ABSTRACT OF THE REPORT ON

STEERAGE CONDITIONS

For the complete report on steerage conditions see Reports of the Immigration Commission, vol. 37.

STEERAGE CONDITIONS.

The Immigration Commission's report on steerage, conditions, which was presented to Congress December 13, 1909, was based on information obtained by special agents of the Commission traveling as steerage passengers on 12 different transatlantic steamers, as well as on ships of every coastwise line carrying immigrants from one United States port to another. There had never before been a thorough investigation of steerage conditions by national authority, but such superficial investigations as had been made, and the many nonofficial inquiries as well, had disclosed such evil and revolting conditions on some ships that the Commission determined upon an investigation sufficiently thorough to show impartially just what conditions prevailed in the steerage. It is, of course, true that the old-time steerage with its inherent evils largely disappeared with the passing of the slow sailing vessel from the immigrant-carrying trade, but the Commission's investigation proved clearly that the "steerage" is still a fact on some ships, although on others it has been abolished. Indeed, the investigation showed that both good and bad conditions may and do exist in immigrant quarters on the same ship; but, what is of more importance, it showed that there is no reason why the disgusting and demoralizing conditions which have generally prevailed on immigrant ships should continue.

The complete report of the Commission upon this subject includes a detailed account of the experiences of an Immigration Commission agent in the steerage of three transatlantic ships, but for the purpose of this summary a more general description of conditions under which immigrants are carried at sea will suffice.

Because the investigation was carried on during the year 1908, when, owing to the industrial depression, immigration was very light, the steerage was seen practically at its best. Overcrowding, with all its concomitant evils, was absent. What the steerage is when travel is heavy and all the compartments filled to their entire capacity can readily be understood from what was actually found. In reading this report, then, let it be remembered that not extreme, but comparatively favorable, conditions are here depicted.

Transatlantic steamers may be classed in three general subdivisions on the basis of their provision for other than cabin passengers. These are vessels having the ordinary old-type steerage, those having the new-type steerage, and those having both. In order to make clear the distinction among these subdivisions, a description of the two types of steerage, old and new, will be given.

See Steerage Legislation, 1819-1908. Reports of the Immigration Commission, vol. 40. (S. Doc. No. 661, 61st Cong., 3d sess.)