The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1927-05-26
SAFETY DATA
EASY TO GET
DOCTOR SAYS
Facilities Available Simplify
Task, Whittem0re Tells
Council

Minot, N. d., May 26--tP) -Facili-
ties for acquiring the statistics
necessary to guide n statewide safety
campaign already are available and
can be utilized at small expense, DR..
A. A. Whittemore, state health dircc-
tor, told the North Dakota State Safe
ty Council ut its convention here to-
day.
The facilities which he would use
in gathering data for the safety coun-
ell arc those which enabled him to
place North Dakota in the list of
states accredited by the United States
Bureau of Public health. To be on
the accredited list each state must at
tain high percentage in the regis
trati0n Of it's births and deaths, Il
purely statistical enterprise.
Has 1000 Registrars
The state health department al
ready has 1000 registrars, one IN
every township. and these would be
available to gather data for the safe
ty council. DR.. Whittcmorc said. In
addition he has outlined system in
which automobile men, insurance
companies, highway department work
crs, automobile service stations. po-
lice officers and physicians would as
sist in the work.
All that is needed to put his pro-
posed system in operation and main
tain it for year is one clerk at
$500 year and an appropriation
for office supplies, stationery and
postage. He estimate the entire cx
pcnsc at $500 year.
Defining statistics as the systemat-
ic compilation of related facts cx-
pressed in numbers" DR.. White
more said they are the bookkeeping
of any sociological study or enter
prise and as necessary to success as
the bookkeeping in any bank or bust
ness.
"This kind Of bookkeeping may be
good or bad, true or false, in the
same way as the bookkeeping in a
bank or other enterprise" White
more said. But the gathering, tabu-
lation and analysis of statistics is
infinitely more difficult. 1t could
be classified as an exact science
were it not for the human element
involved in the collection Of these
facts. This, Of course. creates GER
tain percentage Of errors which must
be cons. dcred in their evaluation
This accounts for the old saying that
'statisticians and liars are synonom-
GUS
Statistics Are Valuable
"The fact still remains that stats
tics are invaluable at least in ex-
pressing relative values in comparing
events with each other.
applying their usefulness to the
enterprise with which we are now
LaA AN<t
dents, they are absolutely necessary
tor the following reasons.
"These questions must be answered
before we can proceed with intelii
gence and efficiency.
l. Do sufficient number of ac
cidents actually occur to make thl;
effort justifiable?
2, If SO, are they severe enough
resulting in death or great loss o
property sufficient to Justify thi
of money?
3. What kind Of nature are thes
fccidents What is the cause? Wher
do they occur, under what circum
stances and conditions and why
These questions must be answere
before methods Of prevention can b
devised.
4. Are we accomplishing anythin
in our efforts? By what standard d
we measure our progress! Shout
our methods be changed or effort
redoubled in any particular field
What. methods are most effective
what laws? What educational propa
ganda or mechanical devices ar
needed?
Need Statistics
'.NOne Of these questions can b
answered without the aid Of statistic
and without an answer to all Q
them being possible, it is waste 9