Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-02-09

charged at the various docks along the river
front and left to the tender mercies of the
hordes of hangers.on that crowded about the
piers and the big sailing ships Often
| friendless and generally poor newcomers
were made the prey of the rascaIs and
thieves who lived upon the ignorance and
timidity of these immigrants, until from all
sides rose up protests against sys-
tenn which left the unfortunates
less scoundrels. 1t took long time to Sc
cure remedy for the great wrong that was
being penetrated, for behind the system were
banded hundreds of runners for the board
ing houses that crowded the North and East
River fronts. Saloons, dance halls, money
changers, employment agencies, railroad
offices and a thousand other business ar
rangements more or less reputable, but gen.
orally less reputable, each of which was
growing rich out of the money tilched from
the ignorant immigrants.
The first fight made against these well en-
trenched robbers began in 1S45, and was un-
successful. Politics and the politicians were
too powerful for the few men and newspa-
pers who had taken up the cause of the new
comers and the effort to dislodge the thieves
and thugs who were robbing the immigrants
almost without hindrance, met with quick
defeat,
WON THE SECOND FIGHT.
But public attention had been directed to
the matter, and the stories of the wrongs in
ficted on the helpless foreigners aroused
storm of public indignation throughout the
country, and finally the Legislature of New
York was prevailed upon, in the face of
strong opposition from the politicians, to in
vestigate the subject and to devise a COM
prehensive remedy for these evils Through
the exertions of Thurlow Weed, Archbishop
Hughes, Moses H. Grinnell, Charles
O'Conor, Robert B. Minturn and other emf
nent citizens of New York, the passage of a
bill to organize the Board of Immigration
was secured in 1847.
The final result of this move was the
establishment at Castle Garden Of an in
stitution which for the motives of those who
inspired it, the character of those who
managed it, and the helplessness of those
who came within its fostering care, stood for
years among the most benign and efficient
public institutions in our land. Especial
care was taken to select public spirited
citizens of high intelligence and stern in
tegrity as members of the first board and
they were Guillan G. Verplanck, James
Boorman, Jacob Halliday, Robert B.
Minturn, William f. Havemeyer and
David G. Golden, eminent, philanthropic
The Mayors OF New York and Brooklyn,
the President OF the Irish Immigrant
Society and the President of the German
Society were made members Of the board by
virtue of their offices.
THE WORK ONLY BEGUN.
The passage of the law and the appoint
ment OF the Board of Commissioners did
not stop the war made by the thieves and
hoodlums along the docks against this effort
to protect the immigrants. 1t took eight
years for this energetic board TO SO far over
come the prejudices of the public and the
fierce opposition of the organized band of |
plunderers and thieves as to be able to |
secure place where the immigrants could |
be sheltered and protected.
Castle Garden was opened in 1856. Long |
before this time Castle Garden had been a |
notable landmark in New York. Sitting at
the confluence of the East and North rivers
and looking beyond over toward Governors
island down toward the beautiful bay, the
location was one which for beauty of site
and healthGulness of situation could not be
In 1917 the Federal Govern
ment looking about for place
upon which to locate fort for the protec-
ton of the harbor applied to the State of
New York for the land upon which Castle
Garden now stands. The Legislature con-
sldered the request favorably and the loca-
lion was ceded to the Government, which
began the erection of stone
,ort, and on its completion named it Fort
Clinton, after Dewitt Clinton. the Governor
'f New York. The solid stone walls that
Castle Garden to this day, shutting
tut imperIinent intruders upon the lmmi-
yrant, are the same walls that in those days
made the fort considered as one of the most
ormldable for defense on this continent.
ONCE A FASHIONABLE CENTER.
There was never any use for the cannon