What is a Prairie Schooner wagon?
A prairie schooner is simply a fancy name for a covered wagon. Covered wagons were known as prairie schooners because their white canvas tops reminded people of the sails on ships at sea.
What did a prairie schooner look like?
The typical prairie schooner weighed about one ton, was 14 feet long, 4 feet wide, and 2 feet deep. Built of seasoned wood such as maple, hickory, or oak, schooners’ only metal fittings were their iron tire rims and reinforcements on their wooden axles.
What part of the Covered Wagon earned it the nickname Prairie Schooner?
The “prairie schooner” was the classic covered wagon that carried settlers westward across the North American plains. The nickname came from the typical white cloth cover on the wagon, which, from a distance, made it resemble the white cloth of a ship’s sails.
What were the dimensions of a covered wagon?
Including its tongue, the average Conestoga wagon was 18 feet (5.4 m) long, 11 feet (3.3 m) high, and 4 feet (1.2 m) in width. It could carry up to 12,000 pounds (5,400 kg) of cargo. The seams in the body of the wagon were caulked with tar to protect them from leaking while crossing rivers.
Why didn’t most pioneers ride in their wagons?
Teams of oxen or mules pulled the wagons along the dusty trail. People didn’t ride in the wagons often, because they didn’t want to wear out their animals. Instead they walked alongside them, getting just as dusty as the animals. The long journey was hard on both people and animals.
Did pioneers sleep in covered wagons?
Some pioneers did sleep in their wagons. Some did camp on the ground—either in the open or sheltered under the wagon. But many used canvas tents. Despite the romantic depictions of the covered wagon in movies and on television, it would not have been very comfortable to travel in or sleep in the wagon.
What desserts did Pioneers eat?
As for desserts — they were simple, but many and varied. There were apple dump- lings, rice and bread puddings, soft molasses cookies, sugar jumbles, and mincemeat, pumpkin, dried apple, or custard pies. On special occasions we might have lemon pie. It was not necessary to skimp on eggs or milk.
Where did Pioneers sleep?
Where did the pioneers sleep? Pioneers slept in or under their wagons. Some slept in a tent and some slept just out under the stars.
How much did wagons cost in the 1800s?
It was costly—as much as $1,000 for a family of four. That fee included a wagon at about $100. Usually four or six animals had to pull the wagon. Oxen were slower, but held up better than horses or mules.
How much did a gun cost in 1860?
The Colt 1860 cost approximately $20 per revolver. This was rather expensive during the 1860s, both for the United States Army and private citizens. Colt had been criticized for this high price, and by 1865 the revolver was reduced to $14.50.
How much did a horse cost in 1850?
In the west US it was possible to buy a horse for as little as $10, but a decent riding equine cost around $150, with a range of $120 (1861) to $185 (1865). A pack horse for the Oregon Trail cost $25 in the US in 1850, but a riding horse would run you $75.
How much was a house in 1860?
A four-room house in most eastern cities ran about $4.50 per month. Outside of the city, land cost around $3 to $5 an acre.
What would a dollar buy in 1860?
$1 in 1860 is worth $32.43 today $1 in 1860 is equivalent in purchasing power to about $32.43 today, an increase of $31.43 over 161 years. The dollar had an average inflation rate of 2.18% per year between 1860 and today, producing a cumulative price increase of 3,143.31%.
How much did an apple cost in 1930?
Program’s popularity lead to its demise But then, it became so successful that it imploded. By late 1930, corner peddling had moved so many apples that the price of apples as a commodity began to rise. Soon, the apple association was paying $2.50 for boxes of apples it had once sold for $1.75.
What was the average salary in 1880?
Averages. If you worked in manufacturing (as many did during this period of mechanization), you could have expected to make approximately $1.34 a day in 1880, which adds up to $345 annually for an average 257 days of work in a given year.
How much did laborers earn per hour in 1900?
The average American worker earned approximately $12.98 per week for 59 hours of work in 1900—$674.96 a year.
How much was rent in the 1880s?
The rent for a small dwelling was about $4.50 a month. In addition, it cost about $5 a month to clothe and feed each member of the family.
How much did a house cost in 1900?
The average home in America sold for approximately $5,000 in 1900. In 1900, shoppers could buy a 5-pound bag of flour for 12 cents. Round steak was 13 cents a pound, and bacon was a penny more.
What was minimum wage in 1920?
$0.33
How much was a house in 1870?
| Price of Goods, 1870 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Food Prices | . | |
| Land | $5/acre (avg. 160 acres) | $.50 cents/box |
| Homestead filing fee | $14 | $60 |
| House — 32’x40′ (4 rooms) | $700 | $8 |