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Archiver > HUNGARY > 2002-10 > 1033840486
From:
Subject: Re: [HUNGARY-L] ferenczy- returning to Hungary multiple times
Date: Sat, 5 Oct 2002 13:54:46 EDT
In a message dated 10/5/2002 9:55:08 AM US Eastern Standard Time,
writes:
<< 1. Did the US government pay for widows, children transport back to
Hungary?
Such as in coal mining accident deaths of the father?>>>
No. Coal mines were owned by private individuals, not the gov't. Most
immigrants new enough to belong to fratenal/aid organizations to which they
paid dues/premiums for a kind of life insurance in the event of their death.
Not all did, but it was certainly available to them, and the knew about them.
>>>2. Why did our relatives go back and forth to Hungary (1900 thru 1910 in
my
case), have some children born in the US and then return to Hungary.>>>
Because they were in the USA when it was time for the child to be born. They
went back and forth for many reasons -- visits back home, move back home, to
buy land or take care of family business, get the wife and kids or parents,
settle legal affairs upon death of parents -- same reasons people today do
it. I'm sure each case had it's own individual reasons for doing so. It was
very common to go back and forth numerous times. People came primarily to
make money in industrialized America -- about 35% of all the immigrants who
came, left and never came back.
>>>Were there visa restrictions during those years? >>>
No. Not before 1921-1929 timeframe
>>>How expensive was passage in those days?>>
Depends on how they traveled, and whether the shipping company was running a
discount or sale on passages, etc. Third/Fourth class was about the same as
a one-way air ticket to Europe is today on a discounted dollar basis. Fares
in 1910 dollars ranged from about $35 to $65 depending on time of year, ship
line, how old the ship was etc.
Linda
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