What a difference a century makes! Here are some of the U.S. statistics for 1904: ============== The average life expectancy in the U.S. was 47 years. Only 14 percent of the homes in the U.S. had a bathtub. Only 8 percent of the homes had a telephone. A three-minute call from Denver to New York City cost eleven dollars. There were only 8,000 cars in the U.S., 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 U.S. was 22 cents an hour. The average U.S. 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 in the U.S. took place at home. Ninety percent of all U.S. 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 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 prohibiting poor people from entering the country for any reason. The five leading causes of death in the U.S. were: 1. Pneumonia and influenza 2. Tuberculosis 3.. Diarrhea 4. Heart disease 5. Stroke 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 was no Mother's Day or Father's Day. Two of 10 U.S. adults couldn't read or write. Only 6 percent of all Americans had graduated high school. 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 bowels, and is, in fact, a perfect guardian of health." (Shocking!) Eighteen percent of households in the U.S. had at least one full-time servant or domestic. There were only about 230 reported murders in the entire U.S. And I forwarded this from someone else without typing it myself, and sent it to you in a matter of seconds! Try to imagine what it may be like in another 100 years . It staggers the mind. WE'VE COME A LONG WAY, BABY. HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY 2004!

Yes, we have come along way but are we really any better? Kittie in MD ----- Original Message ----- From: "L&R Foster" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Saturday, July 03, 2004 8:39 AM Subject: July 4th 1904 > What a difference a century makes! Here are some of the U.S. statistics for > 1904: > ============== > The average life expectancy in the U.S. was 47 years. > Only 14 percent of the homes in the U.S. had a bathtub. > Only 8 percent of the homes had a telephone. > A three-minute call from Denver to New York City cost eleven dollars. > There were only 8,000 cars in the U.S., 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 U.S. was 22 cents an hour. > The average U.S. 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 in the U.S. took place at home. > Ninety percent of all U.S. 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 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 prohibiting poor people from entering the country > for any reason. > The five leading causes of death in the U.S. were: > 1. Pneumonia and influenza > 2. Tuberculosis > 3.. Diarrhea > 4. Heart disease > 5. Stroke > 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 was no Mother's Day or Father's Day. > Two of 10 U.S. adults couldn't read or write. Only 6 percent of all > Americans had graduated high school. > 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 > bowels, and is, in fact, a perfect guardian of health." (Shocking!) > Eighteen percent of households in the U.S. had at least one full-time > servant or domestic. > There were only about 230 reported murders in the entire U.S. > And I forwarded this from someone else without typing it myself, and > sent it to you in a matter of seconds! Try to imagine what it may be like in > another 100 years . It staggers the mind. > WE'VE COME A LONG WAY, BABY. > > > HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY 2004! > > ______________________________

Think not - in many ways! ----- Original Message ----- From: Kittie Ennis Lane To: L&R Foster ; [email protected] Sent: Tuesday, July 06, 2004 6:12 PM Subject: Re: July 4th 1904 Yes, we have come along way but are we really any better? Kittie in MD ----- Original Message ----- From: "L&R Foster" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Saturday, July 03, 2004 8:39 AM Subject: July 4th 1904 > What a difference a century makes! Here are some of the U.S. statistics for > 1904: > ============== > The average life expectancy in the U.S. was 47 years. > Only 14 percent of the homes in the U.S. had a bathtub. > Only 8 percent of the homes had a telephone. > A three-minute call from Denver to New York City cost eleven dollars. > There were only 8,000 cars in the U.S., 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 U.S. was 22 cents an hour. > The average U.S. 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 in the U.S. took place at home. > Ninety percent of all U.S. 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 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 prohibiting poor people from entering the country > for any reason. > The five leading causes of death in the U.S. were: > 1. Pneumonia and influenza > 2. Tuberculosis > 3.. Diarrhea > 4. Heart disease > 5. Stroke > 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 was no Mother's Day or Father's Day. > Two of 10 U.S. adults couldn't read or write. Only 6 percent of all > Americans had graduated high school. > 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 > bowels, and is, in fact, a perfect guardian of health." (Shocking!) > Eighteen percent of households in the U.S. had at least one full-time > servant or domestic. > There were only about 230 reported murders in the entire U.S. > And I forwarded this from someone else without typing it myself, and > sent it to you in a matter of seconds! Try to imagine what it may be like in > another 100 years . It staggers the mind. > WE'VE COME A LONG WAY, BABY. > > > HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY 2004! > > ______________________________

Worse part of this remembering is, I do. In the 30's everything was cheap, but so was our wages. I worked at the Level factory for 37cents an hr. Bread 15cents but what was the advantage, levels out today. Still would like to go back. I will say my hair got washed daily in the summer we swam in the Raritan River or at Lake Solitude. Winter? maybe best to forget. lol Norma ----- Original Message ----- From: "Kittie Ennis Lane" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Tuesday, July 06, 2004 6:12 PM Subject: [NJ-Memories] Re: July 4th 1904 > Yes, we have come along way but are we really any better? > > Kittie in MD > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "L&R Foster" <[email protected]> > To: <[email protected]> > Sent: Saturday, July 03, 2004 8:39 AM > Subject: July 4th 1904 > > > > What a difference a century makes! Here are some of the U.S. statistics > for > > 1904: > > ============== > > The average life expectancy in the U.S. was 47 years. > > Only 14 percent of the homes in the U.S. had a bathtub. > > Only 8 percent of the homes had a telephone. > > A three-minute call from Denver to New York City cost eleven dollars. > > There were only 8,000 cars in the U.S., 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 U.S. was 22 cents an hour. > > The average U.S. 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 in the U.S. took place at home. > > Ninety percent of all U.S. 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 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 prohibiting poor people from entering the country > > for any reason. > > The five leading causes of death in the U.S. were: > > 1. Pneumonia and influenza > > 2. Tuberculosis > > 3.. Diarrhea > > 4. Heart disease > > 5. Stroke > > 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 was no Mother's Day or Father's Day. > > Two of 10 U.S. adults couldn't read or write. Only 6 percent of all > > Americans had graduated high school. > > 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 > > bowels, and is, in fact, a perfect guardian of health." (Shocking!) > > Eighteen percent of households in the U.S. had at least one full-time > > servant or domestic. > > There were only about 230 reported murders in the entire U.S. > > And I forwarded this from someone else without typing it myself, and > > sent it to you in a matter of seconds! Try to imagine what it may be like > in > > another 100 years . It staggers the mind. > > WE'VE COME A LONG WAY, BABY. > > > > > > HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY 2004! > > > > ______________________________ > > > > ============================== > Gain access to over two billion names including the new Immigration > Collection with an Ancestry.com free trial. Click to learn more. > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=4930&sourceid=1237 >