The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-12-05

performed have no jurisdiction over the SUBJECT
| am not authorized act upon partial returns,
nor until they are officially made TO the Depart
ment. Neither of these prerequisites having yet
bsen complied with, have not been able to make
the apporlionmrnt. When the enumerations are
completed and returned, time will be lost IN
performing the duties devoived on the Depart
ment.
A large number Of clerks are now engaged in
classifying and arranging in a suitable form lor
publication the diversified statistical information
furnished by the tables. 1t is believed that when
completed il will be the most perfect work OF the
kind ever presented to the public NO pains nave
been spared 10 perspiculty OF arrangement
and accuracy of execution. To avoid the errors
which have crept into former works OF the kind,
have required that all the calculations and cassit
cations should be made by responsible clerks IN
office, instead of being confded TO females and
other persons having no interest in the subject, as
has been done on former occasions. This course
has required the employment Of more clerks on
that particular service but the small increase OF ex-
pensc thus incurred will be more than counter
Alanced by the greater accuracy OF the results
Being DESTROYS that this great national work
should be rendered as perfect as possible In all
respects, by the advice Of the census board au-
thorized Mr.. Joseph C. g. Kennedy. the superin-
tendent of the census, TO visit Europe during the
past summer for the purpose OF examining the
systems OF statistics OF most OF the enlightened ma
tions of the world, and OF obtaining from thein ana
from personal communication with those most
familiar with the subject, all information which
could be procured. he accordingly visited Eng,
land, France, Belgium, Austria, ana EIusSia5 aHu
examined their official statistics, and had confer
ences with their public officers and others possess
ing the most extensive and varied knowledge OF
the subject. BY these means he has gained lnlor-
nation of much practical value In the arrange
ment of our own census for publication. He was
also instructed to suggest to the proper ofcers CT
the respective Governments the proprlety Oh
adopting Uniform system OF classification ior all
nations who were in the habit of making Gnu
merations of their population and productions. Az
present the of each nation . taken upon dii
iere principles and the results are steted IN DIT
ferent forms, that il is impossible to institute
comparison of their relative progress in regard to
any particular subject of inquiry proposed that
each nation should suggest its plan for taking the
enumeration OF the population, productions, &c,
and, upon examination OF their respective ad
yantaees q common system should be formed Tor
general adoption. Uniformity being thus secured,
II would be easy to make a comparison oil their re-
lntiye progress and TO deduce correct conclusions
as to the causes which contributed TO produce the
different results. The suggestion was received with
favor by many of the most eminent men OF Europe,
and proposition has been submitted Tor a con-
prese Of representatives from the principal nations
of the world Brusselsin September, 1852, for the
purpose of carrying IL into effect.
MIR. Kennedy was also directed to inquire into
the measures which had been adopted by the most
enlightened nations of Europe for the development
of their agricultural resources, and the agencies
employed by them respectively for that purpose
Upon all these points his report, which accom-
panies this communication, VIII afford much Vaiu-
him in the performance of these important duties
did not exceed one thousand five hundred dollars,
being nothing more than his actual personal ex-
penses.
In my last report stated my belief that the sum
already appropriated for paying the expenses IN
CURED in taking the census and preparing 1t Tor
publication would be sufficient for that purpose IL
has been rtained, however, that the addiuonal
sum of one hundred and fifty thousand dollars Will
be necessary; and | therefore respectfully recon-
mend the appropriation of that amount Tor the
completion of the work.
With the view of enabling Congress to form a
lust estimate of the importance and varied CHAR
acter OF the information derived from the late CEN
sus and of the admirable arrangement OF the table,
the supern tendent has, with my sanction, caused
the returns of Maryland to be printed for the use OF
the members of the two Houses. That State was
selected, because, from its central positon, ana
the character of it's population soil, productions
and industrial pursuits, its census presented the
best illustration OF the extent and practical uuhty
of the information which has been gained
Another object was to furnish & specimen OF the
style in which, according to my Judgment, itoughi
to be published Such a specimen VIII be OF or eat
value in contracting for the publication oil the en-
tire work. by furnishing a standard by which the
contractor will be governed in regard to the paper
printing, and general style OF execution.
The Patent Office.
AS the Commissioner of Patents reports directly
to Congress, it is unnecessary for me to present
review of the operations OF that bureau. There Is
one point, however, on which deem 1t my duty 10
offer some explanation.
The Industrial Exhih tion which was opened in
London in the month of May naturally attracted
much attention in this country IL was the hrst
occasion in the history of the world when all the
nations of the earth were invited to make an exhl
btion Of their natural productions, and the results
of their labor in all the departments Of industry.
Believing that great advantages would accrue 10
the people of the United States from having an
agent present at this interesting display, who was
competent to understand and describe all the OBJ
ects of interest which might be exhibited Iauthor-
lied Mr. Charles f. Stansbury, an intelligent OIL
fcer connected with the Patent Office, to goto Lon
don and discharge that duty.
He accordingly spent several months In making
minute examination of the most CHI oice and valu-
able products of nature and art which were pre-
sented; and have no doubt that his report, whlch
is now in course of preparation, will be a va!u-
able and interesting document. He was instructed
to inform himself particularly In regard TO all the
natural productions, implements, machinery
manufactures and proceaees OF manufac lure
works of art and other objects 81 interest peculiar
to each nation SO as to be able 10 mp2rt the know
ledge thus acquired to the people OF our own
country.
AS all the latest improvements in machinery
and the useful arts there displayed, carelul
description of them will be OF great value to the
Patent Office, in enabling it to decide whether
machines and other alleged inventions and DIS
coveries are really and useful, 30 as to DC
proper subjects Of patents, copied from those ek-
hibted at the London Fair. The farmer and me-
chanic will also be benefited by obtaining inior-
nation as to the most approved implements, TOOLS,
and processes employed in their respective occu-
pations; and the general reader cannot fail to be
interested and instructed by an accurate and
authentic account of the most extensive and varied
collection of useful objects which has ever been
brought together from the different quarters OF the
world. Ii is proposed 10 append this report to that
of the Commissioner of Patents; and, ii Congress
shall deem it proper, to publish with that docu-
mcnt. 1t will doubtless greatly enlarge the circle
of useful information, and give a new stimulus to
the enterprise and industry of the people.
agricultural Bureau
In my last report earnestly recommended the
establishment of an Agricultural Bureau. My
opinion on that subject remains unchanged; and
beg leave to refer to and reafhrm all that then
said in regard to it.
Agriculture is unquestionably the great interest
of our country, whether have reference to the
number of persons employed in it or to the value
of their productions. II appears from the census
of 1910 that the whole number of persons at that
time engaged in this pursuit was 3,7lo95lj in
manufactures, 79l ,749; and in commerce, ll7,60f.
More than four Iths OF the entire population were
therefore employed in the cultivation OF the soil:
At present it is believed that the proportion is sti
or In cOn NJ ne chaDre in the policy