Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1869-02-24
The Next Census.

census OF the United States during the next
year. The census of the country at large is
taken, BY the authority Of the general Gov
ernment at the close of every fuil decade,
and the census of the States, by the State
authority, at the close of every five interven-
ing years. Committees have been appoint
ed which will probably meet during the sum-
mer recess. to arrange the proper legislation
for completing the census, and Congress,
when it meets again, must pass the laws to
give effect to the measures.
The taking of national census is not u
matter of small importance, nor is it, as
many seem to think, of interest only to the
statistician. On the basis of population, a new
apportionment of representatives among the
several States, and in the States among
the several districts, has to be made every
ten years. The relative power of the States
and districts, in the popular branch of Con-
gress, is thus changed at the close of each
decade; and how great that change is from
one period to another may be learned by
| comparing the representation of the States
in Congress now with what it was twenty,
fifty, or eighty years ago.
There are many other matters of great
| public interest, connected with population,
determined by the census, such as the ma
| tionalities of the people; the comparative
increase or diminution of the several races
which compose the population; the number
Of these several classes which have claim
upon public sympathy OF aid; the blind. the
deaf and dumb, the insane, etc. and how
they are distributed. Then there are the
statistics of education, the schools acade-
mics and colleges of the country, the NUN
bers that attend them and of those who
ought to be receiving an education; ali
which is of vital Importance to the welfare
of fhe country.
Another object is to ascertain the prog
ress of the country in all its industrial pur-
suits; its agriculture, with the various pro-
ducts of the soil and their distribution over
the land it's manufactures, comprising an
immense variety of articles the develop
ment of the country itself and of its pro-
ductive wealth, by its railroads and other
means of Iocomotion and transportation !;
its great publishing interests, its newspa-
pers and presses of various kinds with all
their issues, &c. All these embracing a
thousand particulars to be inquired into,
form the basis of legislation and of popular
action, making correct census a matter of
far greater consequence than many seem to
regard it.
1t is important that the next census be
completely and accurately made. There are
many things connected with the present
state of the country which awaken the fear
that it will not be done as carefully as it
ought to be, and that the value of this de-
cennial examination of the state of the peo-
pie and the country will in consequence be
country within the last ten years; the un
settled state of things in some parts of the
land, arising out of the war of the rebellion;
the growing corruption among officials, and
the neglect of public duties for the sake of
advancing private interests: these and many
other things give rise to the fear that this
great national duty may be slurred over.
But, it is to be hoped, Congress will, in its
legislation on the subject, adopt all proper
measures to have the census taken thor
oughly and WELL There is ample time for
maturing the whole matter in Congress and
out, and our Legislators and executive Off
GERS will be performing great public SER
vice by taking every precaution to secure
fidelity and efficiency on the part of those
who are to carry out the details of the busi
ness. Let us have complete accurate cen
sus for the year 1870.