Financial Gossip
We know that the Louisiana Purchase cost $15 million, that in “Deadwood” you could buy an alcoholic refreshment for $.15 (of course, that could be a loss-leader for the $7 prostitutes,) and that Mr. Darcy had an annual income of 50,000 pounds.
But what are those sums worth in today’s money? Are Louisiana and Deadwood real bargains, and would Mr. Darcy’s fortune justify selling your sister or mother (or both)?
This website has the answers:
http://www.measuringworth.com
I know Professor Officer and vouch for his erudition. (His sense of humor is another matter).
By the way, Louisiana and Deadwood are still bargains. And Mr. Darcy’s fortune might justify transsexual surgery.