The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1880-07-07
INDIANA STATISTICS.
Brief Review of Professor Collects Report
Just Issued.

The 6rst report of the Bureau Of Statistics
and Geology OF Indiana, just being distrib-
1ted, presents some novel features In hui
man affairs it is impossible to do anything
perfect. The most accurate machinery will
have some lost motion; the most careful
sewers will have some seeds to fall by the
wayside; the best disciplined army will
have some stragglers and deserters who are
worse muscles. The collection of statis-
tics is subject to the same difficulties and
loss.
The Introductory report shows the general
outline. of the work, and contains much
brief general information valuable to for
eigners, as TO the soil, climate, commerce.,
land, roads, schools. etc, of the State, with
a history OF the many efforts to create a
Bureau or Department of Statistics in the
State. =. -tt eco n,fa'l .. 10
Those who gather and compile statistics.
who see and understand much of the details
which can not be published, also know
wherein the work is deficient, and what the
whole would have been il all had reported as
carefully and fully as portion did, just as
the geometrican, when finding part OF a
circle, can determine the diameter and cir
conference of the whole or, as the compaf-
alive anatomist, who, finding single bone,
will correctly Tlap out the whole skeleton.
This the indiana Bureauof Statistics has
done in many instances, notably so in the
aggregate amount of business done by all
classes of dealers and manufacturers in the
State, wherein the basis of the fullest re-
turns, and their ratio to population, and
estimate of the whole is made and submitted
il foot note for each class.
In this the Bureau has demonstrated to be
practicable what has hitherto been consid-
cred impossible, to-wlt: To exhibit COM
plete balance sheet OF the business of theState.
frcf fho hro If
licensed liquor dealers in the State for the
year is estimated to be as follows: Whole
number of establishments, 1TS6; average
value of stock on hand, 81 ,O39 1862; annual
purchases, So 633 1855; annual sales, So, 751,-
751; male employees. Jos; female employees,
%; total, 1l34; wages paid, $729,s7S; other
expenses, $743 2l5.
Every statistician should give these esti-
mates, as he possesses advantages for so
doing which his readers can not have, even
ifthey had the time and inclination to do so.
The table showing the number of land
holders for the past five years is a new in
Quiry. and is an encouraging exhibit. The
number owning land increases about 5
per cent. per annum, while population has
increased IN Indiana about % per cent per
annum since 1870.
The table of common wealth, !" showing
the value of all roads, public buildings, in
Guiding church and school houses, school
fund, poor farms, ETC., informs Us that the
total amount SO invested is nearly $269, 000,-
OOe, or over 1884 per capita. This has yet to
be created by the people who go to a new
country. So far as immediate comfort is
concerned, it is better to be a renter in Indi-
ana than proprietor in the Far West.
The valuation for taxation Of land, lots
and personal property per capita in the sew
eral Counties, and the marked differences OF
the same in the different Counties, is a
table for the legislator to study. Some
Counties are valued for taxation nearly
twice as high as are some others of the same
nOnulaIIon.