Jan. 26, 1908

Newspapering a century ago: The Times blasts the City Council's spending in caustic language that is unimaginable today--and so much fun ... Eight newsboys and messengers are arrested for--what's this?--selling tips on the horses ... And complicated lawsuits in the courts. Note: A car that cost $4,200 in 1908 would be $87,639.37 USD 2006.

 

 

Comments

[Richard H]

"A car that cost $4,200 in 1908 would be $87,639.37 USD 2006."

No Model T either.

Cars like this one is what the the proposed Arroyo Seco Parkway "the boulevard from the mountains to the sea" must have been intended for.
A parkway for wealthy owners of luxury automobiles to cruise back and forth on. What's the point of owning a luxury car without a grand boulevard to drive it on?

--It's fun to read the early stories about automobiles. The streets (and roads) were terrible and the vehicles were primitive and unreliable. There's more from 1907 at the 1947project.

--If you get a chance, go to the Library of Congress website and watch this Edison film of traffic in San Francisco right before the earthquake: Streetcars, autos, bicycles and horses. The utter chaos and anarchy is unbelievable by today's standards.

http://memory.loc.gov/mbrs/lcmp003/01142s1.mpg

--Larry