The year is 1909.
One hundred years ago.
What a difference a century makes!
Here are some statistics for the Year 1909 :
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The average life expectancy was 47 years.
Fuel for this car was sold in drug stores only
Only 14 percent of the homes had a bathtub.
Only 8 percent of the homes had a telephone.
There were only 8,000 cars and only 144 miles
Of paved roads.
The maximum speed limit in most cities was 10 mph.
The tallest structure in the world was the Eiffel Tower!
The average wage in 1909 was 22 cents per hour.
The average worker made between $200 and $400 per year ....
A competent accountant could expect to earn $2000 per year,
A dentist $2,500 per year, a veterinarian between $1,500 and $4,000 per year, and a mechanical engineer about $5,000 per year.
More than 95 percent of all births took place at HOME .
Ninety percent of all doctors had NO COLLEGE EDUCATION!
Instead, they attended so-called medical schools, many of which
Were condemned in the press AND the government as 'substandard. '
Sugar cost four cents a pound.
Eggs were fourteen cents a dozen.
Coffee was fifteen cents a pound.
Most women only washed their hair once a month, and used
Borax or egg yolks for shampoo.
Canada passed a law that prohibited poor people from
Entering into their country for any reason.
Five leading causes of death were:
1. Pneumonia and influenza
2. Tuberculosis
3. Diarrhea
4. Heart disease
5. Stroke
The American flag had 45 stars.
The population of Las Vegas, Nevada, was only 30!!!!
Crossword puzzles, canned beer, and iced tea Hadn't been invented yet.
There was no Mother's Day or Father's Day.
Two out of every 10 adults couldn't read or write and
Only 6 percent of all Americans had graduated from high school..
Marijuana, heroin, and morphine were all available over the counter at the local corner drugstores. Back then pharmacists said, 'Heroin clears the complexion, gives buoyancy to the mind, regulates the stomach and bowels, and is, in fact, a perfect guardian of health'
( Shocking? DUH! )
Eighteen percent of households had at least one full-time servant or domestic help..
There were about 230 reported murders in the ENTIRE ! U.S.A.!
Plus one more sad thought; 95 percent of the taxes we have now did not exist in 1909
I am now going to post this on my blog where others all over the WORLD will have access to it all in a matter of seconds!
Try to imagine what it may be like in another 100 years.
IT STAGGERS THE MIND
18 comments:
So much for the good old days. My grandmother always told me that you could have them.
Very eye opening post. It's amazing how times change. Thanks for sharing :)
How interesting and amazing at the same time. I will say I'm glad I'm not gonna be around in the next 100 years cuz we are living what will be written about and I wouldn't want to see what they will be going through. Loved this. Have a great day. :)
My, how we have changed ... and I even think most of it was for the better. 100 years from now? I can't even imagine.
What will people a hundred years hence be astonished or horrified by what they learn about us? Our wasting of the world's resources, the extinction of so many species, our self-inflicted ills, both mental and physical - and our compassion for others, both human and animal, our explorations into deep space and deep oceans, our constant research to find ways to alleviate pain and suffering. Who knows?
In another hundred years? Well, the other day your quoted Einstein saying he didn't know about WWIII, but that WWIV would be fought with sticks and stones. Let's pray we don't reach that point. Keep the good thought.
95% of the government services we have also didn't exist in 1909. And what jabblog said ... I hope we leave enough of the world behind for there to be thriving civilizations 100 years from now.
thanks for the enlightenment, lovely photo.
Yep, quite a list and sure makes you think. The question though, are we happier?
Interesting statistics! The Eiffel Tower still is a tall building... ;)
That was interesting ! Some things were better and simpler, while others (heroin?) are downright scary to think of!
it sure is mind boggling and to think that it still exists in quite a few places in the world.
That's a brain buster, alright. Hard to imagine!
It would be interesting to put the data side by side with present day information...
Sylvia, the image is so beautiful and the post is really interesting!
So vets have always charged a lot - lol! What an interesting post, Sylvia. Thanks for sharing. It sure boggles the mind. Have a wonderful day. Jo
Doctors had no college education? No wonder they only expected to live until 47! Incredible statistics, Sylvia. It was fun to see this.
Sure does put things into perspective, doesn't it? Fascinating statistics, Sylvia. Thanks for sharing them.
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