SS Columbia Prepaid Certificate - 8 June 1903

SS Columbia of the Anchor Steamship Line Third Class Prepaid Passage Certificate, 8 June 1903. GGA Image ID # 1f9badf0e2

Prepaid Passage Certificate Summary

• Date of Purchase / Voyage: 8 June 1903
• Steamship Line: Anchor Line
• Steamship: SS Columbia
• Route: Derry (Londonderry) To Rochester PA via New York
• Ticket Type: Prepaid Passage Certificate
• Voyage Class: Third Class
• Name on Contract: Robert Langan, Margaret Langan, and Robert John Langan
• Etnicity of Passenger(s): Irish
• Contract Terms: Limited
• Cost of Ticket: $75.10 / $2,280.00 USD in 2020

Memorandum Certificate Content

Third Class - Derry [Londonderry] to Rochester PA

6X 29155 Agency No. 173 - 7

Anchor Line

Memorandum of Prepaid Passage Certificate

Issued at Pah PA on 8 June 1903

Favor of Robert Lanegan, Wife and Infant

For Third Class Passage

From Derry (Londonderry) To Rochester PA

Amount of Ocean Fare $ 58.50

Amount of Inland Fare $ 16.60

Total $75.10

Should the Certificate not be used, the passage money will be refunded, less Agency Commissions and cancellation fees, on presentation of this Memorandum and the corresponding Certificate within twelve months from the date hereof.

/s/ J J Mebormich, Agent

Supplemental Information:

Passenger Manifest for the Anchor Line Columbia, Sailing from Londonderry and Arriving in New York on 16 August 1903

Manifest Page # 0030

• Line 0004. Lanegan, Robert M 33y M Ireland, Irish Antrim
• Line 0005. Langan [sic], Margaret F 18y M Ireland, Irish Antrim
• Line 0006. Langan [sic], Robert John M 3m S Ireland, Irish Antrim

Certificate Information

• Date of Certificate: 8 June 1903
• Number of Pages (Printed): 1 (Reverse side is blank)
• Dimensions: 10.4 x 15.2 cm

Arrival Record for Robert Langan

• Name: Robert Langan
• Arrival Date: 17 August 1903
• Birth Year: about 1870
• Age: 33
• Gender: Male
• Ethnicity/Race/Nationality: Irish
• Port of Departure: Londonderry
• Port of Arrival: New York, New York
• Ship Name: Columbia
• Source Citation: Year: 1903; Microfilm Serial: 15; Microfilm Roll: T715_383; Line: 4; Page Number: 70.

Arrival Record for Margaret Langan

• Name: Margaret Langan
• Arrival Date: 17 August 1903
• Birth Year: about 1885
• Age: 18
• Gender: Female
• Ethnicity/Race/Nationality: Irish
• Port of Departure: Londonderry
• Port of Arrival: New York, New York
• Ship Name: Columbia
• Source Citation: Year: 1903; Microfilm Serial: 15; Microfilm Roll: T715_383; Line: 5; Page Number: 70.

Arrival Record for Robert John Langan

• Name: Robert John Langan
• Arrival Date: 17 August 1903
• Birth Year: about 1903
• Age: 3 Months
• Gender: Male
• Ethnicity/Race/Nationality: Irish
• Port of Departure: Londonderry
• Port of Arrival: New York, New York
• Ship Name: Columbia
• Source Citation: Year: 1903; Microfilm Serial: 15; Microfilm Roll: T715_383; Line: 6; Page Number: 70.

Source Information:

• Passenger Lists of Vessels Arriving at New York, New York, 1820-1897; (National Archives Microfilm Publication M237, 675 rolls); Records of the U.S. Customs Service, Record Group 36; National Archives, Washington, D.C.
• Passenger and Crew Lists of Vessels Arriving at New York, New York, 1897-1957; (National Archives Microfilm Publication T715, 8892 rolls); Records of the Immigration and Naturalization Service; National Archives, Washington, D.C.

Relative Cost of Passage Ticket in Today's Currency Value

In 2020, the relative values of $75.10 from 1903 ranges from $1,780.00 to $59,900.00.

A simple Purchasing Power Calculator would say the relative value is $2,280.00. This answer is obtained by multiplying $75.10 by the percentage increase in the CPI from 1903 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 $75.10 Commodity in 1903 there are four choices. In 2020 the relative:

• real price of that commodity is $2,280.00
• real value in consumption of that commodity is $5,500.00
• labor value of that commodity is $11,500.00 (using the unskilled wage) or $15,900.00 (using production worker compensation)
• income value of that commodity is $14,600.00
• economic share of that commodity is $59,900.00

If you want to compare the value of a $75.10 Income or Wealth, in 1903 there are five choices. In 2020 the relative:

• real wage or real wealth value of that income or wealth is $2,280.00
• household purchasing power value of that income or wealth is $5,500.00
• relative labor earnings of that commodity are $11,500.00 (using the unskilled wage) or $15,900.00 (using production worker compensation)
• relative income value of that income or wealth is $14,600.00
• relative output value of that income or wealth is $59,900.00

If you want to compare the value of a $75.10 Project in 1903 there are four choices. In 2020 the relative:

• real cost of that project is $1,780.00
• household cost of that project is $5,500.00
• labor cost of that project is $11,500.00 (using the unskilled wage) or $15,900.00 (using production worker compensation)
• relative cost of that project is $14,600.00
• economy cost of that project is $59,900.00

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.