SS President Lincoln Prepaid Passage Contract - 13 January 1912

 

Receipt for the Purchase of a Steamship Ticket and Passage From Hamburg to New York via the SS President Lincoln of the Hamburg America Line With Inland Passage to Mcfreesport, Pennsylvania Dated 13 January 1913.

Receipt for the Purchase of a Steamship Ticket and Passage From Hamburg to New York via the SS President Lincoln of the Hamburg America Line With Inland Passage to Mcfreesport, Pennsylvania Dated 13 January 1913. GGA Image ID # 1d596ad0bd

 

Prepaid Passage Contract Summary

  • Date of Purchase / Voyage: 13 January 1912
  • Steamship Line: Hamburg America Line
  • Steamship: SS President Lincoln
  • Route: Hamburg to McKeesport, PA via New York
  • Ticket Type: Prepaid Passage Contract
  • Voyage Class: Steerage
  • Name on Contract: Matthäus Florek
  • Etnicity of Passenger(s): German
  • Contract Terms: Transcribed
  • Cost of Ticket: $53.00 / $1,460.00 USD in 2020

 

Prepaid Passage Contract Details

This Receipt Must Be Kept By The Purchaser.

Purchaser's Receipt For Steerage Prepaid Passage Contract | No. S. P. T. 251871

Hamburg America Line

Express Service. Regular Service.

Emil L. Boas, General Manager

New York, Philadelphia, Chicago And St. Louis.

Received from Mr. Jan Florek (Note 1) subject to conditions as printed on back of this receipt, and also to the rules and conditions of the carriers, over whose lines the passengers are forwarded, the sum of Fifty-Three and no/100 Dollars for STEERAGE passage of Matthäus Florek in all, One Adult, From Hamburg to McKeesport, PA.

Agency at McKeesport, PA | Date Jan 13, 1912

Service

/s/ Kris Aug. Vick. Lype

Roth, Firestone & Co. Agency

Read the Terms of Passage Contract on Back

 

Terms and Conditions Governing This Contract

SS President Lincoln Steerage Prepaid Passage Contract Terms and Conditions, 13 January 1912.

SS President Lincoln Steerage Prepaid Passage Contract Terms and Conditions, 13 January 1912. GGA Image ID # 1fa09182df

The following terms are agreed to by the Purchaser of this Prepaid Passage and by the Passenger, as part of this Contract:

  1. Each adult passenger is allowed fifteen cubic feet of baggage free of charge, in consideration of which, and of the reduced price stipulated in phis contract, the passenger agrees not to hold the Company liable for any loss or damage thereto in any sum, except where the same shall have occurred tram the negligence of the Company or its servants, in which case the liability the Company shall be limited to $?5.00, which hereby agreed to be the value of said baggage, unless a. bill of lading or receipt be signed therefor, specifying the articles and their values. Money, jewelry, and all other valuables are entirely at the passenger's risk, unless, upon written notice of the true character and value thereof when placed in the company's charge, a bill of lading or receipt be served therefor. It is also agreed that the passenger shall mark his baggage properly and provide it with his name and address.
  2. The steamer may tow and assist vessels in all situations, put back or into any port, and deviate from the direct and customary course. If the steamer shall be prevented by any cause from sailing or proceeding in the ordinary course, the passenger may, at the ship owner's, expense, be forwarded to point of destination by any other vessel. Neither the ship, the shipowner nor the agent is responsible for loss of or injury to the passenger arising from the act of God, public enemies, fire, perils of the sea or river, or restraints of princes, rulers and peoples. Neither the ship, the shipowner nor the agent is responsible beyond the amount of $100.00 for loss of or injury to the passenger's person arising from steam, latent defects in the steamer, her machinery, gear or fittings, ropers, thieves, barratry, default or negligence of the shipowner's servants, whether on board the steamer or not, or frays the negligence in navigation of any other vessel.
  3. No suit shall be maintained ,against the Company for loss of, or injury to, baggage, unless written notice of the claim, with full particulars thereof, be delivered to the Company, at its office within five days after steamer's landing at port of arrival; nor for any injury to the person, unless claim be made in like nner within thirty days after such landing.
  4. The responsibility of this Company under this contract shall continue only while the passenger and his baggage are on board the Company's trail; Atlantic steamer or its steam tenders. Booking in connecting routes is for the passenger's convenience only, and carriage thereon is subject to the conditions implied by each connecting railway or other transportation company and to the laws of the country through which they pairs.
  5. In case of any emergency, the Hamburg America Line has the right to refund part or the entire amount of this passage to the person or persons for whom this passage was paid; and in case of such refund, the purchaser or his representative waives all claims legally or otherwise, against said Hamburg America Line, for this part or entire amount so refunded.
    If children are older than represented on this certificate or should the passenger require more tickets than have been paid for, the passengers must pay for the additional tickets; if passengers have no money to pay the additional fares, the Hamburg America Line has the right to pay them the fare and expenses for their voyage back to the point from which they started, this amount to be charged to the purchaser of the certificate.
  6. This contract becomes void one year after date of issue and is valid only for the persons named over-leaf, and for the steamer on which room has been reserved in advance.
    Passengers arriving at the port of embarkation without having reserved room in advance, do so at their own risk and responsibility. If passengers do not travel by the steamer on which room has been reserved and without notifying the Company to this effect in time (8 days), this passage contract becomes void and the amount paid for same is forfeited.
  7. Passengers receive their meals free during ocean passage only. In case of sickness aboard the Company's steamer, passengers are entitled to medical attendance and medicines, furnished by the Company through the ship's surgeon, free of charge; but the Company does not assume any responsibility for consequences of medical or surgical treatment.
  8. According to the Immigration Laws of the United States, all aliens, who are idiots, or insane, or paupers, or persons likely to become a public charge, or suffering froth a loathsome or dangerous contagious disease, or have been convicted of a felony or other infamous crime or misdemeanor involving moral turpitude, or polygamists, or are coming under contract to perform labor in the United States, will be excluded 'from admission into the United States, and if returned, the purchaser of this prepaid passage contract agrees herewith to pay for the passage back and expenses.
  9. The person issuing this prepaid passage contract is the agent of the Company solely for the sale thereof, and not authorized to receive any baggage or property, make any agreement as to its transportation or receive any compensation therefor. Money paid for railroad transportation is received only as the passenger's agent, and the Company shall not receive, or be deemed to receive, any passenger, baggage or property into its charge or become responsible therefor, until arrival at its own wharves.
  10. This contract shall be construed, and the rights of the parties thereunder determined, according to the laws of the State of New York.
  11. Unused passage tickets will be refunded, less the usual agent's commission and a cancellation fee of ten per cent., upon surrender of the purchaser's receipt and after cancellation on the books of the General Office in Hamburg.

EMIL L. BOAS, General Manager.

 

Record of Passage to America under this Contract

  • Name: Matthäus Florek
  • Departure Date: 4 April 1912
  • Estimated Birth Year: about 1891
  • Age Year: 21
  • Gender: männlich (Male)
  • Marital Status: ledig (Single)
  • Residence: Galenczy
  • Ethnicity/Nationality: Russland (Russian)
  • Occupation: Landmann, Tagelöhner (farmer, day labourer)
  • Ship Name: President Lincoln
  • Shipping Line: Hamburg-Amerika Linie (Hamburg-Amerikanische Packetfahrt-Actien-Gesellschaft)
  • Ship Type: Dampfschiff (Steamship)
  • Accommodation: Zwischendeck (Steerage)
  • Ship Flag: Deutschland (Germany)
  • Port of Departure: Hamburg
  • Port of Arrival: Cuxhaven; Boulogne-sur-Mer; Southampton; New York
  • Volume: 373-7 I, VIII A 1 Band 244
  • Page: 665
  • Microfilm Roll Number: K_1822
  • Source Citation: Staatsarchive Hamburg; Volume: 373-7 I, VIII A 1 Band 244; Seite: 665; Mikrofilm Number: K_1822.

 

Information about Purchaser of Steerage Passage

(Note 1)

  • Name: Jan Florek
  • Departure Date: 1 February 1908
  • Estimated Birth Year: about 1890
  • Age Year: 18
  • Gender: männlich (Male)
  • Marital Status: ledig (Single)
  • Residence: Grebow
  • Ethnicity/Nationality: Galizien (Galician)
  • Occupation: Maurer, Geselle (Mason, journeyman)
  • Ship Name: Albano
  • Shipping Line: Hamburg-Amerika Linie (Hamburg-Amerikanische Packetfahrt-Actien-Gesellschaft)
  • Ship Type: Dampfschiff (Steamship)
  • Accommodation: Zwischendeck (Between Deck/Steerage)
  • Ship Flag: Deutschland (Germany)
  • Port of Departure: Hamburg
  • Port of Arrival: New York
  • Volume: 373-7 I, VIII A 1 Band 199
  • Page: 130
  • Microfilm Roll Number: K_1803
  • Source Citation: Staatsarchive Hamburg; Volume: 373-7 I, VIII A 1 Band 199; Seite: 130; Mikrofilm Number: K_1803.

 

Relative Cost of Passage Ticket in Today's Currency Value

In 2020, the relative values of $53.00 from 1912 ranges from $1,040.00 to $29,300.00.

simple Purchasing Power Calculator would say the relative value is $1,460.00. This answer is obtained by multiplying $53 by the percentage increase in the CPI from 1912 to 2020.

This may not be the best answer.

The best measure of the relative value over time depends on if you are interested in comparing the cost or value of a Commodity, Income or Wealth, or a Project.

If you want to compare the value of a $53.00 Commodity in 1912 there are four choices. In 2020 the relative:

  • real price of that commodity is $1,460.00
  • real value in consumption of that commodity is $2,980.00
  • labor value of that commodity is $7,280.00 (using the unskilled wage) or $9,220.00 (using production worker compensation)
  • income value of that commodity is $8,470.00
  • economic share of that commodity is $29,300.00

If you want to compare the value of a $53.00 Income or Wealth , in 1912 there are five choices. In 2020 the relative:

  • real wage or real wealth value of that income or wealth is $1,460.00
  • household purchasing power value of that income or wealth is $2,980.00
  • relative labor earnings of that commodity are $7,280.00 (using the unskilled wage) or $9,220.00 (using production worker compensation)
  • relative income value of that income or wealth is $8,470.00
  • relative output value of that income or wealth is $29,300.00

If you want to compare the value of a $53.00 Project in 1912 there are four choices. In 2020 the relative:

  • real cost of that project is $1,040.00
  • household cost of that project is $2,980.00
  • labor cost of that project is $7,280.00 (using the unskilled wage) or $9,220.00 (using production worker compensation)
  • relative cost of that project is $8,470.00
  • economy cost of that project is $29,300.00

Source: www.measuringworth.com Samuel H. Williamson, "Seven Ways to Compute the Relative Value of a U.S. Dollar Amount, 1790 to present," MeasuringWorth, 2022.

 

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