Graphic Methods for Presenting Facts
The horizontal bars here are so numerous and are placed so close together that the charts have practically the general form of curves drawn vertically instead of horizontally. It would seem just as well to represent the data by real curves drawn with the standard horizontal arrangement
When curves become as widely understood as the bar method of presentation, it will be found that curves can be used advantageously in almost every case where it is now common to use either vertical or horizontal bars.
In Fig. 243 the horizontal-bar method has been elaborated so that the resulting chart has practically the general effect which would be obtained by a curve chart. The reader who wishes to read Fig. 243 in the form of curves is, however, forced to turn the book so that he may see the chart from the left with the curves running in a generally horizontal direction. The data would likely be just as well understood by railroad men if shown by real curves drawn in the standard manner.
GRAPHIC METHODS
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Fig. 244. Average per Capita in the United States of Total Savings-bank Deposits
At first glance the impression is that Americans are growing rich very rapidly. Yet total deposits per capita have not doubled in the sixteen years shown. If the bottom line of the chart were at the zero of the vertical scale, an entirely different impression would be given. See Fig. 245