The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-10-06
q The Splendid Special Work" Of Por
ter's Census.

This phrase of high commendatlon comes
from the only authority that has yet ex-
pressed any satisfaction with the manner
In which the work Of the census has been
performed, that is to say. from Mr.. ROBERT
=. PORTER himself.
z In its principal and sole Constitutional
function. the enumeration Of the inhabitants
1t the United States for the purpose Of OPP
portionment, the Eleventh Census has been
proved to be false and fraudulent. Its fig
ures are worse than worthless. In the case
81 the population Of New York the returns
Z were Intentionally bedevilled and falsifed.
I 1or the sake of partisan advantage. In the
\ 1Aos Of the evidence Of their falsity. PORTER
hos refused to rectify them.
Tn Sun has likewise shown that the pre-
tended statistics Of municipal finance are as
deliberately dishonest as the population
figures. As far as New York is concerned.
tho motive on PoRTER's part seems to have
beon petty spite. Tho object of this Mon
EAGUB T1Go In Office was to exhibit the town
which he chiefly hates as tho most expen-
Gvely governed Of American cities Of the
0xst class. Here. again. as before. the
presentation by Comptroller MYERS In
4 authoritative form Of the evidence of mis-
statement has been met by PORTER with
IN insolent refusal to correct the record.
II now becomes proper to examine some
% the splendid special work" Of PoRTER's
oxperts In fields ofinvestigation where there
& u no apparent reason for deliberate mis-
representation or partisan fraud. For this
purpose the extensively collected and pre-
tentiously arrayed statistics relative to the
- In III ~ fha,
veil as any other.
stone. In Gen. HAnRIsoN's own State the
production OF limestone for building pur-
/ poses is an important industry. It happens
i chat the accuracy of the statistics Of the
limestone industry In Indiana can be tested
by the results OF q census by the Depart
ment of Geology and Natural History.
We print In another column spir-
Sted letter from Mr.. A. c. BENEDICT. the
Assistant State Geologist. exhibiting the
gTOss ignorance and almost grotesque
i errors Of tho PORTER census with regard to
the Indiana stone Industries. 1t Is only
natural to assume. knowing what we do Of
i Mr.. PoETER's methods, that an analysis Of
his special statistics In almost any depart
nent Of inquiry would show the figures to
be equally far from tho truth. and quite as
worthless FOR any practical purpose.
Here. for example. L. Mr.. BENEDICT as
sorting. after q personal examination Of
TIE whole field covered by PoRrER's ex-
pcrts, that tho product Of the o5litic
limestone quarries OF Indiana alone amounts
Z 70 more than the combined product In
oclitlc and stratified limestone for building
purposes. as stated by PoRTER's bulletin;
that the total amount invested In the
indiana limestone quarrylng industry is
q. 801 Gas. OF about 20 per cent more than
- stated by the census bulletin: and that
he counted more than 600 workmen employ
ed In this industry whom PoRTERs experts
missed altogether-an error Of just Is per
cent. In the matter easiest OF all Of exact
ascertainment.
With regard to the Indiana sandstone In
dustry. reported by Mr.. PORTER In Bulletin
No. 10. the errors Of the census are still
more astonishing. We exhibit q few Of
{ them In form Ineligible at glance:
M NUxsxk auAnniKs
Ascending 70 PonrrRs experts.
~ counted by tho State Geolosist ............2a
&c. AMOUNT OF ISvrsrsxsr
According to PoHIERs experts. 92.5
~ AscsTtained by the State Geologist. 900
yaopUcI N cusIc EsEr
According TO PokrxRs experts ..."......... 83<<Al
~ ascertaned by the State Geoiogist. se56o2
VALUE PRODUCT
Acoordins to PorrsRs expsr.s.,..."..-".... s+3ss3
~ ascsrtsnsd by the State Geoogst..,".... 15d657
y This will serve as sample OF the "splen-
s I'D special work" Beyond this. Mr. BENE-
NOR accuses the census of reporting the ex-
lstence Of srauitc quorries whore no gran
Of al .tn, -.vit Ia f,r,