MODES OF TRANSPORTATION BY IMMIGRANTS

After an arduous sea voyage, passengers would disembark from the packet ships that had offered fares for as low as twelve dollars between Liverpool and New York. Some of the vessels were referred to as "coffin ships" because they were infested with typhus and other diseases. As many as 10% were apt to die at sea. After this rugged trip of about two weeks to the land of opportunity, many of them would proceed to travel across the state of New York on the Erie Canal. These pioneers must have been of sturdy stock for many of them traveled with numerous children for whom they envisioned a brighter future.

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