Mail via pneumatic tube ? Weather control ? A three - hour working day ? These sound like futurist predictions straight from the1950sand’60s . But proving yet again that there ’s nothing raw under the sun , these anticipation are actually over a century previous . And unlike the more libertarian - tinged version of these mind that would come forth after World War II , those at the turn of the 20th century were firmly rooted in lefty political science .
https://gizmodo.com/weather-control-as-a-cold-war-weapon-512620306
The January 6 , 1910 Cedar Rapids eve Gazette in Iowa publish a list of affair that they believed mankind would achieve during the century . The paper had its average share of strike ( “ reanimate scene , transmitted by receiving set ” for sure sounds like TV to me ) as well as misses ( we ’re still wait on that cure for cancer ) but it provide a enthralling snapshot of a generally optimistic earned run average . Well , affirmative for those with a particular political worldview .
prognostication like nationalize the banks , give women the vote , mandate ecumenical education through in high spirits school , and show complete “ politics control of corporations ” were only popular amongst hoi polloi with certain political leaning — progressive , socialists and other weirdos who want to do things like “ manumit earnings striver ” and “ live to be 60 long time former . ”
The complete lean from the Cedar Rapids Evening Gazette appears below , unknown grammar and all .
Cure for cancer .
Discovery south rod .
forbid or cure insanity .
Influence sex activity by parental treatment .
Create living organisms by artificial means .
record player book deputise for letter .
ration out clothing reform , wellness , comfort , durability only considerations
reconcile question of communicating with Mars . Wonderful astronomical discovery .
major power of mind over count a pragmatic science destitute of superstitious elements .
United States United States Constitution rewritten , supply improved mean value for conservation of original popular precept .
marvellous advancement in transit , largely ethereal ; airships and steerable balloon cut through ocean and continents in remarkable clock time . Racing planes make five mile per minute . Inland waterway carry wearisome lading by ameliorate methods . Monorail supersede two rail . electrical energy substitute steam . commodious , economic city dealings organization broadens city areas , opening suburban lands to householders . Pneumatic thermionic valve for chain armour and express . Horses curiosity . machine relegated to brusk length core armorial bearing . Ocean steamer clam for freight , improvement toward speed rather than size of it .
Produce rainfall at will .
toughness Au and copper .
Roads of nation paved .
Conservation of sun ’s heat and power .
Cure for and reasoning by elimination of T.B. .
growing psychical inquiry with fraud eliminated .
Movements for universal spoken language , universal faith , universal money .
Non - creation of blindness by eliminate grounds except accidents .
structure for the most part of concrete and metal or newly discovered cloth .
Electricity will move world ’s wheel . Later radio set - activity may substitute .
Terrors of state of war so multiply by last dealing invention , chances of warfare minimized .
employment of all energy , reducing white plague of wood and coal . Many fuel second-stringer .
Population of United States based on present proportion of increased , 1,317,547,000 at opening of twenty - first century .
Rational dieting with greatly reduced consumption of affair with increased nourishment from proper manduction and choice of foods .
Machinery largely substituting manual energy , will promote pursuit of finer artistry and sciences ; give ample opportunity for liberalisation and entertainment ; emancipate wage slaves . Three - 60 minutes work day predicted .
ocean H2O for irrigation .
pic in lifelike color .
Women ’s political equality .
Government control condition of corporation .
Animated pictures in natural colors , transmitted by wireless .
Substitution of labored metals with aluminum , etc .
Natural colors reproduced in paper picture .
Reduction of liquidation all forms of gaming , include stocks .
worldwide adoption of public ownership or mastery of public utilities .
Government process banking scheme , voiding of secret banks . Postal savings banks .
Moral , cerebral and economical awakening in gloomy sections of Africa , China a humanity power .
Beautiful and sanitary cities , offering with homes and employment places all forms of loose amusement , culture and diversion .
Greater bounty on brains with corresponding decreased in esteem for situation not gained by single accomplishment .
Revision judicial organization , deciding cause on amend scientific plan , insuring adequate justice . Pathological and psychological discourse for criminals . Crime cut back .
Due to universal breeding , with special reference to hygienics , Dr. and drug be largely eliminated ; average age to be near 60 years ; man taller , strong , higher intelligence information and morals .
The futuristic list was popular enough that it showed up in other paper around the region in 1910 , like the Bedford Daily Mail in Indiana and the Waterloo Times Tribune in Iowa .
Some of the predictions feel obvious , but we have to remind ourselves that this is only through the benefit of hindsight . For case , the anticipation that the country ’s roads would be paved may seem like a layup until you realize that America ’s modern main road system was an incredible engineering feat that took decades of planning , the effort of tens of M of people , and tremendous amounts of money .
Whether it ’s equality for women , establishing tiddler labor jurisprudence , or even developing aesculapian advancements , futurism of the late nineteenth and former twentieth 100 was almost always political . But it ’s fascinating to study the history of futurism and see how politically extremist and wildly futurist musical theme can become obvious human rights we can take for granted after the passage of enough time .
Image : Scanned postcard of Boston in the next circa 1910
CancerHealthMedicinepaleofuturePoliticstransportation
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