Page:Immigration and the Commissioners of Emigration of the state of New York.djvu/144

124 him or her. This statement is compared with the record on file in the office of the Commissioners of Emigration, and, if correct, and the charge for relief reasonable and proper, the amount is allowed and paid to the superintendents or overseers in the same manner as other claims, except that payment for expenses of emigrants in the several cities, towns, and counties in this State is made but once during the year, namely, at the last regular meetings of the Commissioners of Emigration in the year.

Monthly bills for support and care of emigrants, accompanied by the necessary affidavits, are received (at present) from thirteen different charitable institutions and hospitals situated in the several cities of this State. These bills undergo the same examination and scrutiny as the county bills, and are paid quarterly. The total amount paid to the several counties in this State, including the city and county of New York, for care and support of emigrants, from the organization of this Commission, May 5, 1847, to December 31, 1869, was $994,279 92, and to institutions and hospital, the sum of $168,371 96; making the total amount reimbursed to counties, cities, towns, and institutions, $1,162,651 98, as will more fully appear from the table in the Appendix.

Castle Garden is open both day and night. The regular business hours are from 8 o clock A.M. to 5 o clock P.M.; but, in cases of necessity, the employees are obliged to remain till ten, and even later. There are seven private watchmen and seven policemen, whose duty it is to keep strict guard over the emigrants, and to preserve order and discipline.

The yearly rent of the Garden is $12,000. The buildings, furniture, and fixtures are insured at $50,000, and the baggage of the emigrants at $30,000.

The business of all the offices connected with the Staten Island Boarding Station and Castle Garden is performed by seventy-six officers and employees, from the General Agent to the night-watchmen. Together their yearly salaries amount to $82,894.