Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-10-02
ST ATISTIOIAN DEAD
JACOB r. DODGE, WELL-KNoWN
SCIENTIST, PASSES AWAY.
His Last Days Spent at His Summer
Home in New Hamp-
shire.

A dispatch from Albany, N. T., states
that Mr. Jacob r. Dodge, the well-known
statistician, died suddenly yesterday at
Woburn, Mass, of heart failure. Mr.. Dodge
was in his eightieth year and was quite
feeble physically. He spent the hot wealth
er last summer, is his custom, at his
summer home in Nashua, N. H., and, 1t Is
understood, had planned to return to his
home In this city, 1886 Vermont avenue,
where he had spent so many years. His
wife and a son, Charles Richard Dodge,
survive him.
For the past ten years Mr.. Dodge had not
been in active business, having retired from
the position of statistician of the Depart
ment of Agriculture in the year 1893, after
a service of nearly thirty years. he mad
not only performed the duties of that Of
flee, but had given 1t a prominence and i'm
portance which was international. He was
born in New Boston, N. H. in the year
1923. He received an academic education,
and then pursued technical course. Dart
mouth College conferred on him the nom
orary degree of A. NJ. He began his active
career as a teacher, but soon engaged In
journalistic work.
He was in charge of a newspaper in
Nashua, n. H, before the evil warsbegan,
and was later the editor OF the American
Ruralist, at Springfield, Ohio.
First Government Service.
Mr.. Dodge became connected with the
Department of Agriculture in the year 1866.
and was the first to hold the office of statis-
tician Mr. B. w. Snow. formerly an as
sstant of Mr.. Dodge, but now resident of
Chicago remarked today to Star reporter.
in speaking of Mr.. Dodges death. that the
latter originated the method of collecting
crop statistics now in use in every country
where work of this character is attempted
In this connection he became familiar with
the agricultural resources of the country
and of it's different sections, and was
recognized authority on this subject. He
seemed to be especially fitted for the place
which he filled with SO much distinction.
He had an inQuiring turn of mind and
memory of great tenacity. In his personal
relations his cordial disposition and kindly
nature attached strongly to him those with
whom he was associated. He was a strong
protectionist, and it was said of him by
leading fur trader that he supplied the only
reasons that were manifest in the argu-
ments advanced in support of the system Of
protection. He showed very Clearly the
relations between agricultural and indus
trial conditions. and rendered service of
great value.
Edited Annual Report.
In addition to his work as statistician, Mr..
Dodge edited the annual reports of the de-
partment. and he was also a contributor
to the agricultural press and was the
author of books on rural and political econ
omy.
Dr. Dodge was recognized abroad an
authority on statistical science, and this
fact was manifest when he was elected
member of the International Statistical In
stitute. Since leaving the position of sta
tistician he has in a measure lived a re-
tired life yet it was impossible for a man
of his activity to keep entirely out of the
tide of affairs. During that period he pre-
pared an important bulletin on wool and the
wool industry. which was issued by the
Agricultural Department. He has also writ
ten largely on the subjects which he had
made life study.
While Mr. Dodge felt the burden of phys
ical infirmities in his later years, yet men
tally he was bright and alert and capable
of mental effort that was rather surprising
in It's extent.