Prices and Wages by Decade: 1900-1909
Links to government documents and primary sources listing retail prices for products and services, as well as wages for common occupations.
Wages in the United States, 1900-1909
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COST OF LIVING and CONSUMER EXPENDITURES
PRICES in FOREIGN COUNTRIES
WAGES -- GENERAL SOURCES (all occupations and worker types)
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Weekly earnings of men, women and children in 1905Lists average earnings for men, women and children at bottom of page 11. Source: U.S. Census of Manufactures, 1905.
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Union wage scales and hours of labor, 1907-1912Table II shows union scale of wages and hours of labor in each trade, by cities, for each year from 1907-1912. The table showing wages by occupation extends from page 68-121, so be sure to scroll forward or use the magnifying glass tool to find a particular word in the text. The tables showing wages for jobs by city starts on page 16, with Atlanta, GA.
Wages by race, 1900-1909
- African-Americans - Wages by occupation, 1890-1920
Use the table of contents to find the chapter on the type of job, then use the "Jump to..." box to get to that page in the volume. This book, The Negro Wage Earner cites government wage data. Note that the U. S. Census report Negroes in the United States (1904) shows the most common occupations for Negroes in 1890 and 1900.
...and by location:
- Negro wages in New Jersey by occupation, 1902
Negro wages were published in the 26th annual report by the New Jersey Bureau of Statistics of Labor and Industries, pp. 185-187. - Negro artisan wages in Memphis TN, 1902
Shows daily wages for workers in building trades, for seamstresses, milliners and more. Compares to wages earned by whites. Source: Social conditions: a study in Memphis... (1902) - African-Americans - Wages by occupation in Columbia, MO, 1904
Tables show wages for males and females by occupation. Source: The Negroes of Columbia, Missouri a Missouri University thesis dated 1904.
Women's wages, 1900-1909
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Weekly earnings of men, women and children in 1905Lists average earnings for men, women and children at bottom of page 11. Source: U.S. Census of Manufactures, 1905.
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Women and children's wages in early 1900sSee women's and children's wages and working conditions discussed in a 19-volume report from the U.S. Department of Commerce and Labor, published 1910-1913:
Working from home in Pennsylvania, 1908. Most of these women rolling cigars earned less than $8/ week
- Vol. 1: Cotton textile industry
- Vol. 2: Men's ready made clothing
- Vol. 3: Glass industry
- Vol. 4: Silk industry
- Vol. 5: Wage-earning women in stores and factories
- Vol. 9: History of women in industry in the United States
- Vol. 10: History of women in trade unions
- Vol. 11: Women in the metal trades
- Vol. 12: Women in laundries
- Vol. 16: Family budgets of typical cotton-mill workers
- Vol. 18: Employment of women and children in selected industries (including cigar making)
- Vol. 19: Labor laws and factory conditions
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Nurses salaries by state, 1909Includes a directory of organizations that employ visiting nurses, along with salaries paid. Use the table of contents to find a state. Source: Visiting nursing in the United States; containing a directory of the organizations employing trained visiting nurses (1909).
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Teacher wages by state and sex, 1894-1902Taken from the U.S. Commissioner of Education Report for 1902. Starting on page LXXXI, the average monthly wages of teachers in 1902 are listed.
Wages by occupation (A-Z), 1900 to 1909
- Average pay in one hundred common occupations, 1900
Shows earnings of surgeons, lawyers, artists, engineers, bankers, telegraphers, etc. Also lists earnings of tradesmen, artisans and some types of unskilled laborers (source), p. 1047.
- Building and construction wages, 1890-1903
Provides tables that compare wage rates in U.S., Great Britain, Germany, France and Belgium for specific occupations, including blacksmith, boiler makers, bricklayers, carpenters, compositors, hod carriers, iron molders, general laborers, machinists, house painters, plumbers, stone cutters, and stone masons. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Bulletin #53, pp 724-728. - Building and construction wages by occupation and city, 1902-1910
Wages in 1902, 1904, 1907, 1908, 1909 and 1910 for bricklayers, stone masons, structural-iron setters, ornamental-iron setters, plasterers, tile setters, plumbers, steam fitters, gas fitters, carpenters, painters, stonecutters, electricians, sheet-metal workers, marble setters and cement finishers in each of 25 major American cities. - Farm labor wages, 1866-1909
Browse this book's table of contents for wage rates for all states and the US as a whole, including some rates from prior to 1866. - Farm laborers, 1818-1948
Lists average monthly earnings with board, by geographic divisions. Data for years: 1818, 1826, 1830, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1890, 1909, 1919, 1929, 1940, 1948. Read the explanation and historical context for this table. - Farm hands and ranch hands - Wages, 1900-1910
Members of the agricultural industry from select states report average wages (with and without board) per month at their farms, ranches, or dairies for the years 1900-1910.
- Government - Congressional salaries, 1789-present
Historical chart shows salaries of members of the U.S. Congress, along with dates of enactment and statutory authority for each pay increase. - Iron and steel industry workers, 1907-1924
Earnings per hour, customary hours of labor, and actual hours and earnings in one pay period in 1924 are presented in this report for wage earners in ten departments of the iron and steel industry in the United States. Summary figures for preceding years are also shown for each department. - Iron and steel industry -- Wages and hours, 1912
Wages and hours of labor for workers in the steel industry, broken up by location and occupation. Source: U. S. Congressional Serial Set Vol. No. 6096. - Lumber, millwork, and furniture industries, 1907-1912
Wages and hours of labor in lumber manufacturing for the years 1907 to 1912, including information from 1890 to 1912. Source: U.S. BLS Bulletin no. 129. - Military pay for enlisted men
Many military job titles are listed separately such as electrician, band leader, sergeant major, etc. Pay tables extend from pages 775-782. Source: Soldiers' adjusted compensation: hearings ... Published 1920.
- Nurses salaries by state, 1909
Includes a directory of organizations that employ visiting nurses, along with salaries paid. Use the table of contents to find a state. Source: Visiting nursing in the United States... by Y. Waters, (1909). - Railway employee wages, 1896-1907
Lists average daily compensation for station agents, conductors, telegraph operators, enginemen, firemen, track men, switch tenders, crossing tenders, machinists, carpenters and more; as shown in the 1908 Statistical Abstract (source). For further detail on RR wages around the year 1900, see this additional congressional report. - Railroad cars, building and repair - 1890 to 1912
Shows wages per hour and hours of work per week for the years 1907 to 1912, with breakouts by state. Includes a comparison from 1890 to 1912. Source: U.S. BLS Bulletin no. 137
- Street railways - Employee wages by town, 1905
Shows hours, wages and policies for sick leave. Source: 1905 Yearbook of the Amalgamated Association of Street and Electric Railway Employees of America, pp. 7-23. - Teacher wages by state and sex, 1894-1902
Taken from the U.S. Commissioner of Education Report for 1902. Starting on page LXXXI, the average monthly wages of teachers in 1902 are listed.
Manufacturing wages, 1900-1909
WAGES in MANUFACTURING, 1900s -- General sources
See tabs above for specific industries
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Wages in manufacturing industries, ca. 1900This link leads to the table of contents for Employees and Wages, a report associated with the 1900 U.S. Census.
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Manufacturing job earnings, 1905Source: Earnings of wage-earners, a report associated with the 1905 Census of Manufactures.
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Manufacturing industries - Wages and hours, 1890-1907Source: U. S. Bureau of Labor Bulletin, no. 77, Volume XVII (July 1908).
WAGES in CLOTHING MANUFACTURING, 1900s
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Clothing (men's) manufacturing - Wages, 1911 to 1924Tells wages for the years 1911 to 1914, 1919, and 1922. The wage data for this bulletin are from establishments engaged in making men’s outer garments—coats, pants, vests, and over-coats—for the trade, or what is commonly known as men’s ready-made clothing. Special-order and merchant-tailor establishments are not included.
WAGES in TEXTILE MANUFACTURING, 1900s
See tabs above for additional industries
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Wages in cotton, woolen, and silk industries, 1890-1912These workers engaged in spinning, weaving, printing, dyeing and otherwise performing tasks for the manufacture of fabrics. Shows hourly wages and typical hours per week.
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Cotton textile industry - Child labor wages by sex, 1907-1908Source: Report on condition of woman and child wage earners in the United States, vol. 1.
Wages in selected states, 1900-1909
WAGES in CALIFORNIA, 1900s
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California teacher salaries at elementary schools, 1907Annual salary data is broken out by county.
WAGES in CONNECTICUT, 1900s
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Connecticut (New Haven) city employee salaries, 1873-1921This series of Municipal Year Books from New Haven, Connecticut, show salaries for police, firemen, school teachers, principals, building inspectors, clerks and other jobs working for city government.
WAGES in HAWAII, 1900s
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Hawaii - Wages and hours by occupation and employee nationality, 1905Shows average pay by type of establishment, occupation and race/nationality. This source also provides microdata on each individual employee in Table I. Source: U.S. BLS Bulletin no. 66, Volume XIII. Published September 1906.
WAGES in MICHIGAN, 1900s
See tabs above for additional states
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Grand Rapids, MI - Furniture manufacturing workers, 1900 & 1905Rates of pay (per day) for engineers, foremen, cabinet makers, cabinetmakers' helpers, carvers, finishers, machine hands, unskilled laborers, and boys at the Grand Rapids Chair Company. Average earnings of pieceworkers are reported on the next page.
WAGES in MISSOURI, 1900s
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Missouri - Union wages, 1906Table #2 shows hours and pay for unions. Arranged by town. Page backward to Table #1 to see the trade or occupation for each of these unions. For example you can see that musicians in Sedalia MO earned $1.00 per hour for a maximum 10-hour day of work.
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Missouri - Employee wages and business owner salaries, 1906Over 500 pages of data! See pages 143-690, covers all sorts of manufacturing, publishing, tailoring and more. Broken out by demographics of worker, by county, by town, by industry and by occupation. Contact us if you need help zeroing in on what you want.
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Farm labor wages in Missouri, 1866-1930Shows average farm labor wage in Missouri with and without board, during harvest time or at other times. Source: Missouri State Dept of Agriculture.
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St. Louis city employee salaries and wages, 1907This city directory lists individual city employees, their occupations and pay. It does not show salary averages. Tip: enter an occupation in the "Search in this text" box. Source: List of officers and employes of the city of St. Louis.
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Missouri - Mine workers daily wages, 1902Lists wages for sinkers, motormen and machine runners, track layers, timber men, fire bosses, shot-firers, pushers, trip riders, cagers, water bailers, drivers, trappers, blacksmiths, top men, and boys. Source: 16th annual report of the State Coal Mine Inspector (1902).
WAGES in MONTANA, 1900s
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Montana - School teacher wages by sex, 1901Teacher salaries by school district and by county are available in the Montana reports of the Superintendent of Public Instruction. This link leads to the 1902 report showing 1901 data. For more years, go to the Internet Archive full listing for this series.
WAGES in NEW JERSEY, 1900s
See tabs above for additional states
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New Jersery - Average yearly earnings in specific industries, 1900-1908Tables span pages 68-72, each shows a two year period. Industries include artisan's tools, boilers, brewery products, brick and terra cotta, chemical products, cigar and tobacco, electrical appliances, furnaces, ranges, and heaters, glass, jewelry, leather, lamps, machinery, metal goods, oils, paper, pottery, rubber goods, shipbuilding, silk, steel and iron, and woolen and worsteds. Source: Investigation relative to wages and prices of commodities, Vol. 1 (Serial Set 5921).
WAGES in TEXAS, 1900s
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Texas school personnel salaries (white only), 1872-1953Chart shows annual salaries for all school personnel in Texas without breakouts for occupation, years of training, years of experience, etc.
WAGES in VERMONT, 1900s
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Farm labor in Vermont - Wages, 1780s-1937Table 26 shows daily wages for laborers, with board for every year from 1780-1937; the explanation begins on page 43. Source: Vermont Agricultural Experiment Station.
WAGES in WISCONSIN, 1900s
See tabs above for additional states
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Wisconsin - Average yearly earnings per employee in 25 industries, 1900, 1905, 1907Lists wages in the following industries: agricultural implements, artisan's tools, beef and pork packers, boots and shoes, brass and copper, brick and tile, cigars, clothing, cotton and linen, electric and gas supplies, flour and feed, food preparations, hats and caps, iron, leather, lime and cement, lumber, machinery, malt liquors, paper and pulp, sheet metal, ship and boat building, structural iron, and woolen mills. Source: Investigation relative to wages and prices of commodities, Vol. 1 (Serial Set 5921).
International wages by country, 1900-1909
Wages in ARGENTINA, 1900s
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Buenos Aries - Salaries of teachers and government employees, 1900 and 1910Tables show the 1900 and 1910 salaries per year for teachers in public and national schools and for government employees including letter carriers, policemen, and clerks.
Wages in AUSTRALIA, 1900s
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Australia - Minimum Wage in New South Wales, 1908Bulletin of the U.S. Bureau of Labor, No. 80, Volume XVIII. Published January 1909.
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Wages and prices in Australia by province, 1900-1903The British Empire Yearbook lists wages and prices in New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Queensland, Western Australia, and Tasmania.
Wages in AUSTRIA, 1900s
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Austria - Wages and Hours, 1906 and 1907Bulletin of the United States Dept of Labor, No. 88, Volume XX. Published May 1910.
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Vienna - Salaries of letter carriers and teachers, 1900 and 1908Lists letter carrier salaries (in dollars) according to length of service for 1900 and 1908. Teacher salaries and residence allowances (in kronen) are shown by sex and school type.
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Wages in the Ostrau-Karwin coal-mine district in 1901Includes average gross earning, wage deductions, and net earning of both coal-mine workers and coke workers, average daily wages of farm laborers (broken down by men, women, and young persons), and weekly wages paid in 15 selected other occupations (bakers, blacksmiths, bookbinders, cabinetmakers, carpenters, hatmakers, millers, paper hangers, roofers, saddlers, shoemakers, tailors, tanners, tinners, and watchmakers).
Wages in BELGIUM, 1900s
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Rates of wages in Belgium - June, 1908Reports prevailing rates of wages in the building, engineering, and printing trades in Belgium in June, 1908.
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Wages in the textile industry, 1901Tables show daily wages of textile workers (by sex and industry) in Belgium in 1910.
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Wages in metal-working industries, 1903Rates of wages for employees in the Belgium metal-working industries in 1903 are discussed. Broken down by sex.
Wages in BULGARIA, 1900s
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Daily wages of manufacturing wage-workers, 1904Presents data on daily wages by sex, industry, and age for wage-workers in manufacturing establishments in Bulgaria in 1904.
WAGES on CARIBBEAN ISLANDS, 1900s
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Wages on British Caribbean islands, 1900-1903Wages in Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda, Grenada, Jamaica, Leeward Islands, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Trinidad & Tobago, and Turks & Caicos. Source: British Empire Yearbook, 1903.
Wages in CANADA, 1900s
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Ottawa wages by occupation, 1897 and 1907Shows wages and hours for dozens of occupations, including job titles in the agriculture, building and timber industries; as well as bartenders, restaurant workers, domestic servants, policemen, bookbinders, and more. Source: U.S. Consular report titled Cost of Living in Canada.
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Montreal - Wages by occupation, 1900Source: British Empire Yearbook, 1903, p. 614.
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Farm help wages in Canadian provinces by sex, 1909Source: Canada Year Book, 1909, p. xxv.
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Teacher salaries by Canadian province, 1901-1902Lists average salaries for male and female teachers. Source: U.S. Commissioner of Education report for 1902, p. 426.
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Railways, steam - Average salaries by occupation in Canada, 1907-1909Source: Canada Year Book, 1909, p. 341.
Wages in FINLAND, 1900s
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Manufacturing Wages in Tobacco, Textile and Bakery/Confectionary ProductsPresents wage data for Finnish employees in the tobacco industry (1901), textile industry (1902), and bakery and confectionary products (1904).
WAGES in FRANCE, 1900s
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Rates of wages in France - October, 1905Presents wage data across four industries in France for October, 1905: building trades, engineering, printing, and municipal employment.
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Calais - Wages in lace factories, 1908Table shows average weekly wages received by workers in francs and dollars. Source: Serial Set Volume 5505.
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Salaries and wages of certain French government employees - 1900 and 1909Reports the 1900 and 1909 salaries (in dollars) of
- Employees in government match and tobacco factories
- Professors and teachers in primary and secondary government schools
- Employees of the department of posts and telegraphs
- Senators and deputies of the French Parliament
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Havre - Salaries of officials and civil servants, 1900 and 1910Table shows salaries (in dollars) of officials and civil servants in Havre, France for 1900 and 1910. Source: Investigation relative to wages and prices of commodities Vol. 3, page 1302.
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Daily wages in Paris and other cities, 1901Table shows comparative wages of various occupations in 1896 and 1901 in Paris and other cities of France.
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Furniture industry wages, 1903This two-page table shows average daily wages of employees in the French furniture industry for the year 1903, broken down by age groups, occupations, and place of training.
Wages in GERMANY, 1900s
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Rates of wages in Germany - October, 1905This report presents data collected during an inquiry into the rates of wages prevailing in four industries (building trades, engineering, painting, and municipal employment) in Germany in October, 1905.
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Germany - Wages and hours of labor in woodworking industries, 1906Shows hours, pay and average weekly earnings of carpenters, wheelwrights, toy makers, makers of musical instruments, wooden shoes, toys, and more. Source: Bulletin of the United States Bureau of Labor, No. 88, published May 1910.
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Germany - Wage trends, 1898 to 1907Source: Bulletin of the United States Bureau of Labor, no. 88, published May 1910.
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Germany - Coal mining wages by district, 1886-1907Table shows annual wag per head and wage per shift for coal miners in a number of German districts. Text tables on the following page detail daily and weekly wages by job class in three of the districts.
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Berlin - Salaries and wages of officials and teachers, 1900 and 1910Tables show the minimum and maximum 1900 and 1910 salaries of post-office officials, police officials, fire service employees, and teachers at secondary and primary schools. Also shows per diem wages of the street cleaning and sprinkling service.
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Frankfort on the Main - Teachers salaries in 1900 and 1909Tables show salaries paid teachers (inclusive of rent allowances) in the public schools of Frankfort on the Main in 1900 and 1909 based on years of service. Includes municipal teachers, unmarried teachers, female teachers, principals, and technical teachers in elementary and intermediary schools, and principals, superior teachers, drawing teachers and gymnastics teachers at higher schools.
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Frankfort on the Main - Salaries of city officials in 1900, 1905, and 1909Table no. 1 (pages 1245-1249) shows 1900 salaries of officials and employees of the city of Frankfort on the Main, while table no. 2 (pages 1250-1259) shows salaries paid in 1905 and 1909.
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Hamburg - Salaries of public officers, 1900 and 1910This three-page table shows maximum and minimum salaries paid (in marks) to various classes of public officials in the state of Hamburg in 1900 and 1910, including police officers, fire brigade, custom-house officers, court officials and judges, teachers in schools, and in the building department.
Wages in IRELAND, 1900s
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Dublin - Salaries of government officials, 1900 and 1910Table compares pay scales of certain government officials in Dublin for 1900 and 1910.
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Dublin - Salaries of school-teachers in 1903, 1908, 1909Tables show salaries of principal and assistant teachers by sex for the years 1909, 1908, and 1903.
WAGES in ITALY, 1900s
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Wages of mine and quarry workers, 1905Tables show average daily wages of Italian mine and quarry workers in 1905 by occupation.
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Milan - Wages of various occupationsDiscussion includes
- average daily wage of bricklayers and their helpers in 1887, 1901, 1907
- piece wages in the printing trade in 1892, 1901, 1907 and daily wages in 1880, 1901, 1907
- baker's wages in 1864, 1884, 1901, 1908
Wages in JAPAN, 1900s
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Salaries of Japanese government officers, 1900 and 1910Comprehensive tables show the salaries per annum (in yen) of Japanese government officers, local government officers at Yokohama, and diplomatic and consular officers.
WAGES in MEXICO, 1900s
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District of Mazatlan - Governmental salaries, 1900The municipal budget of for the District of Mazatlan for 1900 details (in Mexican currency) how much was paid to government employees including secretaries, clerks, treasurers, professors, administrators, physicians, nurses, watchmen, police officers, mayors, commissaries, wardens of jails, janitors, gardeners, and more. Table continues from page 1322 to page 1333.
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Mexico, Mexico - Salaries of government employees in 1900This report lists the salaries per annum of government employees in Mexico City for 1900.
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Guadalajara - Salaries of post-office employees and teachers, 1900This report gives the 1900 salaries of post-office employees and school teachers in Guadalajara.
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Veracruz - Salaries of city employees, 1900Includes the police force, prison officials, firemen, market inspectors, city engineer, horticulturalist, public education, and city council.
WAGES in NEW ZEALAND, 1900s
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New Zealand - Wages by occupation, 1901Source: British Empire Yearbook, p.875. Prices are on the following page.
WAGES in NORWAY, 1900s
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Christiania - Seamstress wages, 1900Data from the census of 1900 on the employment of women as seamstresses in Christiania (later Oslo), Norway, including average weekly and yearly earnings.
WAGES in the PHILIPPINES, 1900s
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Philippines - Prices of Commodities and Rates of Wages in ManilaSource: Bulletin of the U.S. Department of Labor, No. 32, Volume VI. Published January 1901.
WAGES in POLAND, 1900s
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Warsaw - Salaries of government employees for 1900 and 1910Lists salaries paid in connection with the offices of the governor-general, the chief of police and the president of Warsaw and for letter carriers in 1900 and 1910.
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Warsaw - Salaries of teachers in the public schools, 1900 and 1910In Investigation relative to wages and prices of commodities Vol. 3, p.1281.
Wages in RUSSIA, 1900s
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St. Petersburg - Salaries of letter carriers and teachers, 1900 and 1910This table shows the salaries (in dollars) of letter carriers and teachers at St. Petersburg in 1900 and 1910.
Wages in SPAIN, 1900s
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Spain - Wages in 1827, 1868 and 1902Tells wages in pesetas. Published in Great Britain by the Historical Section of the Foreign Office; see title page.
WAGES in the UNITED KINGDOM, 1900s
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Great Britain - Building and Woodworking Trades, Earnings and Hours of LaborBulletin of the United States Dept of Labor, No. 87, Volume XX. Published March 1910.
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Great Britain - Clothing Industries, Earnings and Hours of LaborBulletin of the United States Dept of Labor, No. 86, Volume XX. Published January 1910.
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Great Britain - Textile Industries, Earnings and Hours of LaborBulletin of the United States Dept of Labor, No. 83, Volume XIX. Published July 1909.
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United Kingdom - Agricultural laborers' earnings, 1902-1903Detailed look at wages and earnings for various types of agricultural work in England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland. Some tables report wages back to the 1850s. Also shows rents for cottages. Source: UK government publication, Earnings of agricultural labourers / 2d report by Mr. Wilson Fox on the wages, earnings and conditions of employment of agricultural labourers.....
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United Kingdom - Wages by occupation, 1893-1913Wages reported in UK government documents.
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Government worker salaries in Great Britain, 1900 and 1910Tables in this report show the 1900 and 1910 salaries (in dollars) of
- British government employees in the House of Lords, House of Commons, Board of Agriculture and Fisheries, Charity Commissioners, Colonial Office, Board of Customs and Excise, Board of Education, Exchequer and Audit Department, General Register Office, Foreign Office, Government Laboratories, Home Office, India Office, Public Record Office, Inland Revenue, Local Government Board, Patent Office, General Post-Office, Board of Trade, Treasury, and War Office
- Letter carriers in London
- Head masters and head mistresses in public schools
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Birmingham - Wages in the post-office service and for teachers - 1900 and 1910This report contains tables showing the scale of wages (minimum and maximum) of Birmingham post-office service employees by rank and the salaries of teachers for the years 1900 and 1910.
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Liverpool - Salaries of post-office employees and teachersTables show salaries of post office employees by class in Liverpool and Birkenhead in 1910 (which were the same as those for 1900) and maximum and minimum salaries of teacher by rank, class, and gender for 1900, 1905, and 1910.
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London - Wages paid to various trades, 1909Lists scales of wages recognized in 1909 by trade unions for various trades in London.
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Labor wages in agricultural districts near London, 1909Tells average weekly wages of common laborers, hostlers, shepherds, unskilled labor, and mechanical workers in Kent and Surrey counties.
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Manchester - Teacher salaries, 1900 and 1910This section includes tables showing salaries paid to teachers and assistant teachers in the Manchester public schools in 1900 and 1910. It also discusses the additional "cents per unit" head teachers receive based on number of scholars and the earnings of pupil teachers
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Manchester - Salaries of government officials, 1900 and 1910Tables show salaries paid to post-office and other government officials in Manchester in 1900 and 1910. Supplemental tables show salaries of officials employed at the Manchester custom-house and the mercantile marine office at Salford.
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Scotland - Jute industry wages, 1908Table shows range of weekly wages for men and boys and women and girls by job performed.
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Glasgow, Scotland - Salaries of government employees, 1900 and 1910In Investigation relative to wages and prices of commodities, Vol. 3.
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Glasgow, Scotland - Salaries of head masters, 1900 and 1910Salaries of head masters and head mistresses in Glasgow public schools for 1900 and 1910 are given.
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Wages around the world for common occupations, 1900-1907Lists wages in dollars for many common occupations (blacksmiths, carpenters, plumbers, bricklayers, machinists, book and newspaper printers, and postal employees) for selected cities in the US, Canada, England, Scotland, Ireland, Germany, Italy, Bulgaria, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand. Source: Investigation relative to wages and prices of commodities, Vol. I, a publication of the U.S. Congress. See tables on pages 74-87.
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European countries - Wages and prices, 1900 and 1910Consular reports show wages and salaries by job title for countries including Germany, Great Britain, Ireland, France, Japan, Belgium, Spain and more.
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British Empire - Prices and wages, 1900-1903The British Empire Yearbook has a chapter on each colony and possession, with prices and wages listed in British currency. Includes Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Caribbean islands and more.
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Cotton manufacture wages in Germany, Austria, Hungary, and Switzerland - 1907Reports describe the cotton textile industries, including workers' wages, in Germany, Austria, Hungary, and Switzerland.
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Wages of wool workers in various countries -1908This 1909 report on the woolen and worsted trade in Italy, France and England includes tables showing the average weekly wages in the three countries as well as details on wages in Yorkshire, Great Britain, including average weekly wages at five mills in the city of Bradford and average wages of women weavers. Source: Serial Set Volume 5505.
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Machine tool trade - Earnings in European countries, 1908This report shows earnings at various European machine-tool plants in the first nine months of 1908. Click more below to see full list of plants visited.
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Europe - Woorking class wages and hours in industrial cities, 1905-1908This report contains rates of wages and hours of labor of the working classes in major European industrial cities in 1905 to 1908. Counties include England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales, Germany, France, and Belgium.
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Wages in Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Finland, France, Italy, Norway, SwedenThis digest cites and summarizes statistical publications from the 1900s that dealt with wages and hours of labor from the countries listed. Pertinent tables are included. Source: Serial Set Volume 5645.
Prices in the U.S., 1900-1909
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Retail prices of food, nationwide average - 1901Average nationwide price per pound, quart, dozen, etc. of each of the principle food items (meat, eggs, butter, cheese, coffee, tea, potatoes, etc.)
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Retail food prices by city, 1890-1903This table (pages 664-845) has prices listed by state and city for each year from 1890-1903. Dried apples, beans, bread, butter, cheese, coffee, corn meal, eggs, flour, lard, fresh milk, molasses, potatoes, prunes, rice, sugar, tea, vinegar. Meats: beef for roasts and stews, steaks, salt beef, veal, chicken, mutton and lamb, pork, bacon, ham, fresh fish, salt fish.
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Retail food prices by city, 1904-1905Source: U.S. BLS Bulletin, No. 65, vol. 13.
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Retail prices of food by city, 1906-1907Source: U.S. BLS Bulletin, no. 77, volume 17.
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Average retail food prices reported annually from 1890-1970This one-page table shows the average retail prices for bread, milk, eggs, meats, fruits, vegetables, coffee, beans, sugar, margarine, etc. each year from 1890-1970. Data collection took place in about 30-60 U.S. cities. Jump to page 193 of this resource for an explanation of the historical table and how data was collected.
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Beef prices in 50 U.S. cities, 1909This multi-page table shows retail prices (in cents per pound) of different cuts of beef in 50 U.S. cities and towns for October, 1909. Source: Investigation relative to wages and prices of commodities Vol. 3, pages 1984-1993.
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Food prices in Hawaii, 1890-1910Lists prices of food, average wages of Hawaiians, and consumer expenditures. Source: 4th Report of the Commissioner of Labor for Hawaii, published 1910.
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Restaurant prices - New York City area, 1900-1909Click "more..." for direct links to menus.
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Restaurant prices - US *except* New York, 1900-1909Click "more..." for direct links to menus.
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Groceries from Macy's Catalog, 1908Variety of baking goods, canned goods, alcohols, wines and beers. pp. 384-393.
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Prices of articles bought by farmers, 1909Shows how much U.S. farmers paid for farm tools, implements and supplies, work gloves, shirts and shoes, shotguns, tobacco, wagons, building materials such as nails and shingles, and household items such as dishes and fruit jars, washtubs and buckets. Source: US Dept of Agriculture Yearbook (1923), Table 679.
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Prices of wagons, farm implements, machinery and hand tools - 1900Shows prices of carriages, buggies, surreys, farm implements such as plows and cultivators, carts, engines, tools, equipment and supplies for the year 1900. Tables extend from page 14-28 in this U.S. Dept of Agriculture report.
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Faming implements and supplies, 1900-1910Tables of prices paid for farming implements and supplies by members of the agricultural industry from include IL, ND, SC and Texas can be found on pages 1094-1117 of this source.
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Illustrated farm implement catalog,- 1900Well-illustrated catalog shows each product for sale. Includes plows, cultivators, planters and harrows. Source: B.F. Avery & Sons catalog.
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Farming tools and household items - Costs in Utah, 1900See the cost of farm wagons, mowers, horse shoes, clothing, boots, lumber, coal oil and more in "Cost of living up," Salt Lake Herald newspaper, March 29, 1900, p. 5, c. 3.
MAIL ORDER MERCHANDISE
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Macy's mail order catalog, 1908Use the table of contents to find a page number for a desired item, then enter it in the "jump to" box. Or click "More..." for direct links to sections.
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Macy's 1906 Christmas Gifts CatalogJewelry, watches, handkerchiefs, books, stationery, desk sets, sporting goods including guns, children's toys, dolls, dishes, tea sets, clocks, household linens, cigars, slippers, smoking jackets, walking canes, perfume, comb and brush sets, ladies handbags, wallets, gloves, razor sets, opera glasses, pocketknives, ladies collars, etc.
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The Big Store in Traverse City, Michigan - Catalog, 1908Shows prices of mail order clothing for women, men, boys, shoes, furniture, refrigerators and heaters, stoves, household items, rugs, paper, books and school supplies, tools, farm implements and more.
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Women's and girl's clothing, mail order - 1908"New York Fashions," the catalog of the National Cloak & Suit Company, shows ready-made clothing and made-to-order garments for women, girls and infants.
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Clothing for women and girls, Winter catalogue 1909-1910Chicago retailer (Chas. S. Stevens & Bros.) mail order catalog with prices.
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Clothing for automobile travel - Catalog, 1908Saks catalog shows prices for women's and men's garments designed for traveling in automobiles, including goggles, gloves and other supplies. See also an earlier edition showing clothing for 1905.
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New book prices, 1872-1922Each issue of the serial publication Publishers' Weekly shows prices of newly published books, music, and periodicals in both the United States and abroad.
Click 'more...' below for issues from 1900-1909.
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Housing and rents - Selected eastern U.S. cities, 1909Data collected by the British Board of Trade and reported in a U.S. Department of Labor report. Compares rents in 28 large eastern U.S. cities to that of England and Wales.
HOME PLANS and COSTS
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Luxury home plan catalog with estimated costs to build - 1901This catalog shows floor plans for mostly upper class homes, depictions of completed homes, and the estimated cost to have the homes built. Some modest homes can be found near the end, such as this one story colonial cottage for $2000-2200. The cost of the plans themselves are also included. This is not a government document.
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Home plans with estimated costs to build (Hodgson's), 1904Source: Low Cost American Homes, with labor costs based on the Chicago market. See also the edition for 1905.
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Home plans with estimated costs to build (Barber's) - 1905Includes interior photos as well as floor plans.
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Home plans with estimated costs to build (Payne's) - 1907Shows over 200 pages of designs with drawings, floor plans and costs to build. Includes an excellent table explaining their cost estimates based on materials and labor.
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Home plans with estimated costs to build (Radford's) - 1908The estimated construction costs in this book of home plans excludes plumbing and heating.
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Sears home plans with estimated costs to build, 1908-1939The Sears Archive site has digitized some pages from their home plan catalogs. Selected entries in their list are clickable. Shows drawing of the home, floor plan, and estimated cost to build.
PRICE of BUILDING MATERIALS
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Prices for building materials in Hawaii, 1898-1910Prices for red brick from California, window glass, nails and lumber (fir).
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Bathroom and kitchen fixtures - Price catalog, 1905Commercial catalog shows prices and images for a range of bathroom sinks (lavatories), tubs, toilets, kitchen sinks and other fixtures, cast iron radiators and more. Some fixtures are intended for public buildings rather than private homes. Source: Nelson blue book on sanitary plumbing appliances.
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Price of lumber by wood type, 1899-1935Tells average annual mill value per 1,000 board feet for 17 kinds of hardwood including oak, elm, hickory, walnut, maple, ash, sycamore, yellow poplar, etc.; and 14 kinds of softwood including redwood, spruce, cedar and several firs and pines. Source: Statistical Abstract of the United States, 1937 edition, table #688.
LAND and FARM PRICES
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Average value of farm land and buildings per acre, 1900Average dollar value per acre for farm land (along with any buildings on the land), broken out by U.S. region. Source: 1930 Census of Agriculture.
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Oklahoma - Price of farm land, 1902Shows price of farm land by county, by the acre. Source: U.S. Department of the Interior report.
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Price of land in Missouri - 1903The book "State of Missouri: An Autobiography" published in 1904 by the State Historical Society describes each county in short chapters, and each of these has a section heading "Land" in which the average price per acre is given, or a typical price one might expect to pay for land that has certain amenities or in advantageous locations. Counties are listed in alphabetical order; use the "Search in this text" box to jump quickly to a certain county.
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Farms for sale or rent in New York state, 1906Book does not list averages, instead lists farms and farmhouses for sale along with amenities and asking price.
HOUSEHOLD UTILITIES
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Household utilities (gas) prices - 1885 to 1907Shows prices by city for illumination and fuel gas in households.
COST of HEALTH CARE, 1900s
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Fees for nursing care - 1909This 1909 New York Charities Committee publication contains a directory of organizations that employ nurses, including the fees or rates they charge for care. Use the table of contents then jump to the page number of a state of interest.
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Patent medicines, 1905"The Great American Fraud," a series of ground-breaking articles printed in Collier's Magazine in late 1905 exposed abuses in production and marketing of patent medicines. This reprint discusses many of the remedies, lists the ingredients, and tells the retail prices. For example, a bottle of Peruna, Birney's Catarrh Cure or Dr. King's Discovery cost $1.00 per bottle.
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Drugs and medicines by mail order, 1908Remedies, tonics and pills for various ailments are listed in the 1908 Macy's catalog on pp. 368-374.
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Drug retail prices, 1902Extensive list shows both retail and wholesale prices for drugs and related products. Source: Pharmaceutical Era, Oct 1902 issue, pp. 81-176. See updated list for 1905.
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Female pills, 1900s"Female pills" were advertised for women's reproductive health, but an off-label use induced miscarriage in pregnant women. Example: DuBois French Female Pills (1904)
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Eyeglasses - Prices, 1908Prices of eyeglasses and spectacles are on p. 285 and images are on p. 286 of the 1908 Macy's Catalog.
PHYSICIANS and DOCTORS' FEES, 1900s
- ILLINOIS, 1909:
Physicians fees for end-of-life settings in Chicago around 1909 are discussed in the chapter The Cost of Dying in book Funeral Management and Costs (1921). This is not a government document. - MARYLAND, 1907:
Fee table shows price ranges for medical and surgical services. Source: Dec 1907 issue of the Maryland Medical Journal. - MICHIGAN, 1907:
The physicians fee chart adopted by the Ionia County Medical Society in 1907 is shown in the May 1908 issue of The Journal of the Michigan State Medical Society. - NORTH CAROLINA, 1909:
Physician fees for the following counties appear on pages 685-725 of the proceedings of the Medical Society of the State of North Carolina's 56th annual meeting: Anson, Beaufort, Catawba, Caldwell, Columbus, Cherokee, Craven, Durham, Lexington, Davie, Winston-Salem, Franklin, Gaston, Harnett, Haywood, Henderson-Polk, Lenoir, Lincoln, Martin, Charlotte, Montgomery, Pitt, Rowan, Rutherford, Sampson, Surry, Scotland, Vance, Wilkes, Wilson, and Yadkin. - TEXAS:
- See fee tables established by the Llano-Mason County Medical Society and the Stephens County Medical Society in the Sep 1905 and Feb 1906 issues of The Texas State Journal of Medicine.
- The charge for a doctor's house call could vary significantly by area and the ability of the family to pay. Yet a rough estimate is quoted from a doctor in Eastland, Texas: [In 1900], "the usual charge for a doctor's visit was, on the average over the country, one dollar. Often a half-dollar was tacked on for night calls, and for mileage in the country it ran $0.50 a mile" (page 34 of source).
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Tombstone costs, 1900Retail price for a tombstone as listed in the Sears Catalog.
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Cost to mail a letter or postcard, 1863-presentChart shows postal rates for mailing a domestic letter. Source: the Historian of the U.S. Postal Service.
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Telephone service rates in selected cities, 1900-1908This data can be gleaned from articles in the American Telephone Journal (not a government document). Examples: Philadelphia 1900 and 1903, San Francisco, Kansas City, Chicago and Los Angeles 1908, Boston 1908, and Michigan, 1908.
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Monthly rates for use of telephones in Missouri in 1908Table shows monthly telephone rates for residences, businesses, and party lines by city and county. Source: Missouri Red Book, 1909.
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Telephone rates in New York City, 1887-1905These flat rates for direct and two-party lines for business and residential customers in New York City were fixed while a metallic circuit system was installed from 1887 to 1894. A message rate schedule was then put into place in 1894, with new rate schedules adopted in 1895 and 1897.
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Telegraph rates from New York City - 1873, 1883 and 1908Table shows the price to send a 10-word message from New York City to 70 major cities in the U.S. and Canada. Source, pp. 24-25.
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Price of a newspaper subscription, 1869-1920Look up by year, then state, then city, then title to find the cost of a newspaper subscription. Source: Rowell's & Ayer's American newspaper directories.
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Buggy and wagon prices, 1909See prices and specifications for horse-drawn buggies and wagons on pages 149-153 of this manufacturer's catalog dated 1909.
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Horse prices at Chicago and Omaha, 1900-1904Shows prices for saddle horses, carriage horse teams and draft horses as well as the smaller draft horses called chunks, trammers and bussers (see explanation of horse types). Source: U.S. Bureau of Animal Husbandry, 1904 Annual Report, p. 558.
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Horses and mules - Average price per head, 1867-1920Chart shows prices for farm animals. Source: USDA Yearbook, 1919 edition, p. 653.
In 1904, saddle horses AUTOMOBILE PRICES
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New car prices, 1904See pictures, specifications and prices of "gasoline carriages" in article titled "Pleasure Automobiles: A List of Those on the American Market," printed in Frank Leslie's Popular Monthly magazine, January 1904, pp. 359-374.
This Ford automobile cost $750 in 1904 -
Motor cars shown by price category with illustrations, 1907This source lists vehicles by type of power (steam, electric or gasoline), place of manufacture and by price category. Click "more" for detailed breakouts...
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Motor car list prices, 1905-1916Reference book for automobile insurers shows the list price for each make/model/year of car and truck sold between 1905-1916, including American made cars and imports such as Mercedes, Benz and Fiat. The explanation section is helpful. See separate sections for gasoline powered cars and electric pleasure vehicles. This book lacks images.
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Used car prices in newspapers, 1904Check classified ad sections in newspapers for a sample of used car prices at any given time and place. Here is one example from Minneapolis in 1904. Use the Chronicling America website to find more.
MOTOR WAGON and COMMERCIAL VEHICLE PRICES
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Commercial vehicle list prices, 1905-1916Tells whether each vehicle was powered by gasoline, steam or electricity. This source was produced for the automotive insurance industry.
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Motor business wagon and commercial truck prices, 1907Illustrated directory published by MoToR, the national monthly magazine of motoring, in 1907.
4-ton Mack truck priced at $4250 in 1907- Gasoline motor business wagons
- costing $1500 or less
- costing $1550-2499
- costing $2500-3999
- costing $4000 or more
- Electric motor business wagons
- costing less than $3000
- costing $3000 or more
- Steam business wagons
GASOLINE PRICES
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Gasoline price, 1900In congressional testimony dated 1900, one gas engine owner reported that he expected to pay 7 or 9 cents a gallon for gasoline, but within a short time, the price had doubled. A corroborating advertisement in the July 19, 1899 issue of Horseless Age stated that gasoline "is available in almost any town at 7 cents a gallon" (see tenth point in this ad).
Gasoline storage tank for private homes, 1901 (Source) -
Gasoline retail price, 1902Article "The Rising price of gasoline" cites the retail price of gasoline as 18¢ to 20¢ per gallon. Source: The Horseless Age, Aug 13, 1902, p. 158.
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Gasoline retail price, April 1906In late April 1906, the price of gasoline for automobiles ranged from 16¢ to 21¢ per gallon. Source: Horseless Age, April 25, 1906, p. 611. col. 3.
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Gasoline retail price, 1907Article suggests that gasoline could be purchased for 20¢ a gallon. Source: Scientific American, Feb 9, 1907, p. 127, c. 3.
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Gasoline - Mileage per gallonThe distance one could travel on a gallon of gasoline depended on the weight of the automobile, the condition of roads, the design of the vehicle itself and other factors. To find mentions of MPG in the historic literature, search for the phrase "miles to the gallon" in HathiTrust's full text search, limiting to the date range desired.
RAILROAD FARES
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Railway passenger fare, 1894-1918Railway ticket prices were calculated on a formula of cents per mile, and from the time period 1894 until World War I they remained fairly constant at 2 cents per mile. See railroad passenger fare overview from 1890s-early 1930s in the section titled "Carrier Price," in the U.S. document "Passenger Traffic Report" on pages 38-39.
1902 Railway guide showed mileage on routes between cities -
Passenger train fare in the U.S., 1871-1933Average railroad passenger fare (ticket price) expressed in cents per mile.
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Passenger fare in Illinois, ca. 1900-1916Railroad passenger fares in Illinois (and some surrounding states) had generally been 3¢ per mile up until 1907, when they dropped to 2¢ and then rose to 2.5 ¢ in 1914. Source: IL State Public Utilities Commission 1916 report, p. 192.
OTHER TRANSPORTATION PRICES
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Street railway fares in the U.S., 1905Street railway fares in major cities tended to be 3 to 4 cents per ride according to an article in the American Monthly Review of Reviews, February 1905.
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Price to take a ferry or taxiMunicipalities could set prices of some services. For example, the fee schedule to take a ferry across the river at St. Louis is detailed in the 1907 city ordinances. Contact us for ferry and taxi rates for other cities.
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Cab rates - St. Louis, 1903Cab fares for one-horse or two-horse vehicles were calculated by the mile, the hour, the number of passengers, number of stops and amount of packages. Source: The official red book; official St. Louis city guide.
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Traveling bags and trunks, 1908Luggage available through the Macy's catalog, 1908.
HOTEL RATES
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Hotel rates - U.S. and Canada, 1900-1908In each issue of Hotel Monthly, there is a hotel directory for the U.S. and Canada; find it in the table of contents on the front cover of each issue and then type the page number in the "Jump to page..." box. The directories list hotels by state and then by city, and tell the daily rates for each. For example, see the hotel directory published in the January 1904 edition, which would likely have had rates current for 1903. See also the New York Public Library site for hotel restaurant prices.
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St. Louis hotel rates, 1903-1904Boarding house rates were 75 cents to $1 per day. Travel guide also gives directions on how to take a streetcar to the World's Fair (p. 3)
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Buffalo NY Hotel rates, 1901Hotel rates for the Pan-American Exposition.
COST of a COLLEGE EDUCATION, 1900s
See tabs above for additional price categories
In the 1900-1909 decade, 4% to 5% of the population aged 18-21 enrolled in college. Source: U.S. Bureau of Education.
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Cost to study agriculture in state colleges, 1910Table shows all the state colleges offering coursework in agriculture in the U.S., along with tuition and the amount students might expect to pay for room, board and other fees.
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Tuition, fees and other costs for foreign students to attend American universities, 1909This source shows survey answers from about 100 American colleges and universities telling how much Chinese students might expect to pay for a college education in the U.S. Note particularly the answer to question #5 from each institution, which asked the approximate annual tuition and living expenses.. Source: "Admission of Chinese Students to American Colleges." U.S. Bureau of Education Bulletin 1909, no.2 (whole number 399) by John Fryer.
OTHER COLLEGE EXPENSES
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College girls' clothing budget, 1905Discusses the basic clothing articles a young woman would need if attending Chicago University or Smith College in 1905. Scroll back in this source to find additional clothing budgets, along with a discussion of what clothing types were required to be socially acceptable. This source was copyrighted in 1905.
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Theater and opera ticket prices, 1897-1909Julius Cahn's official theatrical guide was a directory of all major theaters and opera houses in the U.S. It lists the range of ticket prices for each theater and shows rates for nearby hotels as well.
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Theater admission in St. Louis, 1903Source: The official red book: official St. Louis city guide and directory..., p. 83.
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Horses, mules and farm animals - Average prices, 1867-1920Shows average values expressed as price per head. Source: USDA Yearbook, 1919 edition.
- Horses and mules (p. 653)
- Milk cows and other cattle (p. 658)
- Sheep (p. 668)
- Swine (p. 675)
Cost of living and consumer expenditures, 1900-1909
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Average annual food cost for a familyIn an article titled "Retail Prices of Food," page 191 shows a list of average costs per workingman's family for each year from 1890-1906, broken out by U.S. region. See average family demographics (i. e. family size) on page 194.
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Relative retail prices of food, 1890-1906Tells how much families were spending on food in general but does not tell the actual prices of foods. Source: U.S. BLS Bulletin no. 71, pages 175-328.
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Average annual expenditures by typeShows what "workingman's families" would spend annually on rent, mortgage, fuel, lighting, clothing for husband, wife and children, taxes, insurance, religious donations, charity, furniture and utensils, books and newspapers, amusements and vacations, intoxicating liquors, tobacco, sickness and death expenses, and other categories. These are nationwide averages for the year 1901 only.
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Cost-of-Living and Retail Prices in the United States, 1890 to 1903Shows no actual retail prices but does show price increases and decreases over time. Also shows how much families were actually spending on various items over the course of a year.
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Cost of living (1903)Lists the average cost of living of working families, geographic breakdown and shows average earnings by region. Including expenses overall and average expenditures on food.
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The Cost of LivingBulletin of the United States Bureau of Labor, No. 66, Volume XIII. Published September 1906.
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Wages and Cost of LivingBulletin of the United States Bureau of Labor, No. 53, Volume IX. Published July 1904.
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Characteristics of families living in povertyThe purpose of this report was to explore the living conditions of people who were seeking assistance due to poverty. It does not report average wages among the poor but it does indicate the income of people who were seeking help. In addition, it explains some of the background reasons for poverty and barriers that prevented workers from overcoming it. Source: U.S. BLS Bulletin no. 79, vol. 17, published Nov 1908.
International prices by country, 1900-1909
Prices in ARGENTINA, 1900s
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Buenos Aries - Prices in 1900 and Rent in 1905Tables compare the 1900 and 1910 retail and wholesale prices in Buenos Aries, including food items, building materials, and coal. Rent a laborer pair for a room in 1905 is given on page 1402. Source: Investigation relative to wages and prices... Vol. 3, pages 1398-1402.
Prices in AUSTRALIA, 1900s
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Australia - "Household Budgets Abroad"Chapter describes consumer expenditures for Australian families. See pages 631-653 in Cornhill Magazine July-Dec 1904 issue. This is not a government document.
Prices in AUSTRIA, 1900s
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Austria - Retail food prices, 1900-1908Tables on pages 2216-2228 show retail food prices in Austria as well as Germany and the U.S. Includes price of eggs, bread, coffee, butter and more.
Prices in BELGIUM, 1900s
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Belgium - Cost of living of the working classesSource: BLS Bulletin no. 87.
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Belgium - Cost of living in Belgian towns, 1908Covers food prices, rent, household budget and wages. Use the table of contents to find pages with data.
Prices in CANADA, 1900s
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Canada - "Household Budgets Abroad"Chapter describes the consumer expenditures of Canadian families. See pages 806-821 of Cornhill Magazine, July-December 1904 issue. This is not a government document.
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Ottawa, Canada - Retail prices, 1907Two-page table compares retail prices of certain articles of food in Buffalo, NY and in Ottawa, Canada in June, 1907. Food articles include various meats, apples, beans, butter, cheese, coffee, corn meal, eggs, fish, flour, lard, milk, molasses, potatoes, rice, sugar, tea and more. Source: Investigation relative to wages and prices, vol. 3 (Serial Set 5923).
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Ottawa - 1907 rentsTable compares 1897 and 1907 rents in both good and poor residential parts of Ottawa based on number of rooms.
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Ottawa, Canada - Retail prices of staple commodities, 1907This table (from page 67 to 84) shows comparative retail prices of staple commodities in Ottawa, Canada in June 1897 and June 1907. It includes food, dry goods, clothing, furniture, kitchen utensils, hardware, leather goods, sporting goods, and more.
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Ottawa - Hospital fees and life insurance rates, 1897 and 1907Compares 1907 costs of hospital rooms and artificial teeth to those in 1897. Life and fire insurance policy rates also compared.
Prices in FRANCE, 1900s
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France - Cost of living of the working classesSource: BLS Bulletin no. 83, published July 1909.
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France - Cost of living in French towns, 1905Covers food prices, rent, household budgets and wages. Published 1909 in London. Use table of contents to find pages with data.
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France - "Household Budgets Abroad"Shows amount a French family might pay for rent, food, taxes, servants, school tuition for children, clothing, and household fuel. Wages for various occupations are also discussed. See pages 336-348 of the July-Dec 1904 issue of Cornhill Magazine, published in London for an English audience. This is not a government document.
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Prices of agricultural machinery in France, 1900 and 1910Table shows the price of imported and French made agricultural machinery for 1900 and 1910, including mowers, reapers, binders, hay rakes, and tedders.
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Havre - Prices for articles of daily consumption, 1900 and 1910This one-page table shows wholesale and retail prices of articles at Havre, France in 1900 and 1910. It includes "articles of daily household consumption" such as food and fuel as well as for animals, metals, fabric, building materials, and clothing.
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Lyons - Prices of principal commodities, 1900 and 1910Table compares 1900 and 1910 retail prices at Lyons, including meats, flours, cereals, bread, alimentary pastes, fruits, vegetables, sugar, coffee, cocoa, pepper, salts, food oils, poultry, milk, boots and shoes, coal, mineral oils, seeds, and soaps.
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Marseille - Average retail prices, 1900 and 1910Table shows the average retail prices at Marseille in the months of January and February, 1910, and during the year 1900. Includes meat, bread, butter, sugar, milk, potatoes, grain, flour, lard, tallow, bacon, rents, cotton, wool, leather, boots and shoes, clothing, coal, iron, steel, oil, bricks, cement, and farming implements.
Prices in GERMANY, 1900s
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Germany - "Household Budgets Abroad"This article was published in the July-December 1904 issue of Cornhill Magazine (published in London), pages 87-101. Provides information on prices, wages, common expenditures by the German family and how their money was typically budgeted. This is not a government document.
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Market prices on provisions in German cities, 1899-1908Two pages of tables show market prices (in marks and pfennigs) on provisions including potatoes, butter, beef, pork, and flour at 14 German cities for 1899-1908.
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Germany - Cost of living of families of moderate income, 1907-1908This extensive and very detailed article is nearly 100 pages in length, running from page 697-793. Source: BLS Bulletin no. 88, published May 1910.
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Germany - Cost of living of the working classExtensive discussion and data on the cost of rent, broken out by 33 German towns. Also shows retail prices for various foods and average consumption by workingmen's families. Wages and hours are listed as well. Source: BLS Bulletin no. 78, published September 1908.
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Germany - Cost of living in German towns, 1905Covers prices rents, household budgets and wages. Use the table of contents to find pages with data.
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Germany - Retail food prices, 1900-1908Tables on pages 2216-2228 show retail food prices in Germany as well as Austria-Hungary and the U.S. Includes price of eggs, bread, coffee, butter and more.
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Berlin - Prices of commodities, 1900 and 1910Wholesale and retail prices (in dollars) in Berlin for 1900 and 1910. A table of rents based on number of heatable rooms follows.
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Frankfort on the Main - Price of coal, 1902 and 1906Table shows wholesale and retail prices of coal in 1902 and 1906 at Frankfort on the Main.
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Frankfort on the Main - Retail prices and rents, 1900 and 1910Includes a table of average retail prices and a discussion of prices or meats, fish and poultry. Average rent is also given.
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Hamburg - Various prices, 1900 and 1910Gives wholesale and retail prices (in marks) of petroleum, coal, bricks, Portland cement, shoes, clothing, meat, and agricultural implements at Hamburg in 1900 and 1910.
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Munich, Bavaria - Retail prices and rents, 1900 and 1910Tables show retail prices of meat, various other food items, and average yearly rentals by number of rooms at Munich for 1900 and 1910.
Prices in GREAT BRITAIN, 1900s
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Great Britain - Cost of living of the working classesBulletin of the United States Bureau of Labor, No. 77, Volume XVII. Published July 1908.
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England - Prices of Groceries in 1814 and 1905Gives the price per pound of selected commodities in 1814 and 1905. Short list includes tea, coffee, sugar, figs, raisins, rice, mustard, saltpeter, treacle, etc.. Prices are given in both English and American currency.
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England and Wales, cost of living compared to the U.S. - 1909Publication from the British Board of Trade compares the cost of living in 28 large U.S. cities to that of England and Wales. Note: includes selected cities no further west than St. Louis or Minneapolis. Source: Bulletin of the United States Bureau of Labor, No. 93, vol. 22. Published March 1911.
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Birmingham - Prices in 1900-1901, 1903-1904, & 1910This report shows wholesale and retail prices of various commodities as well as rents and boots, shoes and clothing in Birmingham, England.
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Bradford, England - Wholesale and retail prices of various commodities, 1900 and 1910
- Beef, mutton, veal, pork, and fish
- Fruits, vegetables, grains
- Provisions including tea, coffee, cocoa, sugar, flour, biscuits, bread, lard, butter, eggs, milk and cream, bacon and hams, cheese, canned meats, canned and dried fruits, jams, rice, soap, and candles
- Rents
- Boots and shoes, men's clothing, hats and haberdashery, and women's clothing
- Drapery (e.g. sheets, pillowcases, tablecloths, blankets, quilts and calicos)
- Cement
- Oil, gas and coal
- Agricultural implements
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Edinburgh - Wholesale and retail prices in 1900 and 1910Report shows the following prices at Edinburgh:
- Prices of American agricultural implements
- Prices of shoes - Table shows wholesale and retail prices of British made men's shoes in 1900 and 1910.
- House rents - For villas and flats by number of rooms and distance from post-office.
- Commodities - Two-page table includes prices of cattle, sheep, pigs, coal, wool, grain, woolen cloth, clothing, provisions, and rents.
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Glasgow, Scotland - Prices of commodities in 1900 and 1910Table shows wholesale and retail prices of commodities at Glasgow in 1900 and 1910. Includes vegetables, live stock, grain, raw material, wearing apparel, underwear, coal, iron, groceries and provisions, steel, brick, timber, cement, and house rent.
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Liverpool - Prices in 1900 and 1910This report contains tables showing wholesale and retail prices in Liverpool in 1900 and 1910. It also discusses clothing and rents.
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London - Wholesale and retail prices, 1900 and 1910Tables in this report give retail prices (in dollars) for commodities in London for 1900, 1910, or both, including meat, grains, provisions, fruit and vegetables, Portland cement, clothing (first-grade and cheaper grade), overcoats, coal, oil, and farming implements of both American and English make. Rents are also discussed on pages 1166 to 1169.
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London - Prices of living supplies and rents, 1909Table shows prices (in pence and cents) for food articles obtained from laboring districts in the city. A discussion on the cost of rental can be read on the follow page.
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Manchester - Rents, 1900 and 1910In Investigation relative to wages and prices of commodities Vol. 3, page 1267.
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Manchester - Retail prices, 1900 and 1910This two-page table shows retail prices of articles (in dollars) at Manchester in 1900 and 1910. Includes food, coal, clothing, boots and shoes.
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Manchester - Prices for agricultural implements, 1900 and 1910Table shows prices for agricultural implements as sold in Manchester in 1900 and 1910.
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Sheffield, England - Prices of commodities, 1900 and 1910Lists wholesale and retail prices (in British pounds and American dollars) of commodities in Sheffield for 1900 and 1910.
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Yorkshire - Rents and cost of foods, 1908This report on the British woolen industry discusses cost of living in the towns in Yorkshire, including range of rents and cost of food. Source: Serial Set Volume 5505.
Prices in HUNGARY, 1900s
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Budapest - Prices of commodities and Rents, 1900 and 1910Table compares 1900 and 1910 wholesale and retail prices at Budapest for commodities (beer, veal, hogs, mutton, milk, butter, flour, eggs, wheat, cattle, wool, cotton, leather, hides, clothing, lumber, coat, cement, shoes, bricks) and yearly rents by number of rooms. Source: Investigation relative to wages and prices... Vol. 3, page 1397.
Prices in INDIA, 1900s
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India - Retail prices for food grains and salt, 1892-1916Use Table of Contents to find start page. For example the salt prices begin on page 140. Source: Prices and Wages in India, published by the India government, Department of Statistics, 1918.
Prices in IRELAND, 1900s
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Ireland - Prices, 1900 and 1910U.S. congressional document shows the price of foods such as potatoes, oatmeal, flour, mutton, butter, cheese, eggs, ham and beef, as well as "a suit of woolen clothing" and boots/shoes; coal, fuel oil, and farming implements such as plows, binders and two-horse mowers.
Prices in ITALY, 1900s
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Italy - "Household Budgets Abroad"Chapter describes consumer expenditures for Italian families and how they typically budgeted their money for food, rent, clothing, taxes, servants, education, etc. See pages 467-480 in the July-Dec. issue of Cornhill Magazine (not a government document.)
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Italy - Food prices in Milan, 1801-1908Lists prices of wheat, bread, wine, beef, pork, butter and rice. Source: Bulletin of the U.S. Bureau of Labor, Vol. 20 #87, pp. 599-607.
Prices in MEXICO, 1900s
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Mexico - Retail prices of certain food products, 1907Prices are given in United States currency. Source: Serial Set Volume 5505.
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Guadalajara - Price of beef, pork, and potatoes in 1900List shows 1900 prices per kilo of beef, pork, and potatoes in Guadalajara, Jalisco. Source: Investigation relative to wages and prices...Vol. 3, page 1316.
Prices in POLAND, 1900s
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Warsaw - Prices of articles in 1900 and 1910Table shows comparative prices (wholesale and retail) at Warsaw in 1900 and 1910. Retail prices shown include beef, meats, provisions, bread, leather shoes and clothing, and coal. Prices of faming implements are also given.
Prices in the PHILIPPINES, 1900s
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Philippines - Prices of Commodities and Rates of Wages in ManilaSource: Bulletin of the United States Bureau of Labor, No. 32, Volume VI. Published January 1901.
Prices in RUSSIA, 1900s
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St. Petersburg - Prices of commodities, 1900 and 1910This two-page table shows wholesale and retail prices of commodities (mostly food) at St. Petersburg in 1900 and 1910.
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Moscow - Retail prices, 1900 and 1910This four-page table compares wholesale and retail prices of articles at Moscow in 1900 and 1910, including beef, veal, pork, ham, mutton, fat, fish, eggs, butter, sugar, potatoes, poultry, bread, woolen goods, clothing, and coal.
Prices in SWEDEN, 1900s
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Prices of food and rates of rent, 1904-1907Table shows average prices of principal articles of food and fuel in Sweden for 1904 to 1907. Rental rates are discussed on the following page.
Sources showing prices in MULTIPLE COUNTRIES, 1900s
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Retail food prices around the world, 1900 and 1910All prices listed in dollars. Tables on pages 43-52 list the retail prices of flour, butter, bacon, beef, mutton, ham, sugar and coffee in selected cities in the U.S., Austria, Canada, Nova Scotia, England, Germany, France, Russia, Bulgaria, Japan, Mexico
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Wages and Prices Abroad, 1900 and 1910Reports from consular offices show wholesale and retail prices for a variety of foods, clothing, agricultural products such as wool and hides and more in Germany, Great Britain, Ireland, France, Japan, Belgium, Spain and more. Also discusses the the cost to rent in various countries.
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Europe - Prices and Cost of LivingCovers England and Wales, Germany, France, Belgium, and the United States. Some data collected by the British Board of Trade Report. Source: BLS Bulletin no. 93.
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Prices paid by the U.S. Navy in foreign ports, 1900-1909Statement showing the prices paid by vessels of the United States Navy for fresh beef, fresh vegetables, fresh bread, flour, sugar, butter, tinned vegetables, tinned tomatoes, rice, beans, dry fruit, tinned fruit, salt pork, salt beef, tinned meats, smoked ham, coffee, tea, vinegar, molasses, fresh mutton, lard, macaroni, cheese, condensed milk, fowl, veal, pork, and eggs for the years 1900 to 1909, inclusive. Table runs from page 1522-1537. Click "more" to see list of ports included...
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Nottingham, UK compared to Calais, France - Prices of food articlesTable compares what workers in the lace-making industries of Great Britain and France paid for food items; prices of oil and coal discussed in the text below the table.
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Europe - Prices of commodities in industrial cities, 1905-1908This report contains data on the rents and retail prices of commodities paid by the working classes in major European industrial cities in 1905 to 1908. Counties include England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales, Germany, France, and Belgium.
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Telephone rates in continental Europe, 1902Table shows telephone rates, including entrance fees and subscription costs, in 1902 in Austria, Bavaria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Holland, Italy, Luxembourg, Monaco, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and Württemberg. Scroll forward one page to see long distance rates in the United States, Canada, and European counties as well as rates for the London area.
Quotable facts for the 1900-1909 decade
In the United States...
- Milk cost an average of 14¢ per half gallon in 1900. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)
- Eggs cost an average of 21¢ per dozen in 1900. Source: U.S. BLS
- Coffee averaged of 23¢ per pound in 1900. Source: U.S. BLS
- 4,192 passenger cars were produced in the U.S. in the year 1900 (source), when the total population was 76 million (source).
- A gallon of gasoline cost around 18¢ to 20¢ in 1900. Source: The Horseless Age
- Selected occupational earnings averages in 1900:
- In 1903, an estimated 15,000 Americans had a net worth of $300,000 or more. Source: preface to the Financial Red Book, 1903. By 1905, 18,000 individuals made the cut (source).
Tools and calculators, 1900-1909
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Calculator: Present-day purchasing power of a historic dollar amountThe MeasuringWorth.com website provides online calculators, guides and tutorials to help researchers understand the current-day value of historic money in the United States, Australia, Spain and the United Kingdom.
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Foreign currencies - Value in U. S. dollars, 1903Source: section titled Money in the book Ready reference tables..., pp. 164-166.
Timeline -- Major economic events of the 1900s
"75 Years of American Finance: A Graphic Presentation 1861-1935"
Source: Federal Reserve Bank of Saint Louis.
(Click image for detail)
"75 Years of American Finance: A Graphic Presentation 1861-1935"
Source: Federal Reserve Bank of Saint Louis.
(Click image for detail)
"75 Years of American Finance: A Graphic Presentation 1861-1935"
Source: Federal Reserve Bank of Saint Louis.
(Click image for detail)
"75 Years of American Finance: A Graphic Presentation 1861-1935"
Source: Federal Reserve Bank of Saint Louis.
(Click image for detail)
"75 Years of American Finance: A Graphic Presentation 1861-1935"
Source: Federal Reserve Bank of Saint Louis.
(Click image for detail)
"75 Years of American Finance: A Graphic Presentation 1861-1935"
Source: Federal Reserve Bank of Saint Louis.
(Click image for detail)
"75 Years of American Finance: A Graphic Presentation 1861-1935"
Source: Federal Reserve Bank of Saint Louis.
(Click image for detail)
"75 Years of American Finance: A Graphic Presentation 1861-1935"
Source: Federal Reserve Bank of Saint Louis.
(Click image for detail)
"75 Years of American Finance: A Graphic Presentation 1861-1935"
Source: Federal Reserve Bank of Saint Louis.
(Click image for detail)
"75 Years of American Finance: A Graphic Presentation 1861-1935"
Source: Federal Reserve Bank of Saint Louis.
(Click image for detail)
"75 Years of American Finance: A Graphic Presentation 1861-1935"
Source: Federal Reserve Bank of Saint Louis.
(Click image for detail)
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