The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1852-05-19
For the Spirit Of Democracy.
THE BUREAU OF STATISTICS.

THE BUREAU OF STATISTICS.
Mn. EDIroR:-Befors the adjournmen
Of the Legislature, DR.. WAITER, ofCinoin
natl, introduced into the Senate q bill e
provide for the establishment Of a Bureau
Of Statistics. This bill will DO acted upon
mex. winter, and, after being amended in
some particulars, will doubtless become q
law. Among the many excellent features
of the proposed law, the provisions requir'
ing the registration Of births, marriages
and deaths will perhaps be regarded as the
most important.
It 10 provided by the bill, that there shall
be established in the Office Of the Secretary
of State q "Bureau OF Statistics" as on.
tsmpla.ed by the Constitution, for the pur.
pose Of ascertaining and collecting all such
facts as are or may be adapted to illustrate
the condition and prospects Of society in
this State" This is certainly a laudable
and wise undertaking Of the State; and,
according to the provisions Of the bill as it
now 10. the Secretary and his assistant will
have abundance OF material from which to
make readable ~ffepor,s, provided the law
is strictly enforced. They will be quite as
important and interesting to tho citizens
Of Ohio as the Reports from the Patent
Office.
Information is to be collected, arranged
and disseminated among the people in re.
la,ion to agriculture, the products in man.
ufactures and the arts, commerce, popula.
ton. land grants, topography, biography,
geology, education and religion, longevity,
diseases, banking, railroads, assurances.
navigation, intercommunication, public
and benevolent institutions, charities. pau.
perism, crime, newspapers, application of
county taxes, number Of suits decided in
different courts. expenses and perfection
ofjustice; number OF county officers, law.
yers. physicians, clergymen, &C.; literary
productions emanating from each county;
manuscripts. letters, public and private
records, journals and rare books, interest.
ing in their relation to the history of Ohio,
possessed by individuals in each county;
date. extent, consequence and other cir.
cumsiances, Of droulhs, freshets, storms,
lightnings. hurricanes or other remarkable
events from remote periods; other meteor.
illogical phenomena. changes in climate,
&C.; and other matters OF interest.
Provisions are made requiring Town.
ship and County officers 10 collect infor-
nation upon the subjects already enumer.
ated, and others, and return tho same to
the Secretary of State, who. previously to
each regular session of the General As.
ssmbly, is required to make a full report to
the Governor, and the Governor will trans.
nit the report. with his message. to the
The fees of the Probate
Judge, County Auditor and Township As.
SCISSORS will be materially increased. as the
services required in the bill are principally
to be performed by them.
1t would be impossible to give a very
clear idea of the contemplated law without
publishing the bill. All who feel an inter.
est in the matter must examine for them.
Certain it is, that among many
good features, there are a few provisions
requiring information to be collected that
can be Of no great value to the people,
Whether the people will be benefited with
= detailed statement Of the "literary pro-
auctions" emanating from the various
counties in Ohio. may be a matter o fdoubt;
but oil must feel gratifed that there is no
provision in the contemplated law requir.
ing US to read the aforesaid productions"
Again, 1.-THE biography Of individuals
distinguished in your vicinity in the past
for enterprise, ingenuity, literature. talents.
civil or military, Sol to be furnished by
the counties and published to the aston.
ished world. The name of the sold Cap.
tain" now nearly forgotten, and his val.
liant deeds at General Masters, on Sun.
fish Crock more than twenty years ago,
will be recorded, showing how the Captain
and his companions in arms became the
heroes Of deeds mightier than the brilliant
achievements Of General Creary.
Statistics Of this kind remind US Of Tom
lines
"a prying. spying. inquisitive clan.
Who jot down the Iaboring classes riches.
And after poking in pot and pan,
And routing garments in want OF stitches.
Have ascertained that a working man
vn-.-. . ... ~ . Ill r k,anrIaat I'VE |