What I Learned Today

[nightdog_barks]

In 1876, it cost approximately $300 U.S. dollars to travel coast-to-coast, New York City to San Francisco, via Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Chicago, Omaha, Cheyenne, Ogden, and on to California. If you didn't get off the train to sightsee, you could make the trip in seven to ten days. You were allowed one hundred pounds of luggage -- if it went over, the charge was $15 per hundred-weight.

You could buy a buffalo robe from Omaha Indians for $12.

Prairie hens were tough and gamy and often left you feeling like you hadn't eaten at all because the meat was so hard to choke down.

The Plains Indians called prairie dogs "wish-te-wish" because of the whistling sounds they made. Prairie dogs were good eating.

Another name for garnet was "mountain ruby." Agates, jasper, garnets, and onyx were all widespread through Wyoming.

Once you crossed into Nevada, Chinese were plentiful. They had a funny way of eating and tried to take a full bath at least once a day. It's a wonder they all didn't catch pneumonia.

The University of California at Berkeley was founded in 1868, and was originally located in Oakland.

That's all I can remember right now.

Comments

[blackmare-9.livejournal.com]

Now, I wonder why you'd have been doing this kind of homework?

Heh.

*smiles*

ETA that I must go to bed now. See you tomorrow evening sometime.

[nightdog-barks.livejournal.com]

*smiles*

It is just astounding how much information is out there on the transcontinental journey. Real "civilization" just about stopped at Omaha, and didn't really pick up again until Sacramento, with places like Denver, Cheyenne, and Salt Lake City providing virtual islands of light in the vast expanse of the prairies.

[danalwyn.livejournal.com]

And this has changed how?

[nightdog-barks.livejournal.com]

Hee!

I was waiting for someone to say that!

[crackpig.livejournal.com]

But more importantly, how much did floozies cost?

:D

[nightdog-barks.livejournal.com]

Hee! You know, I didn't see that particular statistic listed anywhere!

Considering, though, that the dinner menu on a Pullman dining car had porterhouse steak for 75 cents and a half a chicken for $1.50, I'm guessing a floozy didn't cost all that much.

[angelcat2865.livejournal.com]

Cool info, thanks for sharing.:)

[perspi.livejournal.com]

Oh, how much fun!!!??!!

[nightdog-barks.livejournal.com]

Hee! Isn't that amazing? This site (http://cprr.org/Museum/index.html) is just an incredible compendium of information.

[pwcorgigirl.livejournal.com]

$300 was a big old bunch of money back then, too.

[nightdog-barks.livejournal.com]

*nods*

I think one of the analyses I saw said that in 2004 dollars, it would be about $2600.

[chocolate-frapp.livejournal.com]

If you're going to visit the Bay Area, would you like me to play tour guide? I love doing that. I could take you to cool places we locals know about that most tourists don't see.

[nightdog-barks.livejournal.com]

Hee! I think it will be a while before we get back to the Bay Area, but I will keep you in mind!

[chocolate-frapp.livejournal.com]

OK cool!