Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1901-01-25

read.
To-day the christian religion is accepted
by practically 100. .COatUO people
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The first iron war vessel built in the world
was the I nitcd States steamship Michigan,
which is still duty on the great lakes.
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In 1soo the Indian canoe WAS practically
the only ioa!ng vehicle on the great lakes
which hold one third of all the fresh water
in the world. To-day the lake fleet numbers
several Thousand steel steamers
only fifty years ago bu one woman
worked to every ten men AT present the
ratio is 10 four.
One hundred years ago it took II month to
cross the Atlantic. Now the trip is made
between two Sundays.
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In lSCO there was not cooking stove in
The United States. Now we are beginning
10 cock without fire by the aid of clcc
tricity
One hundred years ago one-sixth of the
people of the United States were slaves
To-day there is not slave on the American
continent.
Within the century the population of the
world has doubled. The population of the
United States has been multiplied by four
teen.
In 1900 only per cent of the people of the
United States lived in cities. To-day 30 per
cent live in cities.
hundred years ago the largest fortune In
the United States was $.5O,OOO. Now there
are several fortunes OF more than $780,
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During the century the center of popula-
tion of the United States has moved from
point twenty miles east of Baltimore to
Western Indiana, distance of sos miles.
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During the century total Of about 49,
000,000 people have come from foreign coun-
tries to make their homes in the United
States.
In 1900 the total revenue of the United
States government was $lOS4S,COO. For
1889 it was $ol5,G52,0o0.
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The first practicable steamboat was built
In 1902 ana the first railway locomotive in
1904.
In $500 man could travel only by coach
or horseback. To-day there are more
than 100000 miles of railroad track in the
United States alone, being more than six
times the mileage of any other country.
The proportion of passengers injured in
the good old stage coach days. as COM
pared with the present is as sixty to one.
80
The total value of the agricultural prod
ucts of the Urited States i'll 1850 was $780,
100000. In 1900 it will be approximately
$1,000, OOO, ,o0O while the farms of the coun-
try are worth five times as much.
Up to 1901 there were but three banks in
the United States with an aggregate capital
OF S2O0o00O. Last year there were 1851
national banks in the country.
The first savings bank in the United States
was established in 1916. In 1920 there were
ten savings banks in all, with S635 deposit
ors. In 1899 there were 942 savings banks,
with 5,GS1, 600 depositors. and with total
deposits of $2.236 COO, eco.
The first Y. NJ. c. a. was organized In 1874
by George Williams. There now 1,4.3
associations in North America alone, with
3OOOO members.
United States and 1875 miles CT postal
routes In 1899 there were 10000 postotces
and $4,000 miles of postal routes.
80.
In 1916 1t cost % cents to send single
sheet by mall distance Of 400 miles. To-
day letter containing several sheets may
go as many thousand miles for cents.
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Envelopes we're first used for letters in
1899 and the first issue of postage stamps
WAS authorized in 1871.
In 1S4S it rost 40 cents send letter
from New York to San Francisco.
Merchandise was 6rst admitted to the
mails in 1861.
The number of pieces of mall matter OF all
kinds which passes through the United
States mails annually at the present time is
about 6,5T6, 900, ,O0O.
In $500 there We're not more than thirty
colleges and other institutions Of higher
education in the United States. At the close
of last year there were 4S0. with total of
1o,OOO professors and teachers
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BY act OF the Continental Congress.
passed in 1855, one thirty-slxth part of all
the public .nnds belonging to the United
States were set apart perpetually as an en-
dowment for the public schools of the coun-
try. Under this and succeeding acts 71.Oo0.-
OoO acres lave been granted during the
century for the support of public schools,
and !, 1,1G5.o eco acres to universities and col
leges.
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The modern Sunday school dates from
17s0. when the first school of the kind was
started by Robert Raikes at Gloucester.
England. At present there are 10000 Sun
day schools in the United States, with
25o00oo teachers and 5000. 600 pupils
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In 1900 all surgical operations were per-
formed without the use of anaesthetics. The
use Of chloroform was not discovered until