A Steerage Experience for Five Dollars - 1922

This article recounts the experience of traveling in steerage aboard a steamship for a mere five dollars, a cost that reflected intense competition among steamship lines. The narrative highlights the differences in service quality between American and Mediterranean routes, the latter often offering poorer conditions due to mismanagement by ship captains.

Inspectors from the Board of Trade Examine the Sleeping Accommodations for Steerage Passengers. The Syren & Shipping Illustrated, 24 June 1908. GGA Image ID # 147366c336

“There was keen competition at this time.” Said Mr. Williams, “and I have known steerage passage to America to be given for a single sovereign—five dollars.”

The food was excellent in those days on the Atlantic liners, but very poor in the Mediterranean service, according to Mr. Williams.

He ascribed this to the fact that the American steamers were victualed by the company, while those plying through the Straits of Gibraltar were victualed by the captain, who received an appropriate allowance—and, apparently, did not expend it as judiciously as he might have done.

Mr. Mclver, one of the directors in the early days of the Cunard Line, happened to be at Malta on one occasion when there was a great deal of complaining going on. He instituted an inquiry, and things were soon put right.

It was while Mr. Williams was serving in the Algeria, in the “seventies,” that she burst a boiler tube one day out from Queenstown, westbound. He was then boilermakers mate, and it fell to his lot to plug up the burst tube.

To do this he had to crawl through the furnace into the smoke-box, and, the fire having only just been drawn, no great imagination is required to picture his condition when he had finished the job.

He had to be carried on deck, dosed with grog and put to bed for twenty-four hours. On the ship’s arrival in New York, the “Chief” sent for Mr. Williams and gave him a sovereign and a day off in which to spend it.

 “This,” concluded the veteran “shows that the Cunard Line knew how to treat its men, even in those long-departed days!”

Conclusion

The account concludes by emphasizing the Cunard Line's fair treatment of crew members and passengers, despite the challenging conditions in steerage. The story of Mr. Williams, who endured severe hardship while repairing a boiler, serves as an example of the company's care for its staff, illustrating the contrasts in service quality across different regions.

Key Points

💵 Low Fares: Competition drove steerage fares down to five dollars.

🍲 Food Quality: Varied between American and Mediterranean routes, often poorer on the latter.

🚢 Service Variability: Differences in management led to disparities in passenger experience.

🛠️ Crew Hardships: Describes a boilermaker's extreme experience repairing a boiler.

👥 Crew Care: Cunard Line's reputation for caring for its crew.

📊 Economic Pressures: Financial struggles of steamship lines due to low fares.

🧳 Passenger Diversity: Varied backgrounds of steerage passengers.

⚖️ Regulatory Impact: Influence of regulations on passenger treatment.

🔄 Route Differences: Impact of different routes on service quality.

🌍 Historical Context: Reflects the broader economic and social context of the era.

Summary

1. Competitive Fares: The article highlights the effects of fierce competition, which lowered steerage fares to five dollars.

2. Service Quality: It contrasts the quality of food and accommodations between American and Mediterranean services, noting poorer conditions on the latter.

3. Crew Experience: Describes the arduous tasks faced by the crew, exemplified by Mr. Williams's ordeal in repairing a burst boiler tube.

4. Cunard Line's Practices: Despite hardships, the Cunard Line was noted for treating its crew well, rewarding efforts with care and compensation.

5. Economic Impact: The low fares caused financial pressures on steamship companies, affecting the quality of services.

6. Passenger Demographics: The narrative includes a diverse range of passengers traveling in steerage.

7. Regulatory Environment: It discusses the role of regulations in shaping the experiences of steerage passengers.

8. Route Disparities: Emphasizes the differences in services based on routes, with better provisions generally found on American lines.

9. Historical Significance: Reflects the socio-economic conditions of the early 20th century and their impact on maritime travel.

10. Narrative Reflection: Concludes with a reflection on the treatment and care provided by the Cunard Line, highlighting their reputation despite challenging circumstances.

Reported by the Shipping Magazine: Marine Transportation, Construction, Equipment, and Supplies, New York: Shipping Publishing Co, Volume 15, No. 5, March 10, 1922, p.14.