Carrie Brown : Murder In The East River Hotel

With the major influx of immigration, and report of land sharks** taking advantage of newly arrived immigrants, in 1846, NYC Board of Aldermen set up a commission to investigate.

A permanent Commission of Immigration was set up by NYS legislature in 1847.

Temporary relief was provided to those that needed it and Commission eventually led to the creation of the Castle Garden Immigration Center. Which opened in 1855.

For the next 35 years over 8 million immigrants entered the US through Castle Garden.

Photo circa 1870 LOC

** Land sharks, as might have been surmised, were scoundrels who swindled sailors as soon as they stood on US shores ( How about that alliteration ? ).