Richness of Indiana 69 



ESTIMATING THE COMPARATIVE RICHNESS OF 

 INDIANA. 



Stephen Sargent Visher, Indiana University. 



It is difficult to evaluate the many items which together make up 

 the richness of a state, and hence carefully considered comparisons of 

 the comparative wealth of large areas, as states, are few or lacking, 

 although poorly founded assertions of superiority are common. 



In spite of the great difficulty of arriving at a just statement of the 

 richness of a state like Indiana it is very desirable that the citizens have 

 a well founded idea as to the standing of their state. 



My studies have convinced me that Indiana is one of the most 

 fortunate areas in America. I doubt if another area of like size is 

 permanently richer, except an area which would include a large part 

 of Indiana. But what existing state is richer in proportion to size? 

 Iowa is perhaps a better farming state, but she lacks many of Indiana's 

 advantages. Illinois has Chicago, and more coal than Indiana but she 

 is likewise much larger and has numerous difficulties and responsibilities 

 which Indiana has to a lesser degree. Ohio, another fortunate state 

 is inferior to Indicina in having a wide lake and a national boundary 

 largely shutting her off from the north, a less central location and a 

 larger percentage of rough land. 



Indiana has a far smaller coal reserve than several states, but in 

 the long run coal is less important than climate, topography, soil and 

 a favorable location. Some believe that accompanying the practical 

 exhaustion of coal, there will be an altogether different distribution 

 of the industrial centers. For example, that the more important parts 

 of our nation will then be near the Cascade Mountains because of the 

 great water power resources there. However, I suspect that instead- 

 power will be brought to the places which have a favorable climate, 

 fertile land, and already well established industries. 



But now to consider how Indiana compares at present with other 

 states. Indiana is 37th among the states in point of size. She is sur- 

 passed by many larger states when totals are concerned, but totals are 

 often less significant than amounts in proportion to population or in 

 proportion to area, or in proportion to needs. 



The gross value of farm products affords one excellent basis for 

 comparison between the states. In this respect, Indiana ranked eighth 

 in 1919^ However, only three states ranked ahead of Indiana in the 

 value of farm products in comparison to size. Iowa, the leader in 1919, 

 produced only ten per cent more while Ohio produced only a trifle more 

 per square mile than did Indiana. 



The "gross value of farm products" is made up of crops, livestock 

 products and animals sold or slaughtered. In respect to value of crops, 

 although Indiana ranked thirteenth state in 1919, when allowance is 

 made for comparative size, Indiana is seen to surpass all but Iowa, Illi- 

 nois and Ohio. In livestock products, Indiana ranked eleventh but six 



^ Statistics given are all official census figures. 

 "Proc. 38th Meeting, 1922 (1923)." 



