Synopsis of Operations in Castle Garden (1866)

By an act of the Legislature of 1847, the Commission of Emigration, on the 5th of May of that year, became operative in the relief and for the protection of alien emigrants arriving at this port. Prior to this enactment, they were left to the chances of general quarantine and poor-laws, or to local ordinances. A few noble-minded and public-spirited citizens resolved to take this matter in hand, having as their leader Mr. Thurlow Weed, who, though he encountered innumerable obstacles, nevertheless triumphed in his philanthropic undertaking. Mr. Weed ably portrayed in the Evening Journal, published at Albany, the horrible oppressions, temptations and open daring villanies [sic] to which the newly-arrived emigrant was formerly exposed; they having been the “helpless prey of rapacious emigrant-shippers—‘runners,’ boarding-housekeepers, and canal-boat captains,” when families were plundered frequently of all the money they possessed and were left to the charity of the city.

At the beginning, Mr. Weed withstood the combined hostility of the “scalpers” (as they were then designated); he was threatened with personal assault, and deluged with suits for damages on indictments of libel. The movement was backed by the influence of other leading men, in conjunction with Mr. Weed, as Archbishop Hughes, Andrew Carrigan, Thomas McElrath, John E. Develin, and Addison Gardner; these all sustained him in his memorable contest with the vested rights of iniquity and cruel deception practised on the inoffensive, ignorant emigrant.

Under a new commission many then existing irregularities and informalities were corrected, and the whole machinery rendered complete its operations by the uniform system of government and control. This new system worked exceedingly well and with highly beneficial results. The history of great changes in the character of our navigation and that of other commercial nations may be traced through every stage—especially that of the immense amelioration of the sanitary treatment and condition of passengers on shipboard, which has been effected within the last few years, and was caused by wise legislation here and in Europe, and also, in no small degree, by the honorable and humane efforts of the navigation interest itself.

The prevention of the hardships, misery, disease and deaths, formerly so frequent among the humbler class of emigrants on their passage, or immediately on their landing, is one of the most honorable and beneficent of the services to the cause of humanity which have so highly distinguished our age.

The steadily increasing flow of immigration hither from 1847 to 1854, reaching in the latter year to 320,000, was one of the most extraordinary passages in the history of mankind.

Our space will not permit of our dwelling further on this topic, or we might afford some more comprehensive idea, in a more extended form, of the great work achieved by the Commissioners of Emigration since their formation, and subsequent to the organization and opening of Castle Garden in August, 1855, the nature of the institutions under their charge, and the results obtained by their laudable exertions.

Emigrants continue to arrive daily at Castle Garden, the large majority of whom are in a healthy condition, and average about 650 per diem. Every possible care is taken of those who voluntarily place themselves under the guardian protection of the agents of the Commissioners. Advice suitable to their particular exigencies is given, and they are guarded against contaminating influences from without, and an general hint is thrown out to them to improve their time, and procure employment immediately; for which purpose an office is kept within the Garden to supply situations to all who are industriously inclined and disposed to accept work at once. No difficulty has been experienced in this respect. The Garden is kept clean, and is supplied with every possible available comfort and convenience for the emigrants, and they are provided therein with a shelter at least, if not with the indulgences of a home and its luxuries. A doctor, possessed of unexceptionable talent and ability, is also stationed daily for the purpose of administering medical comforts and other necessary medical dispensations when applicants appeal to him for curative aid.

A ticket office, representing the New York Central and New York and Erie and Pennsylvania Railroads, is also provided, at the counter of which the emigrant can purchase tickets to their destinations; by this, imposition on them from without is prevented. Their individual names and destinations are registered in books prepared for that department of the service, and a line of communication to and from their guardians, and friends, or relatives, is maintained with the greatest possible regularity and punctuality; and for this purpose correspondents, speaking the various languages, are attached to the Garden, whose duty is to write letters for the emigrants, and read over to them any communications received for their guidance and benefit.

Those who are in indigent circumstances are supplied, while they remain in the Garden, with suitable provisions to sustain them from hunger, while waiting to be sent to Ward’s Island. There are also stoves provided in the varied apartments, so that the temperature is moderated as the condition of the weather demands. A free ventilation is also secured, which the exterior appearance of the premises sufficiently demonstrate [sic]. The Superintendent, with a staff of officers under him, who are in regular daily attendance to their respective duties, conducts and manages the responsible duties entrusted to him with precision and entire satisfaction.

The emigrants on landing are registered in families first, then the female adult portion are admitted, and last the males; this has been found a convenient procedure, so as to collect them in groups of families and acquaintances. They have the option of remaining in the Garden temporarily, or going out to boarding-houses as their own tastes may dictate. Their gold is exchanged for them by the cashier at the exact worth, guided by the premium from Wall street; this is also done for the purpose of securing the emigrants from the imposition and roguery of swindlers in the city. They are often contracted for by parties visiting the Garden, and in each instance they are informed that they are still under the guardianship of the Commissioners, who will, through their agents, hear and investigate all complaints made by them, and adjust their grievances for them, particularly for the recovery of their wages, when industriously and faithfully earned; so that no employer can take the least advantage of the ignorance of the emigrant whom he may employ, by withholding the fruit of his or her labor. The arrivals of emigrants at the depot from January 1st to the present time exceed last year. The following figures speak for themselves:

An efficient staff of police is kept within and without the Garden to preserve order, and to instantly check any attempt at impropriety; thus it will be seen that no care or trouble is wanting to render the Garden a boon to the emigrants, and a credit to the Commissioners, whose zealous aim is to further their interests.

The following is a list of the Commissioners of Emigration: Gulian C. Verplanck, Syms Curtiss, A. A. Low, Wilson G. Hunt, Elijah F. Purdy, John P. Cumming, and the Presidents of the Irish and German Societies, and the Mayors of New York and Brooklyn. Bernard Casserly is the Superintendent of the Castle Garden, and Executive Officer of the Department.