1907 Facts

The average life expectancy was 47 years.

Only 14% of homes had a bathtub.

Only 8% of homes had a telephone.

The average wage in the U.S. was 22 cents per hour.

The average worker made between $200 and $400 per year.

A three-minute phone call from Wichita to New York City cost $11—two weeks’ salary for the average worker.

There were only 8,000 cars in the US, and only 144 miles of paved roads.  The maximum speed limit in most cities was 10 mph.  Gasoline was sold in drug stores only.

Alabama, Mississippi, Iowa and Tennessee were each more heavily populated than California.  With a mere 1.4 million people, California was only the 21^st most populous state in the Union; and last year, in 1906, San Francisco had that terrible earthquake and fire.

The tallest structure in the world was the Eiffel Tower.

A competent accountant earned about $2,000 per year.  A dentist made $2,500 per year, a veterinarian $1,500 per year and a mechanical engineer $5,000 per year.

More than 95% of all births in the U.S. took place at home.

90% of all U.S. doctors had no college education.  Instead, they attended so-called medical schools, many of which were condemned in the press and by the government as “substandard.”

Sugar cost four cents a pound.  Eggs were 14 cents a dozen.  Coffee was 15 cents a pound.

Most women only washed their hair once a month, with Borax or egg yolks.

Canada passed a law that prohibited poor people from entering their 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, NV was 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 ten U.S. Adults couldn’t read or write.

Only six Americans in 100 had graduated from high school.