Immigrants to Canada

UWInfo | Young Immigrants | Genealogy | Local History | 19th Century Immigration

Immigration Report 1872

This information is taken from the Sessional Papers, 36 Victoria 1873 (26)

• The total number of Immigrants assisted by benevolent societies and individuals in 1872 was 2,435, as is shewn in the report of Mr. Stafford, Dominion Immigration Agent at Quebec. In 1871, the number was 4,590, shewing a decrease last year in Immigrants of this class of 2,163. The decrease is, of course, owing to the unwillingness of the public to subscribe money for the purpose of emigration in the face of revival of prosperity and absence of distress.
• The following statement shows the numbers of Immigrants who were assisted by the different societies, and by individuals in 1872:--

  British and Colonial Emigration League	101
  National Emigration League	404
  Rev. Mr. Fletcher	20
  Mr. Shipperly (Bristol)	6
  Rev. Mr. Herring	655
  Rev. Mr. Oliver (Hertford)	5
  Red Hill Reformatory	4
  Brighton Emigration Society	79
  Shoe Black Brigade	7
  Cow Cross Mission	132
  Miss Macpherson	433
  Hon. Mrs. Hobart	266
  Mr. Hogg's Institution	11
  Mrs. Spottiswood (Aberdeen)	44
  Risley Farm School	25
  Sydenham Emigration Club	17
  Feltham School	2
  Home for little boys	3
  Upper Bagot Asylum	2
  South Dublin Union	4
  Cheltenham Reformatory	2
  Rev. Mr. Hartley	2
  Miss Rye	187
  Middlesex Industrial School	2
  Tiffield Reformatary[sic]	2
  Rev. Mr. Smith	20
  Total	2,435

• The total number of vessels which arrived with passengers, was 116, viz,:-104 steamers, 157,615 tons, and 62 sailing vessels 44,524 tons.

The average passage of the Allan Line was,-mail steamers from Liverpool, 11¼ days; Londonderry, 10¼ days. Extra steamers from Liverpool, 14¼ days; Queenstown, 13 days. Glasgow steamers from Glasgow, 14¼ days; Dublin, 13 days; Londonderry, 13 days; and from Liverpool, 16½ days.

Temperley's London line of steamers from London, 19 days; Plymouth, 16½ days. Dominion Line of steamers from Liverpool, 14 days; Queenston, 12¼ days.

The average passage of sailing vessels from the United Kingdom was, 42 days; from Germany, 60 days, and from Norway, 48 days.

The number of cabin and steerage by each line of vessels, was as follows:--

	Cabin	Steerage	Total
Allan line mail steamers	1,850	15,716	17,566
Allan line extra steamers from Liverpool, occasionally touching at Glasgow and Queenstown	92	3,216	3,303
Allan line Glasgow steamers, occasionally touching at Dublin, Londonderry and Liverpool	171	5,048	3,219
Temperley's London line of steamers	249	2,730	2,979
Dominion line of steamers	93	576	669
Extra steamers	6	35	41
Steamers from Norway		87	87
Sailing vessels from United Kingdom	9	217	226
Sailing vessels from Germany		626	626
Sailing vessels from Norway		3,701	3,701
Sailing vessels from Other Countries		23	23
Via Portland, New York and Boston per Grand Trunk Railroad		298	298
	2,470	32,273	34,743

The nationalities of the passengers brought out by each line, was as follows:--

	English	Irish	Scotch	Germans	Norwegians	French and Belgians	Other Countries	Total
Allan line mail steamers from Liverpool and Londonderry	10,398	2,228		122	3,862	956		17,566
Allan line extra steamers	718	38	341	11	1,934	266		3,308
Allan line Glasgow steamers	2	958	3,674	2	562	21		5,219
Temperley's London steamers	2,979							2,979
Dominion line steamers	493	92	71			13		669
Extra steamers	8	1	32					41
Steamers from Norway					87			87
Sailing vessels from United Kingdom	187	5	34					226
Sailing vessels from Germany					3,701			3,701
Sailing vessels from Norway							23	23
Via Portland, New York and Boston per G.T.R.R.	82	88	13	3	2	110		298
	14,867	3,410	4,165	764	10,148	1,366	23	34,743

Annual Return of Vessels Inspected at the Quarantine Station

No.	Rig-Name	Master	Port	Sailed	Arrived	Cargo
1	Barque, Sumatra	Baumann	Bremen	April 4	May 16	General
2	Ship, Giant's Causeway	Dunn	Liverpool	April 13	May 16	Ballast
3	Ship, Josephine	Smith	Laurvig	March 23	May 16	Ballast
4	Barque, Rjukan	Reynholds	Skien	April 12	May 23	Ballast
5	Barque, Concordia	Christiansen	Christiana	April 18	May 24	Ballast
6	Barque, Victoria	Boyd	Hull	April 7	May 24	Coal
7	Ship, Edda	Anderson	Christiania	April 25	May 28	Ballast
8	Barque, Nord Stiernen	Paust	Bergen	April 25	May 28	Ballast
9	Barque, Pera	Cluver	Bergen	April 24	June 1	Ballast
10	Ship, Laurdal	Pedersen	Porsgrund	April 13	June 2	Ballast
11	Barque, Immanuel	Ihve	Bergen	May 4	June 4	Ballast
12	Barque, Skien	Melancthon	Skien	April 15	June 7	Ballast
13	Ship, Ragnhild	Jacobsen	Christiania	May 3	June 7	Ballast
14	Barque, Maryland	Fredericksen	Bergen	May 25	July 1	Ballast
15	Barque, Tjomoe	Boed	Christiania	May 19	July 1	Ballast
16	Christopher Columbus	Wesenberg	Bergen	May 23	July 1	Ballast
17	S.S., St. Andrew	Wylie	Glasgow	June 16	July 6	General
18	Barque, Johan	Reumann	Stavanger	May 24	July 8	Ballast
19	S.S., Nile	Dowell	London	June 20	July 12	General
20	Barque, Orvarodd	Johanisen	Stavanger	June 1	July 17	Ballast
21	Barque, Agda	Dietricks	Bremen	May 18	July 24	General
22	Brigantine, Echo	Richardson	Pernambuco	June 9	July 25	Sugars
23	Barque, Dagmar	Lusk	Liverpool	June 1	July 25	Iron
24	Ship, Venus	Arrowsmith	Savannah	June 4	Aug 3	Timber
25	S.S., Woodham	Halgesen	Christiania	June 28	Aug 15	Iron
26	Ship, Nordhavet	Myhre	Hull	Aug 13	Sept 26	Ballast

• Messrs. Stafford and Haigh, who exerted themselves strenuously to direct a number of immigrants here, and who were the means of inducing 165 Germans, only 50 of whom were bound for the Ottawa District, to join relatives, to come direct to this agency. These were all at once located by me in Renfrew, some on land for themselves, and others hired out to the farmers. Messrs. Stafford and Haigh also induced many who were destined for the United States to come on to this District, and these parties now settled here express thorough satisfaction with the change made in their plans through those officers.
• From France, emigrants cannot be shipped directly to Canada; they must go by way of Liverpool or by way of New York to reach their destination. The agents of the Canadian Government, who are also agents of the Messrs. Allan, have naturally shipped their passengers to Quebec by way of Liverpool.

The price of passage from Havre to Quebec, from the 1^st of March to the 30^th of June last, was 130 francs per adult, during the following four months 110 francs, and from the 1^st of November to the 31^st of December the price of passage from Havre to Portland was 145 francs.

The price of assisted passages was uniformly maintained at 146.20 francs according to conditions previously agreed on.

The above prices include the cost of passage by steamer from Havre to Liverpool-which is 26.85 francs, but regarding emigrants from Paris we must add 9.35 francs, for transport by railway to Havre.

Several of the principal trans-atlantic lines run steamers from Havre to Liverpool in connection with their ocean steamships. The Allan Line has not yet organized this service, but its relations with the Inman and Cunard Companies secure favorable conditions for its passengers. Steamers of the Inman Service have been principally used this last summer. They are well constructed, fast, and possess all the necessary comfort for a voyage which is only of about fifty hours duration.

Emigrants leave Paris four days before the day of their departure from Liverpool, and by virtue of a special agreement with some of the hotel keepers at Havre, their expenses in that city are only from 3 to 4 francs per diem; but from the moment they step on board of the steamer all expenses are borne by the Steamship Company, which is also responsible for all hotel expenses at Liverpool until their departure for America

All these details are completely arranged, and are of such a nature as to prevent imposition of a serious nature.

In France the authorities very minutely watch over the interest of emigrants, even of those who come from other countries and merely pass through it. The Commissioners appointed at Paris and Havre attend the arrival and departure of each batch of emigrants. Their dict and the means to ensure their health on board the steamers are carefully attended to. The same care and attention is displayed at the hotels which receive them. The Commissioners always enquire of the emigrants themselves as to any complaints they wish to make.

The owners of steamers at Havre derive great advantages from this transport of emigrants, and consequently do everything in their power to increase the traffic. They have the greater reason to watch over this important branch of their business, as formerly this port was held in very bad reputation by shippers on the Continent. Switzerland, for 15 years, has cautioned its inhabitants to choose another route, but this could not be permanent, and Havre has not been long in attaching to itself the principal part of the emigration which should come to it from the North and East of France, from Switzerland and the borders of the Rhine, and even from Italy.

These steamship companies of Havre have been powerfully aided in this matter by the Eastern and Western Railway Companies, which give great advantage to emigrants both by the reduction of the fare and in carrying baggage,-thus, the ordinary fare from Strasbourg to Havre, third class, is 47.20 francs, whilst to emigrants it was reduced to 30? francs; from Paris to Havre the reduction was equally great, viz: from 15.45 francs to 3.35? francs; at the same time there is an allowance of 200lbs. Instead of 60lbs. Of baggage in favor of the emigrant; in excess of 60lbs. Ordinary passengers used to pay at a very high rate.

The liberal measures above mentioned taken by the French Companies have greatly contributed to the success of the Havre route, and the more so as similar measures have all been introduced by foreign Railway Companies,-for example, emigrants from Strasbourg who choose the Antwerp route, have to pay the ordinary fare, 21.75 francs for ??? which appears to be the ordinary weight of baggage carried by each emigrant, or at 10 francs for 200 lb. the weight allowed by the French Railway Companies.

Mr. Berns, Canadian Government Agent, at Antwerp, in Belgium, registered 318 emigrants for Canada during the last year. The Official Reports for the past year only mention 85. The result as regards France is highly satisfactory. This success is due to the activity displayed by Mr. Berns and his agents, who are placed in all parts of the country, as also to the vigorous and healthy impulse given the movement by Mr. Barnard and the Abbé Verbist.

It is needless to repeat the remarks which Mr. Bern's report will contain respecting the emigrants despatched, their occupation, social condition, &c.

Belgium emigration to Canada is by way of Antwerp, Grimsby and Liverpool. The price of passage from Antwerp to Quebec was 160 francs.

The Port of Antwerp, one of the most considerable on the Continent has, nevertheless, not the same importance as in the past with regard to emigration. The advantages offered by the French Railroads, and the direct lines of steamships between France and North and South America, have diverted a large number who formerly went by way of Belgium.

There might, however, be an improvement in this trade, owing to the establishment of new and direct Trans-Atlantic lines, which are spoken of as probable, and which would be largely subsidized fro carrying the mails.

Belgian legislation is still very imperfect, and offers to emigrants less advantages then are offered from French, English and German Ports. This matter is said to be the object of special attention, and it may be expected that the arrangements will soon be perfect.

Mr. Bern's Agency at Strasbourg has forwarded to Canada 96 emigrants. They are composed almost totally of young men, who propose to send for their relations as soon as they are comfortably settled in their new country.

This number is not lare, if we compare it with the total emigration from Alsace and Lorraine, which was for the past year about 300,000 persons, but it should be stated that many from the latter Provinces have taken their tickets for Canada at Paris or Antwerp.

Further, there is a powerful cause which to a great extent prevents this emigration in Canada. For about thirty years the population has flowed yearly by thousands towards the United States. All those who now emigrate have relations or friends already settled there, and they naturally follow them. Of the above 96, 57 went by way of Antwerp, and 37 by way of Paris.

French, Belgian and Alsatian emigrants were forwarded by the agents of the Government of Canada from the following places:--

Paris	782
Antwerp	318
Strasbourg	96
Total	1,196

...more to come

---

UWInfo | Young Immigrants | Genealogy | Local History | 19th Century Immigration

© Marjorie P. Kohli, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, 1999
Last updated: August 1999
Maintained by marj@ist.uwaterloo.ca