Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1885-05-24
sTATIsTICIANs.
Professor las. Nimmo, Head of the
Bureau of Statistics
Of the Treasury Departmental. Carroll
D. Wright, Of the Bureau of Labor
Statistics---Professor J. P.
Dodge, Statiscian of the
Department of Agri-
culture.
sDsefar c5rr,,Do,S,,o. or o.. sund.y Rs,i,,sr

Special Correspondence Of "a. Sunday Register.
WASHINGTON, May 2S.-The statisiicians
Of Washington are occupying pretty large
share of public attention just now. Protes-
sor Nimmo, the head of the bureau of sta
tist;cs Of the Treasury Department, is pack
ipg his grip sack preparatory toleaving the
place which he has held for the past seven
or eight years. Mr.. Carroll D. Wright is
hard at work getting his twenty special
agents into the field, and Professor Dodge,
the statistician of the Agricultural Depart
ment has just launched upon an unsuspsct-
ing public calculation of facts and figures
which will only be appreciated BY the few
who have time to give them a careful study.
Editor Switzler, of Missouri, who has been
named to succeed Mr.. Nimmo, is hsre pre-
pairing to take the position on the first of
the coming month. Mr.. Wright, although
appointed by President Arthur, expects to
retain bis place, and Professor Dodge, who
has been at bis present post about twenty
years feels that he is in no immediate dan
ser. The figure which the study of stats
tics cuts in the administration Of great
and intelligent government such as this, is
greater than many would suppose. An able
ststistician is person of great value 10 the
Government or department of it.
ut is wonderful" said gentleman con-
nected for many years with the statistical
work of the Government here, to see the
growth of this in the past few years, and the
increased interest that is being taken in it.
You would be surprised TO see the interest
that people take in the class of matter that
few years ago failed entirely to interest them.
Indeed we find the interest growing in much
greater proportion than our force, or our
ability to supply the increased demand upon
US for the same"
"You get good many calls for informa-
ton thenY
"a good many? Well, should say so.
Thousands OF them"
From what class of people do they
come"
"All classes. Of course when Congress
is in session we get great many demands
from members who want the information tor
use in debates. But you would be surprised
10 see the interest people generally take i'll
this matter. We get enquiries from all
classes of people, members of state legisla-
'ures, merchants, teachers. students, preach
e-s, manufacturers and farmers. This is
especially the case when the tariff or some
question Of that sort is being discussed in
Congress and in the newspapers"
You consider this healthy sign do you
not?"
Very. When you see the people begin
sug to take an interest in statistical intor-
nation you may be sure that they are think
ing on matters Of importance, Yes the de-
veIopment in this regard in the past ten
Years has been very great.
You get more calls for information in
this line than you did few years ago.?
"a great nanny more. Yes ten times as
many as we did ten years ago And the
the work of gathering the statistics is look
ed upon more favorably now than it was
few years ago. Then it was looked upon
with aversion; there was sort OF feeling
that it was an interference with private bust
ness, and that the facts and figures so gath
cred would not be of any material value.
There was a demand with certain class
for statistics but they were few in number"
What is the scope of the work underta,
ken By the Treasury Bureau OF StahstlcsF