Page:Immigration and the Commissioners of Emigration of the state of New York.djvu/136

116 air and light, and, being situated on the additional ground added to these premises in 1867 by permission of the public authorities, it is easily accessible without disturbing the arrangements of the landing depot.

In the centre of the floor, a sufficient space has been railed off, and reserved for officers and for use of employers. On one side are seated the male emigrants, and on the other side the females, thus securing a separation of the sexes. These again are subdivided, according to their several occupations and the length of time they have been here, and also into those with and without references. Each emigrant on entering is requested to enter his or her name, ship, date of arrival, and character of employment; while every employer is required to enter his or her name, residence, recommendations, references, and description of labor wanted.

This Labor Exchange furnishes an intelligence office, without charge, for emigrants desirous of finding employment or service in the city or at a distance; and undertakes to supply all sorts of skilled mechanical and agricultural labor to employers in any part of the United States, who come with a proper guarantee of character and other necessary qualifications.

The Labor Exchange, since its reorganization, has existed for a period of only two years; but the result obtained in this comparatively short time is sufficient to prove its usefulness. In 1868, it procured employment for 31,143 emigrants, namely, 18,114 males and 13,029 females; and, in the year 1869, for 34,955 emigrants, namely, 22,844 males and 12,111 females. In these two years, there were among the males 4,311 and 5,594 mechanics respectively; while the balance of 13,803 and 17,250 respectively were agricultural and common laborers. Of the females, there were 474 and 438 respectively skilled laborers (seamstresses, cooks, laundresses, etc.), but 12,555 and 11,673 respectively were common house-servants. In 1868, 351 families were engaged, consisting of 1,551 persons, and, in 1869, 452 families, consisting of 1,232 persons.

Those who were employed represented, in 1868, fifteen, and, in 1869, sixteen nationalities. Irish and Germans were predominant. Of the whole number, there were, in 1868, 9,269 male and