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However, the change was more pronounced from 1909 to 1959, than from 1959 to 2009. So, in terms of actual lifestyle, change has slowed down.
By 1959, nearly everyone had a car, the speed limit was 65, there was a TV in almost every house. There were phones and tubs in every house, every doctor went to medical school. Those have not changed in 50 years.
Food has gotten much much cheaper since 1909. Then, 18 eggs cost an hour's wages. Now an hour at minimum wage will buy about five times as many eggs.
However, the change was more pronounced from 1909 to 1959, than from 1959 to 2009. So, in terms of actual lifestyle, change has slowed down.
By 1959, nearly everyone had a car, the speed limit was 65, there was a TV in almost every house. There were phones and tubs in every house, every doctor went to medical school. Those have not changed in 50 years.
Food has gotten much much cheaper since 1909. Then, 18 eggs cost an hour's wages. Now an hour at minimum wage will buy about five times as many eggs.
yeah the egg price was surprisingly high, especially since women used them to wash their hair, albiet once a month
The actual causes of death were in many cases just guesses by symthoms.Almost everything was high compared to the salaries.I have to marvel that mu sister paid 1200 for a refigerator in the 60;'s for my mother as mother day gift and I paid 1100 for the same mother days gift to my mother in law.But you could buy a very upscale car in 75 for 6500 and a house in the 60s for 17000. Bubbles anyone ?
Life expectancy was 47 years.
Fuel for an auto was sold in drug stores only.
14 % of the population had a bath tub.
8 % of the population had a phone.
Only 8000 cars with 144 paved roads.
Max speed limit in most cities was 10 mph.
Tallest bldg at the time was the Eiffel Tower.
Avg wage was .22 cents an hr.
Avg workers made between $200-$400 a yr.
An accountant made about $2000 a yr
A dentist made about $2500 a yr.
A vet made between $1500-$4000 a yr.
A mechanical engineer made about $5000 a yr.
95% of births were at home.
90% of doctors had NO college.
A majority went to a medical school that was considered sub standard by the Govmt.
Sugar was .04 cents a lb.
Eggs were .14 cents a dozen.
Coffee was .15 cents a lb.
Women washed their hair once a month w/borax and shampooed with egg yolks.
Five most leading deaths;
1...Pneumonia & Influenza
2...T B
3...Diarrhea
4...Heart Disease
5...Stroke
NO Mothers day.
NO Fathers day.
Population of Las Vegas was 30 persons.
American Flag had 45 Stars.
Crossword puzzles, Beer, Iced Tea, had NOT been invented yet.
2 out of 10 adults could NOT read or write.
6% graduated from High School.
Marijuana, Heroin,Morphine were available over the counter at local drug stores.
Pharmacists claimed the heroin cleared the complexion, gave buoyancy to the mind, regulated the stomach and bowels, and in effect a perfect guardian of a persons health.
18% had a full time servant or domestic help.
Only 230 reported murders in the entire USA.
95% of todays TAXES DID NOT EXIST in 1909.
Canada at the time passed a LAW that Prohibited POOR people from entering the country for any reason.
I received this info via E-Mail from my stepson with a picture of a 1909 Auto.
Sure was interesting to me as I was born just 22 yrs later...imagine what I missed.
Steve
The USA's population - and the world's population - were significantly smaller in 1909, so the number of murders would be smaller. Also, the realities of the American South regarding its African-American population and of the American West regarding its Asian-American population at that time would have meant that some murders in those regions would have gone unreported.
I don't know about the figures for 1909 but Chicago was the most dangerous big city in the world in 1900 for crime, and had street gangs, and gunfights in schools (and this at a time when Chicago was almost all white). Things couldn't have changed much by 1909. Chicago continues to have a very high crime rate on the South Side and major gang issues but is no longer the world's most dangerous big city, or America's most dangerous big city (and is not even in the top 10 of US cities for violent crime)
Other interesting facts:
In 1909 the USA had an agnostic president, William Howard Taft, who happened to be a conservative Republican as well and very overweight. How much chance would an obese agnostic, who publically admitted he did not believe in Jesus Christ, and who had never previously held elected office, have to win the GOP nomination today, as a conservative no less?
Speaking of the Eiffel Tower, in 1909 it was considered an eyesore and there was a movement to demolish it. It was not until the coming of radio that it assumed importance and then became iconic.
I think if you check snopes it will be proven to be a bogus list sent around by "friends" who simply send every rumor they find to every address in their address book.
I think if you check snopes it will be proven to be a bogus list sent around by "friends" who simply send every rumor they find to every address in their address book.
Not at all disagreeing that quite a few items on this list do not seem too factual, but unfortunately, can not find anything on snopes to disprove, or correct. Would be interesting to have a honest accurate listing, showing what has changed over the years, to what extent. Hmmmm,,, anyone?
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