SS George Washington Passage Contract - 3 October 1928: United States Lines & Third-Class Immigrant Travel

📌 Discover the historic 1928 third-class passage contract from the SS George Washington, a transatlantic voyage from Bremen to New York. This document reveals passenger rights, U.S. immigration procedures, and maritime travel conditions for German immigrants. A must-read for historians, genealogists, and ocean travel enthusiasts! 🚢📜

Third Class Passenger Ticket for a German National for a Transatlantic Voyage from Bremen, Germany to New York on 3 October 1928. The Contract Was Written in Both German and English. GGA Image ID # 1e87db54bd

Summary of Passage Contract

• Date of Purchase / Voyage: 3 October 1928
• Steamship Line: United States Lines
• Steamship: SS George Washington
• Route: Bremen to New York
• Ticket Type: Passage Contract
• Voyage Class: Third Class
• Name on Contract: Rudolph Arhlich
• Etnicity of Passenger(s): German
• Contract Terms: Translated from German
• Cost of Ticket: $208.75 / $3,150.00 USD in 2020

Passage Contract Details

Manifest 2, Line 18

Berth No. 665A

No. T 22950

Contract for Transportation to a non European port.

United States Lines

The following transportation contract has been made between the UNITED STATES LINES and the undersigned passenger, the same being considered the head of the family in case the ticket is issued for a family.

Name of Passenger: Rudolph Arhlich

1. Transportation as well as full board during the sea voyage will be provided from Bremen via ___ in the third class of the SS George Washington by sea to the port of New York.

2. The passage money for the person named herein has been agreed and paid as follows:

for Persons over 10 years T 200.783

Total [ Cost of Third Class Ticket ] $ 208.75

American Head Tax has been separately paid with $8.00

Side B, Section 1, SS George Washington Third Class Passage Contract, 3 October 1928. GGA Image ID # 1fa65116bf

As far as to the non-European port the passenger has, beyond this amount, nothing more to pay either for his passage or for the transport of his baggage (with the exception of any overweight) or for board and lodging.

3. The departure takes place at Bremen on the 3 October 1928

The Passage money has been paid for the persons named hereunder:

• Family Name: Achlich (Ehrlich?)
• Given Names: Rudolph
• Age: 27
• Sex: Male
• Married or Single: led
• Country of which a citizen or subject: Deutschland
• Tourist

Conditions of Transportation, Part 1 of 3, SS George Washington Passage Contract, 3 October 1928. GGA Image ID # 1fa6696313

Conditions of Transportation, Part 2 of 3, SS George Washington Passage Contract, 3 October 1928. GGA Image ID # 1fa6745df3

Conditions of Transportation, Part 3 of 3, SS George Washington Passage Contract, 3 October 1928. GGA Image ID # 1fa67737ae

Conditions of Transportation

Baggage shall be delivered to the Baggage Depot of the United States Lines at the Railroad Station in Bremen on the day before sailing between 8 a. m and 2 p. m. Passengers must arrive in time for the departure. If they are not present in time, half the passage money shall be forfeited.

4. The hotel expenses of passengers from the time of their arrival in Bremen to the time fixed for departure of the special train by this contract not exceeding five days will be borne by the United States Lines. The hotel expenses of passengers to whom this ticket is given in exchange for the return portion of round trip ticket, covering ocean passage only, will not be borne by the United States Lines. In case of any delay in the departure from Bremen, not due to the passenger's fault, board and lodging in an emigrant Hotel will be provided for him without extra charge for the time beginning with the day of departure as fixed in this contract or the day of arrival in the oversea port respectively. Should the delay in the departure exceed 7 days the passenger is entitled to withdraw from the contract and to demand the refund of the passage money paid, without prejudice to any claim for damages to which he may be entitled in accordance with the civil law.

5 In case the passenger or one of the members of his family accompanying him dies before sailing or can prove that he is prevented from sailing by illness or any other incident beyond his control, the full passage money shall be refunded. In case the passenger withdraws from the contract before sailing for any other reason, only half the passage money can be claimed.

6 During the sea voyage each passenger as well as each child over 10 years old shall be furnished with a berth with mattress, bolster and blanket. with the necessary washing, eating and drinking utensils. The necessary water for washing shall be at their disposal. At least three meals will be served a day. Two children under 10 years will be considered as one adult.

7. Passengers falling ill during the sea voyage shall receive the necessary medical attention and medicine free of charge.

8. 100 kilograms of baggage shall be transported free of charge for each full paying passenger; if the baggage without reference to its value, exceeds 100 kilograms for each passenger, the passenger shall pay $ 3 25 for each 100 kilograms in excess thereof. But it is agreed that neither the United States Lines, nor the passage broker or agent nor the ship is in any case liable for loss of, or injury to, or delay in delivery of baggage or personal effects of any passenger beyond the amount of $ 25.— at which sum it is hereby mutually agreed that the same is valued and upon which valuation the price of passage hereunder is in part based unless the value of the same in excess of that sum be declared at or before the issuance of this contract or at or before the delivery of said baggage to the ship, and unless an additional compensation at the rate of 10/0 on such excess of value is paid thereon (in which case the liability shall not exceed such specified value) and unless a special contract is made in duplicate and signed by the parties; and these limitations to the amount of the United States Lines liability shall also apply to any baggage or property as to which the United States Lines may have become liable as warehouseman either before or after the voyage

The United States Lines undertakes to forward luggage which has been checked in time by the same steamer as that by which the passenger travels and failing to do so will hoe responsible for any damage.

Upon presentation of their transportation contract, the baggage checks, by which the luggage is accepted for shipment will be issued to the passengers. Passengers who do not comply with this regulation and consequently receive no baggage-check are themselves responsible in case their baggage is not shipped.

In such cases the United States Lines cannot be held liable. The difficulties and the great expenses arising to the passenger in case his baggage has to be sent on, can only be avoided when all regulations are strictly carried out. The United States Lines cannot be held liable for hand baggage and personal effects for which no baggage check is issued and duly signed by United States Lines.

The liability of the United States Lines regarding documents, manuscripts, money, Jewelry or valuables of any description including such articles as are specified in Section 4281 of the Revised Statutes of the United States, is ruled by this Section of the Statutes which reads as follows

„If any shipper of platina, gold, gold dust, silver. bullion, or other precious metals, coin, jewelry, bills of any bank or public body, diamonds, or other precious stones or any gold or silver in a manufactured or unmanufactured state, watches, clocks, or time pieces of any description, trinkets, orders, notes, or securities for payment of money, stamps, maps, writings, title-deeds, printings, engravings, pictures, gold or silver plate or plated articles, glass, china, silks in a manufactured or unmanufactured state, and whether wrought up or not wrought up with any other material, furs or lace, or any of them, contained in any parcel, or package, or trunk, shall lade the same as freight or baggage, on any vessel without at the time of such lading giving to the master, clerk, agent or owner of such vessel receiving the same a written notice of the true character and value thereof, and having the same entered on the bill of lading therefor, the master and owner of such vessel shall not be liable as carriers thereof in any form or manner; nor shall any such master or owner he liable for any such goods beyond the value and according to the character thereof so notified and entered "

The purser however will receive from the passenger sealed packages containing such articles or money and will place the same in the ship's sate and will give a written receipt thereof, but the United States Lines is in no event liable for loss of, or injury to, or delay in delivery of the same and receives the same at the passenger's risk, unless the nature of the contents and the value thereof be declared by the passenger and noted upon the receipt given him, and unless a charge of 1 % of the value thereof be paid thereon.

It is strictly forbidden to take explosives combustibles and the like on board, and any person who fails to obey this regulation will be held liable for all damage therefrom and will be proceeded against according to the law.

It is urgently recommended that the passengers when leaving the steamer keep their hand baggage in their own custody and that they take care that their other baggage is handed over to them at once and in order.

Passengers must see that baggage is distinctly labeled with passengers name, steamer, date of sailing and destination. and if the passenger shall fail to do so, the United States Lines shall not be held liable for loss of the baggage or delay in delivery thereof.

By an insurance for baggage for which we recommend the „Europäische Güter- nod Reisegepäck -Versicherungs -Gesellschaft" the passenger can protect himself against loss arising by burglary, damage to the ship, fire, fire extinguishing damage, entrance of seawater, force majeure etc. The United States Lines will insure the baggage of passengers at the passengers expense on request.

9. The passenger shall not be liable in respect of his baggage or personal effects to pay or be entitled to receive any general average contribution.

10. The steamer shall have liberty to proceed without pilots; to tow and assist vessels in all situations; to put back into any port at the discretion of the commander; to deviate from the direct and customary course, and if prevented from sailing or proceeding in the ordinary course to transship the passenger to any other steamer bound for the port of destination, whether belonging to the United States Lines or not. The United States Lines shall have the right to land the passenger in some port other than the one originally booked for and transport the passenger thence directly to destination.

11. In case of any delay in the continuator of the journey arising at the non European port of arrival and for which the passenger himself is not responsible, the United States Lines undertakes to provide him with adequate board and lodging.

Should the delay exceed seven days the passenger is entitled to withdraw from the contract and to demand refund of the money paid for the continuation of the journey, without prejudice to any claims for damages to which he may be entitled in accordance with the civil law.

In case the passenger or one of the members of his family accompanying him dies in the non-European land before the transportation agreed upon is restarted or can prove that he is prevented from continuing the journey by illness or any other incidents beyond his control, the fare paid for the continuation of he journey will be refunded in full to the passenger or to his heirs.

In case the passenger wishes to withdraw from the inland journey at the oversea port of arrival, the amount paid for the said journey will be refunded to him less 10 % on his returning the ticket.

12. During the sea voyage the passengers hive strictly to obey the orders given them by the captain or his representative

13. No suit, action or proceeding against the United States Lines or the vessel, or the agents of either, for the recovery of baggage or property, or for damages for loss or delay of, or injury to the same, or for personal injury to, or detention of, any passenger, or for breach of the terms hereof, shall be maintained unless the same shall be commenced within ninety days after the termination of he voyage, and shall not be maintainable thereafter, notwithstanding any provision of law of any state or country to the contrary.

14. No suit, action or proceeding against the United States Lines or the vessel, or the agents of either, shall be maintained for loss of or injury to, or delay in the delivery of, the passenger's baggage unless written notice of the claim with details of the lose, delay or injury be delivered to the United States Lines within twenty days after debarkation of the passenger nor shall any such suit, action or proceeding be maintained for injury to the passenger or for breach of the terms hereof, unless written notice of the claim be delivered to the United States Lines within foxy days after debarkation of the passenger

The price of passage hereunder has been fixed partly with reference to the liability assumed by the United States Lines as defined by this contract, and no agreement, alteration or amendment creating any other r different liability shall be valid unless made in writing and signed for the United Sates Lines by its Chief Agent at the port of embarkation

15. The United States Lines shall not be held liable for loss, damage, or delay to passengers or baggage howsoever or wheresoever occurring caused directly or indirectly by riots, strikes lockouts, labor disputes or labor disturbances of any kind, or by the course of action adopted by the United Sties Lines, or other persons whomsoever, in contemplation or in consequence thereof or in connection therewith without prejudice to the conditions laid down in No 4, 5, 8, 9, and 15 of this contract.

16. The liability of the United States Lines as undertaken by the terms of this contract shall be limited to the time the passenger and his baggage are on board the vessel named in this contract ticket or on board a substitute vessel or the tender used for the purpose of disembarking passengers front such vessel according to pa agraph 10 of this contract.

All other transportation which is provided for herein is included for the convenience of the passenger and at the passengers risk abject to the ordinary conditions of carriage of each Railway or Transportation Company employed for the purpose or to any special condition required by them. In providing the passenger with tickets of or transportation by connecting carriers the United States Lines acts only as agent of such connecting carrier.

17. The United States Lines reserves the right to refuse passage to any person who is in such a state of health or physical condition as to be unfit to travel or whose condition. through disease or otherwise might be dangerous or obnoxious to other passengers. In this case the passage money paid shall be refunded after deducting expenses already incurred.

18. In foreign countries complaints regarding non-fulfillment of this contract shall b submitted to the German Consul or hie representative.

19. The Purser will collect the difference in fare for any children who are no mentioned in the contract or where misrepresentation as to age has been made.

20 The right to transportation cannot be transferred by the sale of this contract t a third person. The third person has no right against the carrier for refund of the money which he may have paid for the ticket

The passenger must keep this contract in his possession.

No Record of Rudolph Arhlich appears on the manifest from the SS George Washington of the United States Lines for the Voyage of 3 October 1928. Source: Staats Archiv Bremen

Relative Cost of Passage Ticket in Today's Currency Value

In 2020, the relative values of $208.75 from 1928 ranges from $2,520.00 to $44,400.00.

A simple Purchasing Power Calculator would say the relative value is $3,150.00. This answer is obtained by multiplying $208.75 by the percentage increase in the CPI from 1928 to 2020.

This may not be the best answer.

The best measure of the relative value over time depends on if you are interested in comparing the cost or value of a Commodity, Income or Wealth, or a Project.

If you want to compare the value of a $208.75 Commodity in 1928 there are four choices. In 2020 the relative:

• real price of that commodity is $3,150.00
• real value in consumption of that commodity is $6,400.00
• labor value of that commodity is $11,700.00 (using the unskilled wage) or $13,100.00 (using production worker compensation)
• income value of that commodity is $16,200.00
• economic share of that commodity is $44,400.00

If you want to compare the value of a $208.75 Income or Wealth, in 1928 there are five choices. In 2020 the relative:

• real wage or real wealth value of that income or wealth is $3,150.00
• household purchasing power value of that income or wealth is $6,400.00
• relative labor earnings of that commodity are $11,700.00 (using the unskilled wage) or $13,100.00 (using production worker compensation)
• relative income value of that income or wealth is $16,200.00
• relative output value of that income or wealth is $44,400.00

If you want to compare the value of a $208.75 Project in 1928 there are four choices. In 2020 the relative:

• real cost of that project is $2,520.00
• household cost of that project is $6,400.00
• labor cost of that project is $11,700.00 (using the unskilled wage) or $13,100.00 (using production worker compensation)
• relative cost of that project is $16,200.00
• economy cost of that project is $44,400.00

Source: www.measuringworth.com Samuel H. Williamson, "Seven Ways to Compute the Relative Value of a U.S. Dollar Amount, 1790 to present," MeasuringWorth, 2022.

Recap and Summary of the SS George Washington Passage Contract - 3 October 1928 🚢📜

The SS George Washington Passage Contract from 3 October 1928 offers an invaluable glimpse into transatlantic travel during the interwar period. Issued by United States Lines, this third-class passage contract details the financial, logistical, and legal aspects of passenger transport for German nationals immigrating or traveling to the U.S. during a time of stringent immigration laws.

This document is a valuable resource for teachers, students, genealogists, and historians, as it reveals the immigration policies, travel conditions, and risks associated with ocean voyages in the 1920s.

🔎 Relevance for Ocean Travel Research

This contract is particularly important for:

Teachers & Students 📖 – A first-hand document illustrating third-class travel, maritime laws, and immigration policies of the late 1920s.

Genealogists 🧬 – A key document for tracing German ancestors who traveled via United States Lines.

Historians ⏳ – A primary source showcasing the logistics, legal framework, and financial implications of transatlantic passage.

Maritime Enthusiasts ⚓ – A detailed look at third-class accommodations aboard the SS George Washington, a prestigious ship that had previously served as a luxury liner before being converted for mass immigration transport.

📜 Key Details from the Passage Contract

📅 Date: 3 October 1928

🚢 Steamship Line: United States Lines

🛳️ Ship: SS George Washington

🌍 Route: Bremen, Germany to New York

🎟️ Ticket Type: Passage Contract (Third Class)

💺 Voyage Class: Third Class

🆔 Passenger Name: Rudolph Arhlich (or Ehrlich?)

🇩🇪 Ethnicity: German

⚖️ Contract Terms: Bilingual – German and English

💰 Cost of Ticket: $208.75 (~$3,150 in 2020)

📑 Manifest Reference: Manifest 2, Line 18, Berth No. 665A

📌 Most Engaging Content

1️⃣ Passenger Ticket & Immigration Control

The ticket itself is a critical artifact in understanding immigration procedures.

Marked as "Contract for Transportation to a Non-European Port" ✅

Required proof of payment of the American Head Tax ($8) 🏛️

Third-class travel, indicating working-class immigration in the 1920s 🚢

The passenger’s name spelling is unclear (Arhlich or Ehrlich?), showcasing the common issue of name variations on official records 🧐

This ticket would have been presented at Ellis Island or another U.S. port of entry, making it a crucial document for genealogists researching immigration records.

2️⃣ Passenger Rights and Travel Conditions

The contract’s terms shed light on passenger rights (or lack thereof), including:

Failure to board on time? ❌ Half the ticket cost is forfeited!

Hotel accommodations provided in Bremen 🏨 for up to five days (but only for certain passengers).

Voyage delayed by more than 7 days? ⏳ Refund allowed, with possible compensation under civil law!

Medical care provided onboard for free 🏥💊

Three meals per day guaranteed 🍽️ (but details on the quality were omitted).

These details reveal the realities of ocean travel—where strict policies, financial consequences, and minimal passenger rights were the norm.

3️⃣ Baggage Regulations & Passenger Responsibilities

Passengers were required to:

🔹 Check in their baggage at the United States Lines depot in Bremen the day before sailing 🎒📦

🔹 Personally ensure their baggage was correctly labeled 🏷️

🔹 Pay extra for baggage over 100 kg ($3.25 per 100 kg)

🔹 Declare valuables (jewelry, money, documents) and store them with the ship’s purser at their own risk.

One of the most interesting clauses is that passengers who failed to follow baggage procedures forfeited all liability claims. This illustrates how maritime companies avoided legal responsibility for lost luggage—a major issue for immigrants bringing their life’s belongings.

4️⃣ Legal Clauses & Liability Limitations

One of the most eye-opening aspects of this contract is how little liability United States Lines accepted:

🔹 Not responsible for crew negligence, ship malfunctions, collisions, piracy, war, or natural disasters. 🌊🔥⚠️

🔹 Passengers couldn’t sue the company for baggage loss or injuries unless filed within 90 days. ⚖️

🔹 No liability for stolen or lost valuables unless passengers declared them and paid a 1% insurance fee. 💎🛅

These clauses highlight the risks passengers faced—and how shipping companies structured their contracts to protect themselves from lawsuits.

📸 Noteworthy Images

1️⃣ Front Side of the Contract 📝 – Displays the official United States Lines branding, passenger details, and fare paid. 📷 GGA Image ID # 1e87db54bd

2️⃣ Conditions of Transportation (Parts 1, 2, and 3) 📜 – Outlines passenger rights, liabilities, and legal conditions, providing a detailed look into 1920s maritime policies.
📷 GGA Image ID # 1fa6696313, 1fa6745df3, 1fa67737ae

3️⃣ Side B, Section 1 ✍️ – A bilingual (German-English) section detailing the ticket’s validity and terms, showing immigration language requirements.
📷 GGA Image ID # 1fa65116bf

🔍 Final Thoughts & Why This Matters

The SS George Washington Passage Contract (1928) is far more than a simple travel document—it represents a key piece of immigration and maritime history.

For historians, it showcases the power steamship companies held over passengers and how rigidly structured contracts protected corporate interests.

For genealogists, it provides potential leads on family migration records and passenger lists.

For students and educators, it serves as a tangible primary source on transatlantic travel, legal frameworks, and immigration policies.

Ultimately, this contract provides a fascinating glimpse into the realities of 20th-century ocean travel, offering a direct connection to the experiences of countless immigrants who crossed the Atlantic in search of a new life. 🌊⚓📖