Must read for anyone doing research

BillieDeKid · V.I.P. Joined: Oct 26, 2007 Posts: 1221 Location: Illinois

I came across this site and now have a better understanding of the cost for a ticket to America in the early 1900's

www.geocities.com/bigp...intro.html

I think what this man has done is a wonderful thing. You'll notice that the words 'travel contract' are highlighted ..... click on it and you will see a 4 page contract for passage to America.

I calculated the cost (listed at the top of page 1 - per person) using the swiss franc to american dollar .......... I was in shock to see what the number turned out to be. If our parents or grandparents had to come up with even 1% of the converted figure I just don't know how they did it.

I've always wondered what the price of a ticket was and now I have an idea. I hope you all find this useful.

nuccia

I had fun looking through this site. Thanks Billie! Smile

tjbrn

I found the following here: uk.geocities.com/haywa...age15.html
I believe that I read that the steerage cost was approximately $35 in the early 1900's. I'll try to locate that other source.

Steerage fare slashed; America affordable to all. New York May 23, 1904.
The great Atlantic Ocean, once an endless sea of perils for the explorers of Renaissance Europe, has become a highway to heaven - bountiful America. A drastic cut in steerage rates goes into effect today that will allow Europeans to board a steamship with $10 in their pocket and arrive in Ellis Island less than a month later. If a decent job awaits them, they will earn the price of their passage in a week.
The new fare schedule is a result of European rivalries . Britain, Germany, Italy and France, vying for control of the seas, offer large subsidies to steamship lines. Hoping that volume will help control the routes, Inman, Cunard and the other big firms pass the savings on to passengers and use their grants to build monster ships. Inman’s 11,000 ton City of Paris liner, queen of the seas since 1888, will be deposed by Cunard’s 19,000 ton Caronia this year. Quarters are still cramped, but steam has mercifully cut travel time and regular schedules eliminate prolonged stopovers.

tjbrn

I found this excerpt from a book on a Google search which lists steerage from Germany to NY at $33.50 in 1903.
books.google.com/books...SrVVWHXwvY

Using the consumer price index conversion factor and the year 2000 as a base, the 33.50 would be the equivalent of approximately $645 in year 2000 dollars.

BillieDeKid · V.I.P. Joined: Oct 26, 2007 Posts: 1221 Location: Illinois

Thanks Tom, I've book marked both links.

Eleven

Very interesting. Maybe this is why, most times, the men came alone, then sent for the wife/kids.

It took my grandfather 8 years to get his wife, my father and my aunt, here. They got here in the early 20s. I could never figure out why it took so long. My aunt always thought it had to do with not being able to get tickets. I always felt there was more to it than that.