Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 3.djvu/636

 OFFICIAL STATISTICS.

THE statistics of manufactures and of wealth as published at the Eleventh Census are frequently criticised as in a large part worthy of no confidence whatever, and, instead of promoting an intelligent understanding of social conditions, have chiefly served to mislead.

While these statistics are fully explained in the official reports and the totals there given are a true presentation of the facts, the continued reiteration of the statement that the true facts have not been shown is liable to mislead those who have not the time or the inclination to study the voluminous reports.

It will be my endeavor to so present the truth in regard to the statistics relating to manufactures that their value and utility may be fully appreciated.

It has been the aim of the superintendent of each census to secure a complete report for each branch of statistical inquiry. Of the numerous investigations undertaken those pertaining to population, agriculture, and manufactures have always ranked first, and every effort has been made to obtain a complete report con- cerning them, even if it necessitated the neglect or abandonment of other inquiries. Therefore the total of manufactures published at each census presents as nearly as possible the true total for the products of industry. In this the Eleventh differed in no respect from prior censuses, and on this theory it is perfectly proper to compare the results. Speculation as to the omissions, incomplete canvass, etc., cannot be relied on to correct these totals, which are the results of a personal canvass and the appli- cation of the best statistical methods known at the time.

The criticism of the totals of the Eleventh Census has invaria- bly been that they are too large : that they were so swollen by the complete canvass and the inclusion of industries not before enumerated that they show an abnormal increase. The totals cannot be too large to present the true facts at each period

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