New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-03-23

D0fec1D ~ the Oo1eues =,
AyehibaId Russell, Esq, has reeenuy
~ssd befoye the American Geographical S'a'isu
- so-;s,v naper upon the recent Census, so Tar
-. $500. the statistics of Maryland. Tms
-. ~ MARYLAND was understood to be
--;,.n Of the form in which the Secretary OF
~ Interior designs to prepare the Generai Zen
-. AZ the United States and is, therefore, iaif
eat of the probable accuracy ofshe whole worn
re scope of the proposed work is immense. As
pyinted, II makes nearly one hundred pages iol
MARYLAND alone and, if estimated by the area OF
that State, there would be 10000 pages, or TWEEN
~ GOOD sized volumes, for the whole Uniteo
States. "In such vast work." says Mr. Rus
sell, :,
" 4. a not uuYsssenabe TO expect detailed and veil
classified statements; though q ue,m1sx wors
VhetheY II Is expedent to expand nanonai WIN
Snd~yfatsn svery ten years to such an extent
He sureests that the expediency OF the state
A;stories prefixed to each department OF the
vo,k in very questionable, since they require
A. most accurate knowledge and care in the
preparation. The headings, also, are not lucid
What does No Of Dwellings, mean p! Does 1t 10
dicste the separate houses or rooms in common
house He proceeds to the population returns.
Il 10 well that the ages of the different races OF
inhabitants are classified alike, as it affords op.
portunity Of comparing effects of climate, &c,
anon the various races. The inhabitants ages
were exactly reported by the Marshals, which,
for reasons of accurate investigation, is good
plan But all reference to the place OF nativity,
% compared with age, is omitted. The ar
rangemsnt Of places Of nativity, according to
M. Russell, 10 neither alphabetical nor geo.
graphical, nor upon any apparent plan. SO with
the enumeration of occupations. They are al
phabetieally arranged and nothing more and
there 10 no possibility Of comparison with other
statistics, except by great waste of labor SIM
liar complaints are made in reference to the in
dustrial establishments. There is general
want of method, greatly increasing trouble, which
10 thus illustrates
"There are, the tables state, blaeksmiths essao-
usumspts, 232; factories-aail, s; forses,o; foun'
dres--iron, 10; fuInaces-iron, ~ IRON raiilns
work, 4 rolling mills, mining-iron, II sieve
making, 10 wire.woiiins,s THESE nave, oy me
trouble added together TO give the statistics OF the
iron trade In Maryland"
OF the remaining 81 pages of the work, devo,
ted to medical statistics, Mr.. Russell speaks very
slightingly "The unknown causes OF Death,
are so great as to destroy entirely the value OF
the table," q" Insani:y,' Killed. Waterbrash,'
are among the enumerated diseases" And the
fetal want Of method is again condemned.
There seems to be great simplicity in Mr.
Russelrs statements, and great justice in his
conclusions, which are presented with prspriety
and fairness. He expressly disclaims any un-
hind feeling toward those who have the manage
ment of the work and recognizes the immense
difficulties of the task imposed upon the Super
intendent. His paper is a criticism intended to
benefit, not squib meant to injure and, if his
conclusions are as just as they purport to be,
every citizen will assent to his statement that,
III / have rightly estimated the value OF the Gen.
sus Of Maryland 1t hoped that Congress will pause
ere the publication OF such vast undigested work
- the (" Census Of the United States" would be, on
the proposed plan. The materials are collected and
in the hands Of Government and it were better to
delay the publication Of any detailed census till the
plan 10 properly matursd, than hurriedly to direct,
under the name Of the History and Statistics of the
United States,' work similar to the one now
printed" -