“ Indiana resembles Illinois in its physical features. Lying within the prairie region, it has a gently undulating surface which slopes by imperceptible stages toward the southwest, The northeastern part has an elevation of 1000 to 1200 feet, the northwestern 500 to 700 feet; along the Ohio River the elevations are about 500 feet in the southeast and 300 feet in the southwest. There are sandy hills near Lake Michigan, and a series of low elevations of glacial origin occurs in the southern part, extending from the Ohio, in Clark County, northwestward to Parke County on the Wabash. ”

“ The percentage of the population engaged in manufacturing grew from 3.5 in 1880 to 5.0 in 1890 and 6.2 in 1900. Among the factors which are accountable for this recent growth, the most important is the development of the natural-gas resources of the State. From about 1886 the production of gas increased steadily until 1899, when it exceeded in amount that of any other State. ”

“ A carefully graded system is now universal throughout the State, and through the agency of a competent corps of county superintendents an efficient supervision of schools is effected. A serious problem has arisen in consequence of the very general decrease in the attendance at the rural schools. In 1899 there were 1848 schools having less than 15 pupils each. The solution of the problem is being found in the abandonment of the small schools and the transportation, of the pupils to one centrally located school. ”

“ Railroads have come to be the principal means of communication, the State being most advantageously placed in this respect. All lines from the east centring in Chicago pass through the State, as do most of the lines connecting the great commercial centres of the East with those of the West, besides some important northern and southern lines. ”

“ The Methodists from the pioneer days to the present have been the leading denomination, having more members in Indiana in proportion to the total State membership of all churches than in any other Northern State. In recent years the Christian Church has had a phenomenal growth. The Catholics are proportionally weaker than in any other Northern commonwealth. ”

“ Every decade since 1870 has witnessed an increase in the number of all varieties of farm animals except sheep, which suffered a corresponding decrease. (The decrease shown in the table in the number of dairy cows is due to a change in the method of enumeration, and is, therefore, only apparent.) Sheep-raising is largely confined to the northeastern part of the State. In 1899, $8,027,370 was realized from the sale of dairy products, about half of which was from sales of butter and the remainder principally from sales of milk. The receipts from poultry products are also very large. ”

“ The wood-pulp industry is likewise dependent upon the forests for its raw materials. Although the resources of the forests are rapidly diminishing, the industries which depend upon forest products continue to thrive, the necessary supplies being obtained from the adjoining States to the north and the south. ”

“ Natural gas is obtained in many of the central counties, including Hancock, Henry, Hamilton, Tipton, Madison, Grant, and Delaware, the area of the field being about 5000 square miles. In 1901 there were 4600 wells in operation, and the output was valued at $6,954,566. A large quantity of gas is transported to Chicago. Indiana has a valuable quarry industry, producing sandstones and limestones suited for building and ornamental purposes. ”

“ In the northern and central parts the soil is composed of drift materials, more or less assorted by water action into beds of sand and clay. Without the drift region in the southern tier of counties, the soil has been derived by weathering of sandstones and limestones, and is generally less fertile than that of the prairies. The richest soils are found in the river valleys, particularly in those of the Wabash and the White Water. ”

“ Law-making was carried on frequently in a partisan spirit, and it was a favorite manœuvre with the minority in the Legislature, Republican or Democrat, whenever it was hopelessly outnumbered on an important question, to resign in a body, so as to prevent a quorum and thus block legislation. ”

“ Among other industries the manufacture of foundry and machine-shop products is the most important. The gain during the decade amounted to 80.5 per cent. The printing and publishing output and the manufacture of pottery, terra-cotta and fire-clay products also showed decided gains during the decade. The census figures on the next page show the relative importance of the leading industries for the years indicated.
Transportation. Indiana's natural means of transportation consists of the Ohio River, forming the entire southern boundary of the State ”

“ Consequently, its benefits have been greatest to such towns as Elwood, Anderson, Muncie, and other places located in the natural-gas belt. The industries which have been attracted to this district are those which require an abundance of cheap fuel, such as iron and steel and glass manufactures. These two industries now take rank among the most important of the State, the increase of each during the decade 1890 to 1900 being respectively 307 and 392 per cent. The Indiana glass-factories now send shipments to Norway and New Zealand. ”

“ For finance of education and charitable and penal institutions, see paragraphs under those headings.
Population. In one or two respects Indiana differs much from other Northern States in point of population. It has been less affected by immigration, the native-born population being proportionally greater than that of any other Northern State. Furthermore, the population is peculiar in that a large per cent. ”

“ Potatoes and oats are grown everywhere, but in somewhat larger quantities in the northern part of the State. Barley, buckwheat, and rye are raised, but not in large quantities. All kinds of fruits and vegetables common to the temperate zone are raised. ”

“ The Senate cannot exceed fifty, nor the House of Representatives one hundred members. The former are elected for four, and the latter for two years, from districts composed of contiguous counties, and no county can be divided for Senatorial apportionment. ”

“ Again, the proportion of urban population — 30.6 per cent. in cities of only 4000 inhabitants (1900) — is less than that of any other of the Northwest Territory States. Of the 146,000 foreign born, the Germans constitute about one-half. The following shows the growth of population: In 1800, 2517 ”