The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1860-11-17


There is no department of political science
which is capable of being turned to such valuable
account as that of Statistics and, especially,
such statistics as are or ought to be, embraced in
the Census returns. A Census, briefly defined, is
a numbering of the people and valuation OF
their property. 1t shows wherein they have pro-
gressed, and wherein they have retrograded and
is, 10 the nation, what 'taking an account of
stock1 is to the individual tradesman. 1t was
generally supposed that the eighth Census of the
United Sates-which is now in process of COM
petion-would be more accurate and comprehen-
sive than any that has preceded it The blank
schedules that were prepared by the Census Bu-
reau at Washington were framed with as much
regard to simplicity is compatible with the OBJ
ject Of such formulas, and, with proper care and
attention on the part of the subordinate officers,
we should soon be in possession of body of facts
from which the most important conclusions might
be drawn. 1t is quite possible that in some of the
States of the Union the duties of the Census
torar. haua hos, ----n 80" I--' ~. ''1
Maryland is concerned, we have strong reasons
for believing that the work has been negligently
done, both as respects the statistics of population
have derived from various sources we are satisfied
that the census of $3.50 will neither fairly Illus
trate the condition of our people, nor the extent
their material resources. In respect to population,
the official estimate for this city, as given by Mar
shall WATKINS is far below the mark. This could
be proved in various ways-by the vote cast at
the recent Presidential election; by our moruary
statistics, or by the number of houses embraced
within the city limits. From either of those
sources it is possible TO construct tables, which
shall show, with q reasonable degree of accuracy,
what number of inhabitants city contains. But
we do not depend upon any such data. We re-
strict ourselves simply to one point as bearing d-
rectly upon the charge which we have made, and
as capable OF proof is the facts denied. We
know that the Deputy Marshals in this city have
exhibited gross carelessuess in the performance Of
the duties that were devolved upon them, and that
their reports are not trustworthy. AT some houses
blank schedules were not left at all. At others,
they were left to he filled up, but were never
called for subsequently,. How many of such pa
pers the Marshal has also received through the
post office and By private hands lie is best able to
tell; but that there have been numerous Instances
count up, moreover, the names Of more than
twenty persons, not one of which, we are assured
is down upon the Marshal's list, and the complaint
general of similar instances of neglect in other
quarters. Some of the Deputy Marshals in the
counties have displayed an equal want of accuracy
In one case deputy called upon country ply
sician, and, pointing 10 various farm houses and
cottages that were visible from the place where he
was standing, questioned the latter as 10 the num-
Der of persons residing in each, the acres they
owned, and the value Of the crops they harvested.
The information thus impaired was taken down
by the Deputy on the spot, and may, or may not
have been correct in the main; bnt it was clearly
his duty to 60 in person TO each house and
put on record the statement of the occupant in
stead of deriving it as he did from a secondhand
source. We have cited these few facts as illustra-
ting the manner in which the census has been
taken in some parts of our city and State, and as
showing how little reliance can be placed upon
statistics which not only do not furnish complete
turns but are, at the best loosely thrown together.