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On the Best Method of Constructing an Index. He wrote that, having had occasion to construct an index of the lives assured in the
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Eagle Company, he had drawn up a few observations upon the subject.
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The requirements of an index and the proportions of its several parts are the two principal questions to be considered. Under the first head it may be observed that the index of a company upon a large scale should afford as much abstract information as possible. Those who refer to it do so with different views, for the objects of their inquiry must necessarily vary with their respective duties. It is therefore desirable that the index should be constructed with a view to provide for the wants of each person, so far, at least, as to enable him to obtain information in the most direct way; and it will be proper to insert in the index particulars some of which do not usually find a place in such a book. Let it be supposed that an individual signing his name 'J. Smith' inquires about the bonus, premium, or assignment, etc., of his policy, without stating either number, date, or amount. This is not an unusual case, and it will serve to illustrate my meaning by showing the nature of the difficulties which have to be encountered. J. may stand for John, James, Joseph, etc. There will probably be many of each kind in connection with the like surname, and it would be very difficult to discover, without a tedious investigation, to which policy J. Smith refers, unless the individuality of each person recorded in the index under that name be distinctly shown. The 'locality' of the assurance might be adopted as a mark of distinction; and we should in many instances be able to fix upon the right name by simply comparing the address of the writer with the place where the policy was effected.