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The Transition from Sail to Steam in Immigration to the United States

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 June 2005

RAYMOND L. COHN
RAYMOND L. COHN
Affiliation:
Professor, Department of Economics, Campus Box 4200, Illinois State University, Normal, IL 61790-4200. E-mail: [email protected]
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Abstract

The transition from sailing ship to steamship is analyzed for European immigrants arriving at New York City. Based on information taken from the U.S. Passenger Lists, new estimates of the timing and length of the transition are provided. Though the accepted model suggests the changeover from sail to steam could occur in only a few years, it actually took about 15 years in the Europe to New York immigrant trade. The slow transition is found to be due to slow construction of new steamships given uncertainty concerning immigrant volume and new steamship technology.

The most important change in nineteenth century emigrant transportation was that from sail to steam.

Gunter MoltmannMoltmann, “Steamship Transport,” p. 311.

…the transition from sail to steam in the transatlantic immigrant trade was an event of enormous significance for the history of immigration.

Maldwyn Allen JonesJones, American Immigration, p. 157.

Type
ARTICLES
Information
The Journal of Economic History , Volume 65 , Issue 2 , June 2005 , pp. 469 - 495
Copyright
© 2005 The Economic History Association

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