The  absence  of  an  alphabetical  arrangement  in  a  considerable  portion  of  the  census
of  1830,  as  published  by  authority,  was  productive,  in  the  formation  of  the  Index,  of  a
vast  increase  in  the  amount  of  the  labor  and  perplexity,  always  attending  works  of
that  kind.  The  endless  pluralities  of  the  names  of  places  in  the  United  States,  is  well
known ;  and  is  the  cause,  in  numerous  instances,  of  great  perplexity ;  especially,  to
men  of  business,  in  the  receipt  and  transmission  of  letters,  &c.  This  will  be  at  once
evident,  when  it  is  known,  that,  on  the  map,  and  consequently  in  the  United  States,
there  are  100  counties,  towns,  &c.  bearing  the  venerated  name  of  Washington ;  79,  of
Jackson ;  73,  of  Franklin ;  C6,  of  Jefferson ;  and,  in  fact,  an  unceasing  repetition  of
the  names  of  all  our  popular  public  men,  and  Revolutionary  patriots  ;  a  circumstance
proving,  however,  that  the  services  of  distinguished  public  men  have  a  strong  hold  on
the  affections  of  the  people  of  the  United  States.  The  Index  and  Map  will,  it  is
believed,  obviate,  in  a  majority  of  cases,  difficulties  of  this  kind,  by  determining,  at
once,  the  county  and  State  in  which  the  place  sought  for  is  located ;  which  could  not
be,  perhaps,  ascertained,  without  the  assistance  of  such  a  work,  except  at  the  expense
of  considerable  time  and  trouble.  The  distances,  in  miles,  attached  to  the  different
towns,  &c.  from  Washington  city,  and  from  their  respective  State  capitals,  will  to  all
persons  be  interesting ;  and,  to  many,  more  or  less  useful.  They  are  derived  from  the
most  authentic  source  in  the  country,  viz.  the  General  Post  Office ;  for  assistance  in
which  respect,  the  publisher  is  particularly  indebted  to  Colonel  Gardner,  of  that
department.
