Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume VI.djvu/581

 EMIGRATION 573 the practice prevailed in New York and Phila- delphia of selling by public auction into tempo-; rary servitude emigrants who were indebted for their passage money and other advances. During the last century the prepayment of the passage by the emigrant was the exception, and its subsequent discharge by compulsory labor the rule. Ship owners and ship mer- chants derived enormous profits from this traf- fic, as they charged very high rates for the passage and added a heavy percentage for their risks. Adults were sold for a term of from 3 to 6 years, and children from 10 to 15 years. Servants signed indentures and were known as " indented servants." The last sales of this kind took place in Philadelphia in 1818 and 1819. During the early part of the present century there was little protection for emigrants during the sea voyage. Ship owners generally chartered the lower decks of their vessels to agents, who made temporary ar- rangements for the accommodation oif the passengers, and either underlet the steerage to associations of emigrants or parcelled it out to sub-agents or to single passengers. These agents crowded emigrants into vessels without regard to their comfort or health, and there was no authority to which the latter could appeal for protection. As late as 1819 the lower deck of an emigrant vessel was no bet- ter than that of a slave or coolie ship. The ordinary height of the steerage deck was from 4 to 5 ft. ; the lower, or orlop deck, which was also used for the transportation of passengers, was still worse. The natural consequence was a mortality frequently amounting to 10 and sometimes to 20 per cent. The first law which prescribed the space to be allotted to each steerage passenger was that passed by congress in March, 1819, which made it unlawful for a ship to carry more than two passengers for every five tons, custom-house measure. This law, however, did little toward reducing the hardships of the voyage, which was attended with much sickness and many deaths, the pre- vailing diseases being typhus or ship fever, cholera, and smallpox. In 1855 an act was passed by congress intended to secure the rights of emigrants on shipboard, by giving to each of them two tons of space, and providing for the proper ventilation of the ship, as well as for a sufficient amount of proper food ; and this law has resulted in great amelioration. Another circumstance which has largely re- duced the suffering and mortality during the voyage is the use of steamers instead of sailing vessels. In 1856 only about 3 per cent, of the emigrants came in steamers, while in 1873 more than 96 per cent, arrived in steamers and less than 4 per cent, in sailing vessels. The deaths in steamers were about 1 in 1,128 passengers, while the death rate in sailing vessels reached the significant ratio of 1 in 65. The port of New York is the great gate through which the emigration to the United States chiefly pass- es. Of the total number (437,004) of emigrants in 1873, 266,818 entered at Kew York. Here exists the only thoroughly organized system in the country for their reception and protection. The extortions and frauds which had been prac- tised upon emigrants arriving at New York, as well as the rapidly increasing tide of immigra- tion, led to the passage by the legislature of the act of May 5, 1847, creating the board of com- missioners of emigration of the state of New York, which has since been in successful opera- tion. It consists of nine members, six -of whom are appointed by the governor of the state with the consent of the senate, and three are mem- bers ex officio, viz. : the mayor of New York, the president of the German society, and the presi- dent of the Irish emigrant society. All the com- missioners serve without compensation. Their duties are to protect alien passengers arriving at New York from fraud and imposition, to care and provide for the helpless among them, to give them trustworthy advice and informa- tion, and generally to guard their interests. To provide a fund for this purpose, the owner or consignee of any vessel carrying emigrants to New York is required to give a bond, with a penalty of $300 for each alien passenger, to indemnify the commissioners and the state from any cost that may be incurred for' the relief, support, or medical care of the person named in the bond during five years. In lieu of this bond he may pay a commutation, originally fixed at $2 50, but in 1871 reduced to $1 50, for each alien passenger brought into the port. For the more effectual protection of emigrants arriving at New York, an act was passed by the legislature in 1868, by which the commissioners of emigration are invested with authority to examine under oath any witness as to the condition of any ship, and the treatment of the emigrants while on board. The commissioners may also take testimony in reference to any death that may have occurred during the voyage ; and such testimony, if made in the presence of the persons complained of, may be used as evidence in any subsequent action. The good intentions of the legislature, however, have not been realized, as the emi- grants cannot afford the necessary time and money to enter into a long litigation against rich and powerful companies. The commis- sioners of emigration have therefore repeatedly and strongly urged congress to negotiate with foreign governments for the appointment of a joint high commission or court for the speedy adjudication of all cases relating to the treat- ment of emigrants while on board of a ship. Upon the arrival of an emigrant vessel at quar- antine, six miles below the city, it is inspected by the health officer of the port, and the sick emigrants, if any, are transferred by steamer to hospitals, where they are cared for by the commissioners of emigration. If removed by authority of the health officers, they are taken to the quarantine hospital, where they are under charge of the quarantine commission. The vessel is then taken in chaige by an officer