“ It is just the poorest German families in the city whom our physicians visit, and hence it is no rare occurrence that they find two, three, or even four very sick patients lying in one room. In such cases the physicians give a written order for pecuniary assistance, and the sums expended in that way are decidedly those which do the most good; by the purchase of meat, milk, and bread they often work apparent miracles, for not only is hunger allayed, but the recovery of the patient is effected—in spite of the greatest weakness—by the more nourishing food. ”

“ During the voyage, as well as on his arrival, the emigrant should be reticent with regard to his pecuniary circumstances and intentions, and be on his guard against officious advisers. Many have bitterly repented—when too late—of the confidence thoughtlessly bestowed. American money should never be bought at the seaport or on board the ship, as there is much counterfeit and worthless money in circulation, which is palmed off upon emigrants. In Castle Garden, at the licensed office, everyone can change his money for United States Currency at the full value. ”

“ There are, unfortunately, among the emigrants, many families who, in consequence of exaggerated reports as to the facility of quickly finding employment with good wages in this country, have sold all they possessed in order to defray the expenses of their passage, and on arriving here spend the remainder of their little capital for the payment of rent and the purchase of necessary furniture, only to find out, when too late, that it is infinitely more difficult than they supposed, to obtain work in this great foreign city. ”

“ Money deposited with any of the above correspondents can be disbursed through the German Society of the City of New York, against receipts, in any part of the United States.
The transmission of money to America by letters of advice through our correspondents instead of, as formerly, by bills of exchange, finds increased favor with the senders, as by the return of autograph acknowledgments of the receivers the senders not only convince themselves better of the correctness of the payment, but it is often desirable also to have the original receipts as vouchers. ”

“ We have endeavored, in the preceding pages, to give our Members an interesting and instructive picture of the activity and the extent of the work of the German Society during the hundred years of its existence. The attentive reader must have observed how much can be accomplished by perseverance and by united forces, and what great results can be attained from small beginnings, when benevolent efforts meet with appreciation and assistance from all those whose favorable circumstances admit of their devoting practical sympathy to the welfare of the needy and destitute. ”

“ Pecuniary assistance is given to needy families, and, exceptionally, to single persons, after a previous careful investigation of each case by the Inspector of the Society and in accordance with his report. As neither the city authorities nor the Emigrant Commission give pecuniary assistance to needy families, the claims upon our Society have increased considerably, and we were of course unable to help, in all cases, as energetically as the circumstances demanded. ”

“ No one should run in debt on the expectation of money to be sent by relatives in the interior, for travelling expenses. In general that money is only sufficient for the payment of railroad tickets, and frequently it is not forthcoming at all. Those in search of work should, immediately on their arrival, apply at the free intelligence office in Castle Garden, where, at a favorable season, they will be reasonably sure to obtain employment soon. ”

“ The Society feels more and more the necessity of securing for itself a permanent location in the lower part of the city, and of acquiring a building by purchase, like the German Society of Philadelphia. The Legacy Fund could thus find a permanent investment, the Society would secure a moderate office rent, and would gain all the advantage of a well-known address not subject to changes. ”

“ Emigrants newly arrived, who intend to have their families follow them, should not allow themselves to be induced to buy passage tickets to be paid for by instalments. In the most favorable case, the passage ticket would not be forwarded until the full price for it had been paid; and usually the unfortunate victim discovers, after months of vain waiting, that his hardly-earned money is lost. All who need advice and information, protection, or aid, should apply to the official of the German Society, who is at all times to be found in Castle Garden. ”

“ Originally founded for the purpose of aiding and advising a few emigrants at the end of their long and dangerous voyage, the Society has since then extended its usefulness to a well-organized Charity Department, the Labor Bureau—at present in Castle Garden—the Bureau of Information, with its wide-spread activity in all directions, the beneficent Care of the Sick, and the Banking Department, which guarantees prompt and reliable attention to all money matters, and offers undoubted security. ”

“ Altogether, it is always best to inquire for anything of the kind, as it often happens that some information is waiting, even though not expected. Every emigrant may remain in Castle Garden until he leaves the city. Those who prefer to go to a hotel should previously consult their purses, and see whether they will admit of their doing so, for the stay at a hotel here is very expensive, in comparison with the German standard, and the landlord is entitled to retain the baggage in pledge until the bill is paid. ”

“ Farmers who come to America with some property should not be too hasty in the purchase of real estate, as they may easily acquire land which is worthless, or the title of which is defective. In order to become acquainted with the land itself, with the climate, and with the markets, it is preferable that such persons should first look about thoroughly, hire themselves out as laborers, and become practically acquainted with the field labor in this country, which is very different from that in Germany. ”

“ With the commencement of the great flow of emigration, the material changes in the condition of the working-classes in this country, and the improved means of passage, the necessity arose of protecting the German emigrants against manifold swindling operations, and this gave rise successively to the establishment of the Bureau of Information and the Banking Department, to which two branches the chief activity of the Society is still devoted. ”

“ Useless rubbish merely occasions heavy expenses of freight for over-weight, and is generally not worth bringing. Those who are well off should carry with them only as much cash as they will need during the voyage and for the first few days after their arrival here. The rest should be taken in drafts drawn by respectable, well-known firms on banking-houses in this city, and, under any circumstances, the holder should insist upon his signature being forwarded for identification, and upon the bill being advised by the mail of the same steamer. ”

“ In consequence of a report by the President on the reduced condition of the Emigrant Commission, and the embarrassments in Castle Garden occasioned by want of funds, the Board resolves to authorize the President to give aid to needy German emigrants from the funds of the Society in such cases where it would otherwise have been afforded by the Emigrant Commission, and also, in case the Legislature should not in the meantime have remedied the matter, to call a special meeting of the Board in two weeks, for the purpose of consulting on further measures for the protection of emigrants. ”

“ The relatively large death-figure in the medical reports is explained by this statement.
Such cases of illness are the more serious that they are all, in fact, in the most urgent need of hospital care. To replace the latter as much and as efficiently as possible, is the task of our physicians. They visit the patients as often as necessary, and prescribe for them, at the expense of the Society, the requisite medicines. In the treatment of such patients our physicians encounter difficulties which it is possible to remove only partially. ”

“ The Commission of Emigration is established. The law provides that every emigrant arriving at the port of New York shall pay $1.50, head-money (fifty cents of which is hospital money) , which is to go toward defraying the expenses of supporting needy emigrants in the City and State of New York during the first five years after their arrival. The administration of this head-money is committed to ten members, among whom the Presidents of the German and Irish Societies act ex officio. Mr. Leopold Bierwirth was the first President of the German Society in the Commission. ”

“ The administration of real and personal estate which is transferred to the Society for management; in particular, estates of deceased persons. The receiving of money for temporary care. The legal form by which the German Society may be appointed executor of a will and administrator of an estate should be worded as follows:
"I hereby nominate and appoint the German Society of the City of New York to be the executor of, or trustee under, this my last will and testament."
The Society is in connection with the following firms, by whom its European business is attended to:
Augsburg. ”

“ By an arrangement with the "German Emigrant House," which by its good management is growing in favor with the public, we were, enabled to furnish, at a small cost, ample and nourishing meals to a large number of emigrants, among whom many families in Castle Garden were obliged to await remittances from relatives. At Christmas and on Thanksgiving day the members of the Board contributed toward furnishing a number of extra meals, which were supplied to hundreds of needy emigrants. ”

“ The calumnies affecting the Society are proved to have originated with persons whose aim it is to frustrate its efforts to put a stop to the swindling operations of which the emigrants landing in New York have hitherto been the victims. ”

“ This is certainly not the case, and steamship lines are compelled to carry back free of charge only such persons as are crippled, decrepit, or unable to work, and whom they have brought over contrary to law, while neither our Society nor the Emigrant Commission are under any obligation whatever to that effect. ”

“ The landlord or his agent demands the rent due and threatens ejectment, for he knows that he will speedily find another tenant for even the most miserable lodging; the slight credit given by the baker, the milkman, the grocer, is exhausted, and all efforts to obtain employment are ineffectual. ”

“ Through its efforts, the German Savings Bank and the German Hospital have been founded, and in like manner it should aid in establishing a free Home for old men unable to work, and an Asylum for Incurables and Convalescents, who at present are not received at any hospital. ”

“ No one should lend his money to strangers on bills of exchange or other papers of this kind, or buy them. In general such papers are of no value, or they are protested, because available only for the person in whose name they are made out. On reaching Castle Garden, every one should be on the watch to hear his name called, in case there should be letters or other intelligence awaiting him. ”

“ Old or weak persons, however, and individuals who shirked work at home, and who hoped to find better facilities here for leading an easy life, will discover, at their cost, that America does not differ much in this respect from other countries, and that idlers and those unable to work have even fewer prospects here than in Europe. America should not be looked upon cither as a great reformatory for ne'er-do-wells or as a refuge for paupers ”