Page:Graphic methods for presenting facts (1914).djvu/18

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Need for complete records in curve form relating to all main features of a business. Curve-card filing methods. Blueprints from the curve cards allow a cross-index of all important operating curves. A complete record department for a business. Methods for keeping records as used by various large corporations. The need for education in the interpretation of curves. Curves in conference meetings by using a reflecting lantern and the curve-record cards without lantern slides. Curves on swinging-leaf display fixtures.

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The annual report of corporations not usually put in form to permit intelligent comparison by the stockholders. Records of previous years not usually given. The number of stockholders constantly increasing. Best policy is to give complete and clear information. Recent examples showing bad practice. Curves for the United States Steel Corporation as a suggestion for the type of chart to be included in a corporation annual report. Charts should be a feature of the annual report of every large corporation.

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Methods for collecting and tabulating data. Punched-card sorting and tabulating machines. Use of tabulating machines for manufacturing records and for analyses of selling results. The slide rule as a great convenience. The use and abuse of significant figures. Photographic copying of charts. Use of the reducing glass. Preparation of copy for the engraver. The Ben Day process. Charts for two independent variables. Card-board models. Solid models. The desirability of curves and charts in political campaigns. The projecting lantern with charts for campaign purposes. Methods for presenting election returns to large numbers of people. Charts in parades.

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The importance of clear and accurate titles. Symbols which are easily remembered. No necessity for plotting curves vertically. Errors resulting in interpretation of curves if the zero of the vertical scale is not shown on the chart. The selection of scales for curve plotting. Different impressions from curves from the same data but with various scales. Optical illusions which may affect graphic work. A checking list for final inspection of graphic presentations. Need for standard rules of grammar for the graphic language. A few suggested rules for graphic presentation. Great advantages may result if graphic methods are more widely used for portraying quantitive facts.