DOLLARS: Larry R. Fay of Anchorage, Alaska, did some digging on how the value of the U.S. dollar has changed over the past 105 years.

Larry writes, “After reading the April 15 RTS column about the 1912, 75 cent, round trip, Streetcar ride to Olean, I got to wondering what that would be in today’s dollars. According to

the US Government Consumer Price Index, 75 cents in 1913 (earliest I could find) would be equivalent to $18.58 in today’s buying power.

“The $250,000 that the Bradford Chamber of Commerce hoped to raise would be

equivalent to $6,194.872.45 in today’s dollars!

“The same CPI calculates that 75 cents today is equal to 3 cents in 1913 and $250,000

today is equivalent to $10,088.99 in 1913.

“Just imagine what all the oil produced in the Bradford area during those early years

would be worth in today’s dollars!

“In 1966, I worked in Olean for $1.50 an hour. I could buy 30 candy bars per hour

worked. Today, I’d have to make $30 an hour to buy 30 candy bars per hour worked.  

“Interestingly, working 44 hours a week back then enabled me to pay room and board,

maintain a car, and ‘party’ too much.”

DYNGUS DAY: Happy Dyngus Day.

Just a short jaunt away in Buffalo, N.Y., Dyngus Day organizers boast the largest celebration in the nation.

The Polish holiday, always celebrated the day after Easter, is related to spring ideas of cleansing and fertility.

According to the website for the Buffalo celebrations, it had developed into a flirty event: “In more modern times, the tradition continued when farm boys in Poland wanted to attract notice from the girls of their choice. It was customary to throw water and hit the girls on their legs with twigs or pussywillows. Cologne was used instead of water by the more gallant lads. The ladies would reciprocate by throwing dishes & crockery and Tuesday was their day of revenge, imitating the same tactics.”