New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-01-18
AORICUZ TURAL FEATURES OF THE
CENSUS.

4
CENSUS.
Ap.Y., read beiOr. American Geos,AsaeA sns s'se
az se;ieiy on Thuisds, JAP u '' u T. '' -"
M pprsInrsr. AND GEsTLEsfs OF THE SocIE-
~. Allow me to thank you for the honor conferred
a, me by ,our invitation TO read before you papes
on the Agricultural Statistics Of our Country.
could wish that the appointment might have fallen
40 the lot Of some man 10 whom grea,er years gave
better knowledge OF faces AID soundef Juu m'hi IA
the d, duciion Of conclusions from the evidences OF
TIE Census; but II compliance wit. your request
have 10 the best of my ability, coiiec-1 the more
important facts aud would respectfully submit toe n
70 your consideration.
tures OIL has c4use TO regret the want "a accuray
ard completeness with which 1t "a c2"ac'erlled'
This deficiency more evident IN matters appertan'
C 10 agriculture than IN other brsnhes OF inod'HJ'
Many causes cOnspre 10 render TINS, uuuoi our pre-
tIt man ss ement almost inevltaoe -, -.
Farmers lack system and order IL the ,htl u .!
their afisirs, ana but Few OF mem can ven Ie 90
N,ub.r do they know the precise amount OK tna'
crop when harvested, nor OF The seed required ic e
PRODUCTION. The came is true with regard TO nearly
every branch Of isrm economy
The r.sults obtained by the Marshsl must be the
op,n,on of he farmer rather than his ctrtan coric
t,oa based the undenatie evidence OF ~o'gnS and
measures, and hence we may MD may VINO over
estimate the productions Of their farms or tue value o.
their stock while Others, from excess OF prn1ence,
fail 10 attain standard sufficiently h'sh Ane.hel
difficulty arises in the fact that tue persons empoye
IN collecting statistics frequently licE the energy ani
Esuness necessary TO the proper discharge OF their
dut.s; ard indeed, in many instances thelf ren1
nerstion is not sufficient 20 insure the greatest NOR
ousLnssf. For Instance toe cost 81 c)l.scucg me
statistics Of Indiana 10 the year 1893 ws but wv
bejr but about lc for each dwelling or iess IN an
lc Tor each ten acres Of improved land within the
State, and but small part of the schedule lefers to
agriculture.
SupT o,ing the census returns 70 be sufficiently az
euraie for practical purposes find them 20 contain
much that is interesting and destructive.
RELATIVE IMPORTANCE OF AGRICULTURE.
The 6rs fact which attracts tte attention of toe re-
vswer of the census, is the Importance Of agncniafe
a. compared with other industrial arts.
l. The amount OF capital actually invested IN agriou.
ture, according to the census of $780, foilogs
Csh value Of Ia.; S.: ~ 80
Cssh value Of implenet,..........'. ''m6s
Total. - so' soo,of'
The census gives no estimate OF the mauures.
The amount OF capital invested ia manufactures,
mining the mechanic arts and fisheries was 521 29y,
1893 or lees than sersnt Of that employed Ia asr
culture.
The amount of the commerce trade, &c, Of the
United States during the same year Is estimsted al
81 600 co., or about 0neterd more IN IN the value
OF The agricultural products Ihis estimate. nov.
over, is Of do ubttul accuracy.
2. The number Of free males over l. yeas OF age
employ ed in af cultural labor III 1850, was 400 5e3
or Desrly as many as in all other occupations.
The rural population of the country is estimated Al
IL 1898 907, OR tDreeioarths OF the Whole, living al
mot without exception by the direct produc.veness
Of the lard.
The town and village population is esims ted at
J,7e7 500. -.-,
A. abe earne time three f6urfhs Of the commerce and
trade consist in exchanges of agricultural products
tQuently threeourths OF those employed IN these
branches Of industry directly depended. ON agri-
culture for their earnings.
In letter written to Ezekiel Holmes, of Name. by
the Hen. s. Y. Benson, and published IN The M9.ae
Farmer, we learn that j. ID b DeBow lSGpernteni-
ent of the Census estimates the capital nov repre-
sent.d by agriculture in the United States ~ five oil
lion ooars and that represented by all other branch'
ca of industry q. less than one bliOnsvng TO asti
culture more than 6UesiIths Of the whole.
In making the foregoing esiimste, the winter nhs
entirely suppressed his own opinions. and has relied
only Oh the returns of the census feeling at the sane
tine that these returns often err and thar the ercs
are not in favor Of agriculture.
Let us now examine the items OF our siansncs.
TIRsT-LAND FARMS.