The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-01-25
The Necessity OF Bureau or Statistics--Coss-
gresslOnal Action Wanted,


gressiOnsl Action Wsnted,
One of the most urgent necessities in the Or
ganizaton of the government at Washington is
Bureau of Statistics, which should be the great
centre of all the statistical information that is
now diffused in complete disorder through the
several departments census returns, the ia
bles of commerce and trade immigration, and
many of the branches Of industry-in fact,
bureau that shall perform for the great indus
trial interests the same services that the Patent
Office is rendering to the agricultural.
This bureau should be created and organized
during the present session of Congress. In two
years more we have to take another general CEN
sus of the country, and the officers should have
some experience before entering upon that duty.
The manner in which the census has hitherto
been taken is reproach to country claiming
to possess the lights of civilization. No two of
them are capable of comparison with each other.
Not only are they not compiled and tabulated
alike, but they are entirely wanting in uniformi-
ty of information For instance, the statistics
Of the various branches of commerce we're en-
tirely omitted in the last census, though they
X
the late crisis in financial affairs we
have endeavored in vain to gather some
idea of the extent of our domestic trade from
that pOmpous work. published at so great a
cost to the country and profit to the printer,
called the Census Of the United States. Be-
yond mere enumeration of our exports and
imports for series of years, it gives us no in
formation on this point.
1t is time that this evil were remedied, and
that comprehensive, general and useful plan
were combined, upon which the census of the
nation can be taken systematically, and enable
us to compare our industrial development, one
decade with another, in something more than
the simple enumeration of white folks and mig
gers A few judicously compiled and promptly
published statistics will often be of eminent ser
vice to trade and industry, by showing US
where over trading and over production are
going on. Great changes are constantly occur
ring in the pursuits of industry, and general
knowledge of what these are would be valua-
BILE guide to capital seeking employment. For
example, the South and Southwest are begin
ming to enter into the business Of making cot
ton fabrics; if the country possessed the proper
information in regard to this fact, we should
not be in the danger of ever manufacture Of
domestics and coarse goods to the extent we
now are, when the facts are in the possession Of
few individuals only, and new enterprises
learn them only from a deadly competition.
This necessity is well understood in Europe, and
there is hardly apetty German Principally but
has its bureau of statistics the publications of
which are an important guide in the safe en-
ployment Of capital.
We therefore call upon the representatives of
this city in Congress to move at once in this
matter. New York, as the great metropolis of
the industry and commerce of the country, is
more interested than any other one Congress
sional district. In order to assist them in the
work we will point out some of the sources of
information which are within their immediate
reach. Two reports were made TO Congress on
this subject in 1s45, and bill was introduced
at that time. The compendium Of the British
census will give them the details of the organi-
cation Of the Office Of Registrar General and
Porter's Progress of the Nation" published in
London, will suggest many valuable ideas. Let
them go to work at once and prepare bill for
the creation of the Bureau of Statistics. The
man that does this will do much more towards
securing his reelection from the first CONNER
cial city of the Union than all the intriguing
about Custom House appointments, and other
petty favors to Office beggars, can ever attain
for him. Who is the man that will make his
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interests of the country?