration itself.
The other clerks in the bureau for infor-
nation look chippy and natty in their
blue uniforms, but the old man dresses
in sombre broadcloth and wears tie
that was very popular in Robert Emmet'S
time and suggests strongly the nth of
March.
James o. Callagpan has advanced far
into the last quarter of century of exiS-
tence, and he has been in the employ of
the commissioners of emigration since
the board was organized in lS+7. He
claims to have held the office continuous
ly for a longer period than any clerk now
in the public service, and he says that
during these forty years he has never had
a vacation, he has never been witness
in court of justice, and has never been
called upon to substantiate his allegations
by affidavit. He is clean shaven, has
bright, clear-cut features, and looks as
young as a man twenty years his Junior.
His memory is clear, but he Is little un
certain as to dates.
You have seen good deal of the dark
side of life in your time:" suggested the
reporter as he took seat in a pensiye
mood.
Yes, and good deal that was bright
and cheerful too" he responded. won
ders have been done for the poor i'm
migrant since the state took the matter
in hand"
You are conversant with the business
of the board since it was organic
eds"
Il have served steadily under every
board that has held office since The or
ganization, on May 3, 1S+7. All the or
igiual commissioners with their clerks
and attendants, have passed away, and
am now the last rose of summer left
blooming alone. l can remember dis
tinctly the enthusiasm with which Mayor
Havemeyer, who was the first president,
entered on the duties of his Office. The
immigrants in those days were looked
upon as the lawful prey of shipping
agents, boarding house runners, and mis-
creants who grew rich on the dishonor
of unprotected females. The board had
to fight an organized body of land
sharks, well-skilled in their trade, amply
provided with money. The breaking up
of the powerful ring that existed forty
years ago is due mainly to the laborS of
such men as Havemeyer, Gulian c. Yer
planck. Charles. H. Marshall, Gregory
Dillon, Robert B. Minturn, Cyrus Cur
tiss, George W. Blunt, Ambrose C. Kings
land, Capt. McArdle, John A. Kennedy,
Andrew Carrigan, and Elijah F. Purdy,
who was known as the old War Horse
The board wass established not day
too soon, for just at that time several
causes combined to swell the tide of i'm
| migration to enormous proportions
What were these causes?"
The first Irish famine of 1916; the dis
content and signs of revolution In Ger
many about the same time; the stir made
in the east by the Mexican war, and fin
ally the gold fever, which broke out in
/ California immediately afterward. Prior
| to 1915 immigration was comparatively
small, but during the years from 1915 to
1854 Ireland sent here over 100000 of
| people, and Germany nearly 1,25O,O0O.
! For the first seven or eight years after
! the boards existence Ireland sent more
! Immigrants than any other country.
! Then Germany took the ascendant aud
maintained it up to the breaking out of
| the war, when Ireland came to the front
/ once more. Since the war the Germans
! have been coming more numerously than
ever before, and official figures indicate
that the total immigration from Ger
many exceeds that from Ireland consider
ably over half a million, the arrivals from
| the two countries since the board was or
! ganized being, in round numbers, 5000
| 600"
How does ocean emigrant travel com
pare now from a sanitary point of view
with what it formerly was?"
"Since the great steamship lines have
/ been established travel across the ocean
| has lost nearly all its terrors. 1t WIS diff
/ ferent when the unfortunate emigrant en-
| gagged bunk in the hold of packet
ship. Now the voyage is made in eight
or ten days then it took six or eight
weeks. The steamship lines feed their
| passengers, while the packets supplied
only water, and wretches who happened
to be unprovided with sufficient food or
| cooking utensils were committed to a
watery grave after perishing from starva-
/ ton. Ship fever, cholera, and small pox
were to be found aboard almost every
| ship. During the first year of the exist
ence of the board 20, 600 persons persisted
! in the hospitals on Staten island and
Wards island from diseases contracted at
| sea. For some years afterward the deaths
at sea numbered nearly 1000. 1t was
coolly calculated when a ship weighed
anchor in the Mersey that 8 per cent. of
| the passengers would never live to see
Sandy Hook
Under what flag did the packet-ships
sail:"
More than half the traffic was conduct
ed in American bottoms, and England
took the next place. The principal Amer
lean lines were TapscOt's, Collins & Co.
Charles II. Marshall g. Co., and the Black
Ball line. Williams & GuiOn represented
the heaviest English interests. The cost
of passage without food or bedding was
usually So sterlings, and the unfortunate
people were huddled together like negroes
in slave ship
How do the immigrants of the present
day compare with those of forty years
ago."
Those now arriving are far more in
telligent, more sober, and more clearly,
and nearly all of them have definite plans
and are well provided with more or less
means.
Your board hes moved its headquar-
tiers from time to timer"
"Well, yes, at periodical intervals; but
think its moving days are now ended.
Its first Office was in the old almshouse in
City Hall park. It next took quarters in
Franklin street, below Church; Its third
abiding place was In the basement OF the
city hall, and after the fire in that build
ing during the cable celebration, in 1853,
it took temporary possession of an old
church at No. 81 Anthony street now
WORT, which was fitted up for its use
pending negotiations to obtain possession
of Castle Garden, where it moved shortly
afterward"
"Was there not some opposition to the
/ leasing of Castle Garden to the emigra-
| ton commissioners:
There was opposition of the most
bitter kind which nearly eliminated in
bloodshed. For many years the garden
had been the favorite place of amuse-
ment for the wealthier class of citizens
and some people OF over nice sensibil1-
( ties thought it looked like Dissertation
/ to give it over to the immigrants. The
! potentates and grandees of Europe had
| been accorded the freedom of the city
within the gorgeous amphitheater, and
its roof had echoed the voices of such
I people as Lafayette, Kossuth, Thackery,
Rachel, Jenny Lind. Catharine Hayes,
Bosto, Grisi, and Sontag. When the
commissioners took possessioners
an angry throng of 5000 men patroled
the river and the moat in boats, and
there were 10000 ashore. They threat
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