On a serious note - some stats from 1904

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(To put some perspective in this: my dad was born in 1903)

What a difference 100 years makes

The Year was 1904, which of course was a full century ago. The following statistics should boggle the mind. Things sure can change in just 100 years.

The average life expectancy in the US was 47.

Only 14% of the homes in the US had a bathtub.

Only 8% of the homes had a telephone.

A three-minute call from Denver to New York City cost $11.

There were only 8,000 cars in the US and only 144 miles of paved roads.

The maximum speed limit in most cities was 10 mph.

Alabama, Mississippi, Iowa, and Tennessee were each more heavily populated than California. With a mere 1.4 million residents, California was only the 21st most populous state in the Union.

The tallest structure in the world was the Eiffel Tower.

The average wage in the US was $0.22/hour.

The average US worker made between $200-$400/year.

A competent accountant could expect to earn $2000 per year. A dentist $2,500 per year. A veterinarian between $1,500 to $4,000 per year; and a mechanical engineer about $5,000 per year.

More than 95% of all births in the US took place at home.

90% of all US physicians had no college education. Instead, they attended medical schools, many of which were condemned in the press and by the government as "substandard."

Sugar cost $0.04/pound. Eggs were $0.14/dozen. Coffee cost $0.15/pound.

Most women only washed their hair once a month and used Borax or egg yolks for shampoo.

Canada passed a law prohibiting poor people from entering the country for any reason.

The five leading causes of death in the US were:
Pneumonia & influenza
Tuberculosis
Diarrhea
Heart disease
Stroke
(Cancer didn't make the top five because people didn't live long enough for it to happen.)

The American flag had 45 stars. Arizona, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Hawaii, and Alaska hadn't been admitted to the Union yet.

The population of Las Vegas, Nevada was 30.

Crossword puzzles, canned beer, and iced tea hadn't been invented.

There were no Mother's Day or Father's Day.

One in ten US adults couldn't read or write.

Only 6% of all Americans had graduated from High School.

Coca Cola contained cocaine AND marijuana. Heroin, and morphine were all available over the counter at corner drugstores. According to one pharmacist, "Heroin clears the complexion, gives buoyancy to the mind, regulates the stomach and the bowels, and is, in fact, a perfect guardian of health." (Wow! No wonder they called it the "good old days." lol!)

18% of households in the US had at least one full-time Servant or domestic help.

There were only about 230 reported Murders in the entire US.

Now, just think what it will be like in another 100 years, in the year 2104.

The Movie Geek

Does my car even go 10 mph?

Gone Fishin

Frightened Inmate #2

Gone Fishin

Frightened Inmate #2

crazy cat lady

Member

Gone Fishin

Frightened Inmate #2

Gone Fishin

Excelent

I am pretty sure that there was no air conditioning or duct tape back then too. Surprised

Big Daddy

Oompa Loofah

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On a serious note - some stats from 1904

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