The Year 1903

THE YEAR 1903

The year is 1903, one hundred years ago... what a difference a century makes! Here are the U.S. statistics for 1903:

* The average life expectancy in the US was 47 years.

* 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 road.

* 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/year, a dentist $2,500/year, a veterinarian between $1,500-$4,000/year, and a mechanical engineer about $5,000/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 lead ing causes of death in the US 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 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.

* 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."

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

* There were only about 230 murders in the entire US.

* Just think what it will be like in another 100 years. It boggles the mind!

THE FUTURE!

* The average life expectancy in the US will once again be 47 years!

* A three-minute call from Denver to New York City will once again cost $11!

* Thanks to overcautious regulators, the maximum speed limit in most cities will once again be 10 mph!

* Alabama, Mississippi, Iowa, and Tennessee will each be more heavily populated than California again, after most of California slips into the sea during the Big One!

* The average US worker will once again be making between $200-$400/year!

* The five leading causes of death in the US will be:

1. Voluntary Euthenasia
2. Teleporter Malfunction
3. Nanobliteration
4. Disconnection Shock
5. System Crash

* The American flag will have 179 stars! Welcome, Paraguay!

* There will be no Mother's Day or Father's Day, because we'll all be cloned in a big, sterile factory!

* Coca Cola will once again contain cocaine!

* 18% of households in the US will have at least one domestic robot!

* There will be about 230,000,000 murders in the entire US!