Immigration in the 1900's

Ships manifest - Josef Jilg Arrived June 13th 1904 Single white male from Austria. $11.48 in his pocket
@ladyljs (1303)
United States
January 20, 2008 5:11pm CST
My twins are doing a social studies project on immigration. They are working on their Great Great Grandfather Jilg who left Wildenshwert to go to Hamburg and board the Hamburg Amerika ship to America in 1904. THe kids are looking for any information that would personalize their project:Why would someone want to leave that area in 1904, were the economic problems etc. The immigrant arrived at Ellis Island with $11.48 as per the ships manifest. What would be the dollar value of that today?What was it like on in steerage? How much did he have to pay for his ticket to America?Any additional information will not only help their project but give them some insight into their heritage. Thanks for your help!
1 response
raydene
@raydene (9871)
• United States
21 Jan 08
Well a loaf of bread cost less then a nickle in 1904.For a quarter you could get either a gallon of milk or a pound of butter.A gallon of fuel or gas was about a nickle...Less then $3000 would buy you a brand new house on a good lot.. xoxoxoxo