The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-01-02
LAsT CENTURY, CONTRASTS

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In 1900 there were only seven Protestant
foreign missionary societies in existence,
with 10000 converts and a total annual in
come of S125,000 Today there are $50 So
cieties with 6,OOo missionaries 6s,50o ma
tive preachers, teachers and helpers, and
over 100000 converts.
During the century the Bible has been
translated into more than $50 languages,
which nine-tenths Of the human race can
Today the Christian religion is accept
ed by practically 100000 900 people
In 1900 there were in all the world less
than fifty shipbuilding yards. Today there
are more than seven n4narsq hd 1laa
The first iron war vessel built in the
world was the United States steamship
Michigan, which is still in duty on the
great lakes, and has often been seen in
In 1900 the, Indian canoe was practically
the only floating vehicle on the great
fresh water in the world. Today the lake
fleet numbers several thousand steel
steamers with several sh1pyards on the
shores of the lakes to add constantly to
the number.
worked to every ten men. At present the
ratio is one to four Thirty years ago
two-thrds of all the self-suppOrting wO-
men were domestic servants Today only
one-thIrd are so employed
to cross the Atlantic. Now the trip is
made between two Sundays.
in the United States. Now we are be-
ginning to cook without fire by the aid of
electricity.
one hundred years ago one-sixth of the
people of the United states were slaves
Today there is not a slave on the Ameri-
Within the century the population of
the world has doubled. The population of
the United States has been multiplied by
fourteen.
A hundred years ago a woman and all
her possessions practically belonged to her
husband. Today a man may not under
any circumstances open his wife.s letters
rights. and controls her own property.
In 1900 only per cent of the people of
s6e e n cen i've II cfies N cities I0oay
a hundred red years aeQ the largesstt. ST. for or
Now there are several fortunes of more
lation of the United States has moved
from a point twenty miles east of Balti-
more to western Indiana, distance of
During the century a total Of about
100000 people have come from foreign
countries to make their homes in the
In 1890 the total revenue of the United
| States government was Sl0S48. 900. For
1899 it was S515, co., 900. During the same
period the total value of the real and per-
sonal property in the United States has in
creased IL fdifty-fold, being now estimated at
The Arst practicable steamboat was
built in 1902 and the first railway loco
In 1900 a man could travel only by coach
/ CT on horseback. Today there are more
! than 10000 miles of railroad track in
/ the United States alone. being more than
/ six times the mileage of any other coun-
The proportion Of passengers injured in
/ the good old stage coach days. as COM
pared with the present is as sixty to one.
The total value of the agricultural pro-
| ducts of the United States in 1900 was
| 500. coo 900. In 1900 it is approximately s.
4 600 10000, while the farms of the coun-
try are worth five times as much.
Up TO 1871 there were but three banks
n will an rncrcl4 ~
/ capital of $1,000 600. Last year there were
1881 national banks in the country. and
kinds in the United States amounts to
The first savings bank in the United
States was established in 1916. In 1920
| there were ten savings banks IN all. with
savings banks. with 5.ss7o00 depositors.
and with total deposits of s.. 230.0Go. 600.
1874 by George williams There are now
1.429 associations in North America alone,
sociations own and occupy 344 buildings OF
| their own. and their total property is
IN 1900 there were sos postofhces in the
United States and 1875 miles Of postal
routes. In 1889 there were 5000 postof-
fees and 497, 600 miles of postal routes
In 1916 1t cost % cents to send single
sheet by mail a distance of 400 miles. To-
| day letter containing several sheets may
go as many miles for cents
Envelopes we're first used for letters In
1889 and the first issue of postage stamps
was authorized IN 1S47
IN lo4S IL cost 80 cents TO send q letter
from New York to San Francisco.
Merchandise was first admitted to the
mails in 1871.
The number Of pieces Of mail matter Of
1 all kinds which passes Though the United
States mails annually at the present
time is about 6.57S. 600, 600.
In 1900 there were not more than thirty
colleges and other institutions Of higher
education in the United States. At the
close of last year there we're $50, with
/ total Of H. 900 professors and teachers.
BY the act of the Continental congress.
\ passed in 1875. one thirty-sixth part OF ali
the public lands belonging to the United
States was set apart perpetualIy as an
endewme for the public schools of the
country Under this and succeeding acts
q, 900. coo acres have been granted during
| the century for the support of the pub
! lie schools. and 1.1e5. 600 acres to UNIVERSE
ties and colleges
The modern Sunday school dates from
1880 when the first school Of the kind
was started by Robert Raixes at Glou-
cester, England. At present there are
/ 10000 Sunday schools in the United States
1 with 900, 600 teachers and 100000 pupils
In 1900 all surgical operations were per-
formed without the use Of anesthetics.
1 The use of cnloroform was not discovered
until 1s4l. Ether was first used to deaden
pain in 1876
In 1900 the total exports Of the United
| States we're $31. 100000. Last year they
were 81 600, COO 600.
Churches Are Aot,va