Illinois’ data website: Lots of numbers, few answers

 By Benjamin Yount

On Illinois’ new data website, people can learn that the beach at the Conservation Club 100 in Marion County is a private beach on a lake.

Or that in the second quarter of 2010, Rock Island County saw $449 million in retail sales.

Or that two neighborhoods on Chicago’s south side and one on the west side lead the state in lottery ticket sales, each topping $20 million this year.

But users of Data.Illinois.gov cannot find out Gov. Pat Quinn’s salary, companies to which the state owes money or the business resurfacing Interstate 39.