Page:Immigration and the Commissioners of Emigration of the state of New York.djvu/135

Rh for admission to the Institutions, and examines the records, to ascertain the right of the applicant to admission. It also keeps the records of all daily admissions to, and discharges from, Ward's Island, and examines the records in all cases of claims for indemnity from the several counties of the State for emigrants charge able to the Commission who may have received aid or support in such counties. Attached to this Department are two physicians, whose duties are to examine all sick and destitute applicants for relief, and to visit all such at their residences in this city, and report to the General Agent.

XII. The Labor Exchange.—A Labor Exchange was first established in 1850. The increasing number of persons demanding the aid and advice of the Commissioners, and the widely extended knowledge of their arrangements for the disposal of laborers, made it necessary to hire, in December, 1850, a large double building, Nos. 25 and 27 Canal Street, at which place emigrants desiring work, and persons desiring laborers, found ample opportunity for meeting their wants; while, prior to that time, useful employment and means of self-support had been procured to over 8,000 emigrants. Proportionably a far greater amount of service was rendered to them with the additional facilities afforded by the Canal Street establishment. Thus, in 1851, not less than 18,204 emigrants were provided with opportunities for self-support in such kind of labor as their previous habits best qualified them to perform. In 1862, 14,973 persons were provided with places or employment; but in the course of years this institution dwindled down to a mere intelligence office for city servants. During the seven years from 1860 to 1866, the number of females who found employment as servants through the Castle Garden agency amounted to 40,222, that of males to only 10,224.

In 1867, at the suggestion of Commissioner Philip Bissinger, the office was revived and re-established in its original condition. The present Labor Exchange is a spacious and well-arranged building, and was erected during the latter part of the year named. It is a one-story building, 80 by 52 feet, with a large ventilator in the roof, thus furnishing an ample supply of fresh