BANAT-L Archives

From: "Bob Madler" <>
Subject: Steerage history
Date: Tue, 13 May 1997 15:49:40 -0700

As this was send to me by a friend, I'm unable to cite the source. I found
it informative and interesting.

In the Nase Rodina, the newsletter of the Czechoslovak Genealogical Society
International, there is a photocopy of a poster advertising passage on the
"Hamburska Line" with no date as to when it was printed. Costs were
listed as:
Hamburg to New York
Steerage.....$28
2nd berth....$72
1st berth......$120
New York to Hamburg
Steerage.....$30
2nd berth.....$60
1st berth.......$100
I guess it was longer from New York to Hamburg in steerage than it was from
Hamburg to New York.......but it was longer in 2nd berth and 1st berth
from Hamburg to New York and shorter from New York to Hamburg. ????!!!!????
Another article in this newsletter has: "....they could only afford
passage in the "steerage" section. This area was not even good enough for
cargo, let alone passengers. The lack of food, water, privacy and
sanitation led to illness, as did the voyage itself. Travel time on these
steamships varied from 15 to 60 days depending on whether it was a direct
or indirect route, and the weather conditions....."
Also in this same issue as the poster is a translation of an article (5
pages) originally printed in 1883 in Czech advising anyone who was
considering immigrating to America as to what to do and expect. Some
parts:
"...Before you decide to emigrate to America.....consider well everything
involved in this action. A person can easily leave, but it is not so easy
to return....."
".....complaints....about the port of Baltimore (and with good
reason)....accosted by various swindlers....so erratic...many...end up in
the wrong place...."
"...main thing to keep in mind is to take a ship to New York....."Castle
Garden" where the immigrant is protected from swindlers, hunger, rain, and
cold, and where he can confidently exchange money and buy railroad tickets
and get free escort to the railway station......"
"....necessary to make reservations 2, 3, or even 4 weeks ahead...."
"...officials do not allow passage to emigrants who cannot pay full fare in
advance..."
"....do not allow yourself to be transported......on English ships......it
isn't possible to talk to anyone......changing ships is difficult...food
isn't fit for animals...ships are overloaded...."
If you would like a copy of this article you can request a copy of the
Nase Rodina newsletter of September 1995, Vo. 7, No. 3, which is available
for $3.00 plus $1.50 for postage......order from the CGSI, P.O. Box 16225,
St. Paul, MN 55116-0225. This organization has a very well written
newsletter and annual dues are only $15.
Also along the same lines you may want to read "For Bread with Butter" by
Ewa Morawska. This book concerns the East Central Europeans who immigrated
to Johnstown, PA, but the statistics could be applied to any town with a
large immigrant population. There is a long discussion on why our
ancestors immigrated which may surprise many genealogists and also an
account of the staggering amount of money "sent home" will leave most
genealogists amazed. You should be able to get this through interlibrary
loan. Also "Out of This Furnace" by Thomas Bell is a novel based on his
own Slovak family's immigration to Pittsburgh, PA. Interesting reading
which is not the "textbook" picture you get in school. This book is used
by University of Pittsburgh in some of its sociology classes. It should
also be available through interlibrary loan.

Bob Madler


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• Steerage history by "Bob Madler" <>