1909 vs 2009

Ethan, the year was 1909.
This is what a Ford looked like then:Just one hundred years ago.
What a difference a CENTURY makes!
Here are some interesting statistics from the Year 1909:

• The average life expectancy was 47 years. (I'll be 63 in 2009)
  
• Only 14 percent of the homes had a bathtub. (yours does and so does mine)
  
• Only 8 percent of the homes had a telephone. (I have three phones and the Internet)
  
• There were only 8,000 cars and only 144 miles of paved roads. (there are more cars than that in your city)
  
• The maximum speed limit in most cities was 10 mph. (it's 70+ MPH now on an Interstate)
  
• The tallest structure in the world was the Eiffel Tower! (now, it's this building in Dubai)
  
  
• The average wage in 1909 was 22 cents per hour. (I have a friend who makes $75/hr)
  
• The average worker made between $200 and $400 per year. (my friend Jerry made $300 on Saturday)
  
• A competent accountant could expect to earn $2,000 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. (now a dentist can make $2,500 in several days or less)
  
• More than 95 percent of all births took place at home.
• Ninety percent of all doctors had no college education! (two of your great-great-great grand fathers were doctors before 1890)
• Sugar cost four cents a pound.
• Eggs were fourteen cents a dozen. (today I pay about $2/dozen)
  
• Coffee was fifteen cents a pound. (today Starbucks coffee can be more than $8/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.
  

In 1909 the five leading causes of death were:

1. Pneumonia and influenza (heart disease in 2009)
   
2. Tuberculosis (cancer)
3. Diarrhea (stroke)
   
4. Heart disease (Chronic lower respiratory diseases)
5. Stroke (Accidents: unintentional injuries)

In 1909:

• The American flag had 45 stars. (50)
  
• The population of Las Vegas, Nevada, was only 30! (2007: 1,836,333)
• Crossword puzzles, canned beer, and ice tea hadn't been invented yet.
• There was no Mother's Day or Father's Day. (thanks again for my Father's Day card)
  
• Two out of every 10 adults couldn't read or write.
• Only 6% 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'
• 18% of households had at least one full-time servant or domestic help.
• There were about 230 reported murders in the entire U.S.A.! (Mainly because there was a firearm of some sort in almost every home! An armed society is a polite society!)

This is a sports car in 2009:
Try to imagine what it may be like in another 100 years.
I love you, Ethan... you have an exciting life ahead!
Granddaddy
PS. Call me sometime 931-598-9160.