Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1860-02-14
The Next Census.

Extracts OF an address made by Hon. @. G..
Kennedy, of the Department OF the Interior, 10
the United States Agricultural Society, IN WASH
ington city, on the subject of the next Census,
the taking of which will commence on the lst day
OF June:
with these few remarks, which have
thought might present some encouragement
for persevering in the maintenance OF your OF
ganlzation and the enlargement OF your lnnu-
ence, | will refer briefly to the prosecution OF the
work of obtaining the statistics OF agriculture oy
means of the eighth national census, winch Will
be conducted on the same principle observed IN
the sventh i; and state that measures Will De Ia
ken to make known in advance throughout the
country the points on which Information Is re-
quested-a matter wherein you can render es-
sential aid. Our agricultural schedule viii give
the number of farms, the acres OF improved aud
unimproved land composing each. the value
thereof, and the worth of agricultural nipple
ments and machinery.
1t will embrace return OF all domestic AMI
mails, excepting two or three OF recent introduce
ton, which are not at all numerous, such as the
alpaca and the camel, and will return the guam
tty OF the eleven principal crops grown for food,
the items of cotton, wool, tobacco, hemp, tiay}
sugar aud molasses, which form such important
items of consumption, manufacture and COM
merce; the quantity OF wine, butter, cheese,
hay, hops, clover, grass, faxseed, beeswax, ho-
ney, cocoons for silk, and the value OF orchards (;
products of market gardens, OF home made man
utactures, and of animals slaughtered These
interests will comprise forty-nine separate items,
being about one half of the whole number Of
questions proposed by the census, answers to all
which may be obtained by care with almost ab-
solute certainty They are to be returned as ex-
isting on the first day of June, or produced with
in the year previous, terminating on that day.
They are the great agricultural interests Of the
country. and it is not doubted that the agrcul-
tural community will be prepared to make a
cheerful and prompt response to the agents of
the Government who will visit them personally.
This is the only way recognized by law tor
obtaining exact information of this nature, and
the results thus procured when proclaimed, will
demand and receive the confidence of the world.
They are to proclaim the Importance of agrcul-
ture and power of the cutivator, and it is graft
f, ing to know that thus far no case has arisen
where the farmer refused to respond to the ques-
ton of the census taker, whose universal testi-
lnony is, that among the agricultural community
his demands are heard with respect and answer
ed with alacrity.
1t is very desirable that every farmer shall
have posted up his books and be prepared, when
called upon by the Marshal 10 June next, to
make well considered replies to his questions
Thus will he best support the character of pat
rotic, intelligent and law-abiding citizen, ele-
vate the dignity of his pursuit, and promote the
best interests of society. hope, gentlemen, you
will lend your aid and influence in this matter,
and doubt not that before the taking a ninth
decennial enumeration you will have the salts
faction to witness the establishment of Bureau
OF Agriculture if not Department devoted to
ths Interests which you have so much at heart.