Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 22, Number 4, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 October 1900 — INDIANA FIGURES [ARTICLE]

INDIANA FIGURES

Some Comparisons From Statistics That Point to Prosperity. “Figures won’t lie, and they sometimes present some cold facts that are most interesting,” said Deputy State Statistician James AV. Egnew. “I have been making some comparisons as to conditions in 1596 and 1898, the first being the last year of a Democratic (dministration. and the last the second year of McKinley’s administrations f find from the statistics that in 1896 there were 3,078 inmates of poorhouses in the state of Indiana, while in ISOS there were only 1,789. The county jails of the state were not nearly so crowded in 1898 as in 1896, for 1 find 25,727 people incarcerated during the former year, while 30,730 were imprisoned in 1896. Again, in 1896, there were 73,057 mortgages filed, and in 1898. 23,349. Mortgages were released in 1896 to the number of 3.2,820. but in 1898 43,649 are recorded as released. Now, as to the transfers of real estate: In 1896 there were 77.440, while the year 1898 shows up with 80.743. The consideration shown in the transfers in 1896 was $73,868,259, while in 1898; it amounted to $83,892,236. The consideration in the mortgages in 1896 was $46,610,671, and in 1898 onlj- $19,328,145, showing that the people did not need so much money. I Another evidence of prosperity is the amount of tlie mortgage indebtedness released. The records show that ‘Th 1898 this amounted to $29,838,524, and in 1896 it amounted to only $21,101.849. Prosperity is also noted in public affairs.” said Mr. Egnew, "for 1 ..find that in 1896 there were $470,574 worth of bonds redeemed by all the counties of the state. In 1898 bonds were redeemed to the amount of sl,1325.779. These figures are the very ■ best evidence of a better condition of affairs, and any one who says prosperity has not come simply doesn’t want to believe it. You know there are some people in this world who will not believe an established fact.”