106 Wingate—Importance of More Complete Vital Statistics. 
1 replies, “ Yes, in two cities.” 
1 replies, “ Yes, in one city; filed with city clerk.” 
40 reply, “ No.” 
1 replies, “ No, not where parties have lot in cemetery, but otherwise 
from city sexton.” 
4 reply, “ Think not.’ 8 
2 reply, “ Don’t know.” 
8 reply, “Not that I know of.” 
1 replies, “ In one city, except Catholics.” 
1 replies, “ Health officer is required to keep same on file.” 
In reply to the fifth question, “Do you make complete annual 
returns of births and deaths to the Secretary of State?” 
All answered “Yes,” so far as returns to them are received. 
It will be seen by these answers that under the present laws 
in this great state of nearly, if not quite two million people, and a. 
rapidly increasing population, we have nothing that can be 
called by the name of Vital Statistics. We do not know how 
many children are born each year, nor the nationality of the 
parents thereof; nor do we know how many of our people are 
dying, of what they are dying, or whether they die a natural 
death or are killed. It is an easy matter for any one with crim¬ 
inal intent to dispose of a body, outside of a few cities in the 
state, without any return being made as to the cause of death, 
or without being required to obtain a permit for burial to be 
filed with any official authority. 
Can there be anything more humiliating to the mind of those 
who are interested in the growth, prosperity and reputation of 
this great state? 
No state or nation can understand itself without maintaining 
as accurate a record as possible of all that pertains to its growth 
and decay. This knowledge is not only necessary for our own 
present needs, but it would seem to be a sacred duty to transmit 
such knowledge to our children, and to future generations, for 
their advantageous use and common welfare. 
A G-erman historian has said that, “ History is statistics ad¬ 
vancing, and statistics are history. ” 
It will require but very limited thought on the part of a care¬ 
ful student, in this age of our world, to recognize the great 
