To borrow from some recent advertising slogans, although many Americans couldn’t imagine leaving home without them, and they’re everywhere they want to be, there was a time when credit cards were rare; issued only by individual merchants. But that proprietary limitation ended on this date in 1952, when the Franklin National Bank in New York launched a credit card for use by the customers of varied merchants. In this, the bank was following the lead of the Diners Club Card, created in 1950. Today in the U.S., credit card offers fill the mails. The financial sector backs these offers through nearly 740 issuing establishments, which generate over $56 billion in annual revenue. You can find more facts about America from the U.S. Census Bureau, online at <www.census.gov>.
The distribution of political representation under the Constitution was authorized on this date in 1792. Based on the results of the 1790 Census, the House of Representatives was to be apportioned according to population, coming as near to equal populations in the districts as could be determined. That first census counted a resident population of over 3.9 million people in the soon to be 15 states. There were then 105 seats in the House of Representatives. In today’s house, 435 representatives serve about 315 million Americans, an average of about 724,000 each. You can find more facts about America’s people, places and economy from the American Community Survey at <www.census.gov>.
One of the joys of American youngsters — and big league baseball players — was developed in 1928 by a tinkering accountant…bubble gum. Walter Diemer of the Fleer Chewing Gum Company in Philadelphia concocted a batch that was less sticky than regular gum, and also stretched more easily. It was pink because that was the only food color on hand when he made the first batch. Seeing that it would make bubbles, he distributed free samples to stores throughout Philadelphia. By 1929, Diemer’s invention– Dubble Bubble — caught on. Bubble gum is part of America’s nonchocolate confectionary manufacturing industry producing over $5.7 billion worth of treats annually. You can find more facts about America from the U.S. Census Bureau, online at <www.census.gov>.