How Steamship Lines Determined Rates of Fares in 1900
Original Third Class/Steerage Steamship Passage Contract and Ticket from Gothenburg, Sweden to New York, 14 November 1902, on the White Star Line RMS Celtic for Immigrant Ester Hilma Maria Magnuson of Stockholm. The Ticket Included the Detachable Receipt Located on the Right Hand Side (Panel). GGA Image ID # 1f9ba0f3a7
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Steamship Rates
Most steamship companies have three grades of prices, which are classified under the headings of winter, intermediate, and summer rates.
In each class, there are rates for a single berth in a room having four berths, a single berth in a room having two berths, special rates for a space of two berths for one person and two persons, and graded rates in all classes for different situations of staterooms on the steamer.
In each case, having decided on the steamship line, you are to patronize, communicate with the company, and ask for circulars telling their rates.
The following table gives the present advertised rates of the principal steamship companies running to ports near Paris, or that are available and desirable, if some short trip is in mind, as good ports of arrival.
Table of Steamship Rates from New York to Paris. Harper's Guide to Paris, 1900. GGA Image ID # 1ffc1fe103. Click to View Larger Image.
The variations of prices are caused (1) by the greater or lesser desirability of staterooms or. each steam-ship, owing to situations near or far away from the engine- rooms, on upper or lower decks, or with inside or outside ventilation; (2) by the varied sizes of the steamships of the same line.
In two eases the steamship line has two grades of steamers, called "Express" and "Passenger" lines. This signifies that the large and fast steamers form the "Express" branch of the service, and the smaller and slower constitute the ordinary "passenger" branch of the line.
The company has none where no second-class or intermediate season rates are given. When no room rates for one person are provided, the company has none and requires a single traveler, i.e., go into a room with at least two berths if travel is heavy or give him a room to himself without extra charge if travel is light. All prices are subject to change without notice.
Steamship Companies
There are many steamship companies sailing from Atlantic cities for European ports that might be used as a means, more or less direct, for reaching the Paris Exposition. The following table gives a list of steamship companies, with their New York addresses, together with the ports of arrival in Europe, their docks, days of sailing, etc.
Table of The Principal Steamship Companies with Addresses, Dates of Sailing, Etc., 1900. Harper's Guide to Paris, 1900. GGA Image ID # 1ffc453dfe
Additional Sources
Sears, J. H., Harper’s Guide to Paris and the Exposition of 1900: A Comprehensive Map and Guide to The City of Paris; A Complete Guide to The Exposition; French Phrases Translated; And Maps Diagrams, And Illustrations, London And New York: Harper & Brothers Publishers, 1900: 21-23
