Then
To be prepared for the long journey ahead, it would cost at least $500 dollars to get everything an emigrant needed, if not more. The prices of goods were different from town to town; but, according to the Historic Oregon City website, here are some generalized prices for the basics that an emigrant might need for the trip:
Animals:
ox $30-35 minimum of 4-6
milk cow $70-75
cattle $8-20 priced by age (typically 1-3 years old)
riding horse up to $75
bridle & blinders $3
tack & harness $5
whip $1
saddle & saddle bags $5
WAGONS
farm wagon $25-30
bucket $1
SUNDRIES & CAMP EQUIPMENT
blanket $2.50
tent $5 - 15 prices
nails $0.07 per pound
soap $0.15 per pound
sheet iron stove $15 - 20
coffee mill $1.00
coffee pot $0.75
frying pan $1.50
bread pan $0.25
butcher knife $0.50
tin table settings $5 includes flatware, plates, and cups for a family of eight
bucket $0.25
axe/shovel/hoe $1.25
rope $2.50 3/4" rope
WEAPONS
rifle $15
powder & shot $5 shot was generally sold by the pound
hunting knife $1
FOOD
Recommended for each adult: 150 lbs. of flour, 20 lbs. of corn meal, 50 lbs. of bacon, 40 lbs. of sugar, 10 lbs. of coffee, 15 lbs. of dried fruit, 5 lbs. of salt, half a pound of saleratus (baking soda), 2 lbs. of tea, 5 lbs. of rice, and 15 lbs. of beans
flour $0.02 per pound
bacon $0.05 per pound
sugar $0.04 per pound
coffee $0.10 per pound
salt $0.06 per pound
pepper $0.08 per pound
lard $0.05 per pound
vinegar $0.25 per gallon
saleratus (baking soda) $0.12 per pound
tea $0.60 per pound
rice $0.05 per pound
beans $0.06 per pound
ON THE TRAIL
Some examples of expenses the emigrant encountered while en route...
Indian moccasins $0.50 many emigrants wore out several pairs of shoes on the road to Oregon
tanned buffalo hide $4.00
resupplying once beyond the frontier, prices at trading posts along the Oregon Trail were typically at least twice those back East and could be much higher (http://www.historicoregoncity.org/end-of-the-oregon-trail-history/oregon-trail-history/90-provisions-a-places).
To be prepared for the long journey ahead, it would cost at least $500 dollars to get everything an emigrant needed, if not more. The prices of goods were different from town to town; but, according to the Historic Oregon City website, here are some generalized prices for the basics that an emigrant might need for the trip:
Animals:
ox $30-35 minimum of 4-6
milk cow $70-75
cattle $8-20 priced by age (typically 1-3 years old)
riding horse up to $75
bridle & blinders $3
tack & harness $5
whip $1
saddle & saddle bags $5
WAGONS
farm wagon $25-30
bucket $1
SUNDRIES & CAMP EQUIPMENT
blanket $2.50
tent $5 - 15 prices
nails $0.07 per pound
soap $0.15 per pound
sheet iron stove $15 - 20
coffee mill $1.00
coffee pot $0.75
frying pan $1.50
bread pan $0.25
butcher knife $0.50
tin table settings $5 includes flatware, plates, and cups for a family of eight
bucket $0.25
axe/shovel/hoe $1.25
rope $2.50 3/4" rope
WEAPONS
rifle $15
powder & shot $5 shot was generally sold by the pound
hunting knife $1
FOOD
Recommended for each adult: 150 lbs. of flour, 20 lbs. of corn meal, 50 lbs. of bacon, 40 lbs. of sugar, 10 lbs. of coffee, 15 lbs. of dried fruit, 5 lbs. of salt, half a pound of saleratus (baking soda), 2 lbs. of tea, 5 lbs. of rice, and 15 lbs. of beans
flour $0.02 per pound
bacon $0.05 per pound
sugar $0.04 per pound
coffee $0.10 per pound
salt $0.06 per pound
pepper $0.08 per pound
lard $0.05 per pound
vinegar $0.25 per gallon
saleratus (baking soda) $0.12 per pound
tea $0.60 per pound
rice $0.05 per pound
beans $0.06 per pound
ON THE TRAIL
Some examples of expenses the emigrant encountered while en route...
Indian moccasins $0.50 many emigrants wore out several pairs of shoes on the road to Oregon
tanned buffalo hide $4.00
resupplying once beyond the frontier, prices at trading posts along the Oregon Trail were typically at least twice those back East and could be much higher (http://www.historicoregoncity.org/end-of-the-oregon-trail-history/oregon-trail-history/90-provisions-a-places).
Now
Prices have definitely changed since the 1800’s. During that time, for every one dollar that was spent, it would equal to about $22.40 today, give or take. (McIntyre, 2010). However, if we were just taking a trip to the west, there are a lot of things that we would not need that the emigrant did; and vice versa. Of course, we would not need to buy oxen, cattle, or cows, or any of the supplies needed to maintain those animals. A wagon cost about 25 to 30 dollars; today we would have to buy a car, which could range from a few thousand to fifty thousand depending on the type of car. Of course, today we have payment plans and leases where a person can make payments; whereas the emigrant would have to sell all that he had, to buy everything he needed for the trip. Here are some of the same items an emigrant would buy for the trip, and the prices they are today from Walmart:
SUNDRIES & CAMP EQUIPMENT
blanket can range anywhere from $10.00 to the $100's
tent $14.86-124.00
nails $1.97 per pound
soap $2.00 per pound
portable stove $69.86-86.54
coffee mill (grinder) $15.88
coffee pot (maker) $69.88
frying pan $23.00
bread pan $4.96
butcher knife $11.97
table settings $28.66 includes flatware, plates, and cups for a family of eight
axe/shovel/hoe $10.00-$100.00
rope $15.88 for a large one-half inch thick rope
WEAPONS
rifle $24.00-$217.00
powder & shot $22.97
hunting knife $10-20.00
FOOD
flour $.74 per pound
beans $1.88 per pound
bacon $3.78 per pound
sugar $1.36 per pound
coffee $9.98 for 2 pounds
salt $.97 for 26 ounces
pepper $8.00 per pound
lard $2.12 per pound
vinegar $2.38 per gallon
baking soda $.58 per pound
tea $20.28 for a family size
rice $.64 per pound
In addition to these items, a person traveling to the west today would have to buy gas. Gas prices vary from state to state; however, the gas prices in North Carolina are around $3.38 per gallon using unleaded fuel. According to my grandfather, who has traveled to Oregon many times in a car, the average person would have to fill up their gas tank about four to five times and would travel about seven to eight days before reaching Oregon.
If taking an airplane, according to Orbitz.com, a person could fly to Salem, Oregon starting at $700. Of course, this would not include food or hotel prices.
Prices have definitely changed since the 1800’s. During that time, for every one dollar that was spent, it would equal to about $22.40 today, give or take. (McIntyre, 2010). However, if we were just taking a trip to the west, there are a lot of things that we would not need that the emigrant did; and vice versa. Of course, we would not need to buy oxen, cattle, or cows, or any of the supplies needed to maintain those animals. A wagon cost about 25 to 30 dollars; today we would have to buy a car, which could range from a few thousand to fifty thousand depending on the type of car. Of course, today we have payment plans and leases where a person can make payments; whereas the emigrant would have to sell all that he had, to buy everything he needed for the trip. Here are some of the same items an emigrant would buy for the trip, and the prices they are today from Walmart:
SUNDRIES & CAMP EQUIPMENT
blanket can range anywhere from $10.00 to the $100's
tent $14.86-124.00
nails $1.97 per pound
soap $2.00 per pound
portable stove $69.86-86.54
coffee mill (grinder) $15.88
coffee pot (maker) $69.88
frying pan $23.00
bread pan $4.96
butcher knife $11.97
table settings $28.66 includes flatware, plates, and cups for a family of eight
axe/shovel/hoe $10.00-$100.00
rope $15.88 for a large one-half inch thick rope
WEAPONS
rifle $24.00-$217.00
powder & shot $22.97
hunting knife $10-20.00
FOOD
flour $.74 per pound
beans $1.88 per pound
bacon $3.78 per pound
sugar $1.36 per pound
coffee $9.98 for 2 pounds
salt $.97 for 26 ounces
pepper $8.00 per pound
lard $2.12 per pound
vinegar $2.38 per gallon
baking soda $.58 per pound
tea $20.28 for a family size
rice $.64 per pound
In addition to these items, a person traveling to the west today would have to buy gas. Gas prices vary from state to state; however, the gas prices in North Carolina are around $3.38 per gallon using unleaded fuel. According to my grandfather, who has traveled to Oregon many times in a car, the average person would have to fill up their gas tank about four to five times and would travel about seven to eight days before reaching Oregon.
If taking an airplane, according to Orbitz.com, a person could fly to Salem, Oregon starting at $700. Of course, this would not include food or hotel prices.