I believe that there was something in the law at the end of the 19th century
and beginning of the 20th century that specified that immigrants had to have
a certain amount of money with them so that they would not become a public
burden. They also had to pass a medical examination for the same reason.
And also swear that they were not an anarchist (as if they'd tell the
truth!)

As to the cost of the ticket cleaning a person out; that, like most things
was relative. If you had more money in the Old County, you had more upon
arrival. And if you had a larger family, it took more time to raise the
money for the ticket. If you look at the The Gjenvick-Gjønvik Archives
website: http://www.gjenvick.com/#axzz2FkwQrjum they have samples of
steamship tickets and contracts >from the era you are interested in which
will provide information about cost and so forth. The site is quite
interesteding although not particularly well-known.

Hope this helps,

Susan Granite Welsh