Year: 1874

THE COMMISSION AT CASTLE GARDEN IN NEED OF A


QUARTER OF A MuIION-THEY ARE UNABLE TO


PAY THE BILLS OF THE COUNTY sUPERINTRND-


ENTS OF THE POOR.


The financial embarrassments of the Board
of Emigration do not seem be in the way of speedy
relief. without appropriation from the State they
will be unable mako up their arrears The amount
necessary to place the Commission OH firm financial
basis again estimated at t200 The reasons OF the
deficit in their the reduction made In 1870
of the communication fee head money on immigrants
from O. SO TO 81 and the great falling off in the rum
ber Immigrant arrivals especially during the last
year. SO much has the income Of the Commission
decreased that they have been unable TO pay
any rent Castle Garden during the last year. and
many salaries have been reduced, employees discharged
and other economical measures taken. on 1.-The same
account. Castle Garden has fallen into decay and
become dangerous to the lives and health of Its inmates
but no appropriation for its repair has yet been made
and although the amount required for that purpose is
only about $5,OO0 the Commissioners Will experience
considerable trouble raising it, If 1t has to be done by
themselves. at present seems probable They have
referred the matter to the Castle Garden Committee
The following letter. which has been sent TO the Super
ntendents OF the Poor in the various counties through
out the State evidence OF the perDexty felt by
the Board on account OF its want OF money;


CASTLE GARDEN, NEW YORK, Oct. 90. 1874.
To me Superintendent Of The Poor, =. County. " T.


DEAR SIR: The Commissioners Of Emigration regret
being Obliged Inform you that they unable 10
your bills for the support and care OF destitute and sick
mmigrants for the reason that the amount received
from the communication money has been Insufficient to
Depot and the EmigraDt Refuge aud Hospitals at
Wards Island. The statute CHAP 1875, Sec g. Laws OF
lSl directs that the Commissions shall reimburse the
several cities towns and counties OF tho state out OF
the commutaton money collected for the support and
maintenance OF immigrants so far as the same will
able them TO do So" The Of this nsuiciency
that the Communication fee In 1870, at the
request OF Commissioners, reduced by the Legsa-
tura from q
serve fund hand, and 1t was presumed that mmgra
tion would continue 10 be large IDsead however the
arrivals have much less since. Tie decrease in the
income consequent upon this falling of in the mmgra
tiontis as follows:


Prom jan to Oct l6 1873 the receipts were..s347O45


From Jan. Oct 10, 1874 the receipts 1869


ps.,spce-pecreue .....................s6I3s


The entire income for 1874 will short OF tnat
1872 not less $a50O0 Applications for increase
of the Communication fee were made to the Legislature by
failed to become law That when was made to the last
Legislature was increase OF 5oc the 81 so which
additional sum was intended to enable the Commission
ers to provide claims OF the several countless
been in proportion to- the arrivals much
larger than heretofore. The Commlssione now
find themselves Notwithstanding the strictest
economy In all expenditures without funds
pay the claims OF the counties &c. OK the State, and
IL their Intention to make application to the next
Legislature for appropriation to relieve them from
their financial embar They are OF the opinion
that S25OOOO would DO sufficient and they earnestly ask
ance that your claims may thereby be promptly qui-
dated. The Commissioners would add that the State
has never aided this insttuion financially and that the
Immigrant Refuge, Hospitals, aud other buildings with
the lands Wards Island. are the property Of the
state. Yours very respectfully,


GARRET BERGEN Treasurer.