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, and the Apportionment Act raised to 33,000 from the Constitution’s specified 30,000 the population target for each representative’s district. In today’s House, 435 representatives serve close to 317 million Americans, an average of almost 729,000 each. Profile America is in its17th year as a public service of the U.S. Census Bureau.
Sunday, April 13th. Bubble gum, one of the joys of American youngsters but too often found on sidewalks and under chair seats, was developed in 1928 by a tinkering accountant. Walter Diemer of the Fleer Chewing Gum Company in Philadelphia concocted a batch that was less sticky than regular gum and 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 comprised of some 440 establishments 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>.
Saturday, April 12th. On this date in 1892, the first U.S. patent for a truly portable typewriter was issued to George C. Blickensderfer of Stamford, Connecticut for a “type writing machine.” The machine worked on the principle of a revolving type wheel, a precursor to the type ball of 1970s typewriters. The wheel reduced the number of moving parts from 2,500 to 250, improving reliability and reducing the weight by one-fourth. The Blickensderfer Manufacturing Company eventually became one of the world’s largest typewriter manufacturers in a crowded field. In 1900, U.S. manufacturers shipped 145,000 typewriters. 1967 was the peak year with nearly 2 million shipped. Today, what’s left of typewriter manufacturing has all moved overseas. You can find more facts about America from the U.S. Census Bureau online at <www.census.gov>.