Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1869-11-05
PREPARING FOR THE CENSUS.

- L
Congress, submitted an interesting pa
per on the Census" referring mainly
to that to DO taken during the coming
year. His subject is important and OPP
perfume, and General Gar6sld's paper
was both able and interesting. Whilst
he gave great credit to the superiority
ofthe existing Act of Congress regulat-
ing the matter, he pointed out certain
defects, some of which are well known
to those familiar with the subject. Be-
ginning with the frat census, in 1890,
the published report of which made a
pamphlet of Fifty or sixty pages, the CEN
sus reports have expanded, until those
of 1850 and 1860 filed four or FIVE large
quarto volumes, one census requiring
six years for publication, and the other
nine. Some Of this voluminous matter
has been Of great benefit to statistical
and social science, but other portions
were of NO scientific or practical value
whatever. At least three causes oper-
ated in producing the failure and delay
10 tho parts Of the census known to DO
defective. The first and most important
was the unftness of the agents selected
for the work. This was glanced at in
General Gar6eld's Essay. But those
agents in this vicinity, at least, were
selected in a worse way than he even
hints at. The work was farmed out in
some cases to persons who could barely
read or write, and who, Of course,
could not comprehend the schedules,
much less make accurate or ineligible
returns. The census Of both 1850 and
1860 went the way Of nearly all Govern
ment work, and was made the means of
substituting party favoritss.
The next defect vas the great length
Of time taken up in making the enumer-
alton. In some cases it was allowed to
spread over the whole year. This must
be avoided if we are to have accurate
statistics. OF course it is difficult, if
not almost impossible, to have the
work all done in one day here as 1t is
in great Britain. Our population is
sparsely scattered over q continent,
whilst the British and Irish people are
compaetly settled on small islands. But
with a careful selection Of qualified,
industrious men for the purpose, and
the use Of schedules, to be left at every
house a few weeks before the census
takers begin their round of calls, MS
General Garfield suggests, tho whole
work Of enumeration aud reporting the
schedules should certainly DO performed
inside of one month. But outside Of
the two defects mentioned are the de
lays and imperfsctuess that always
result from attempting too much. In
the last two decades there were too
many subjects of inquiry, and too many
details. The work is a vast aud COM
plex one in the simplest form in which
it eau be put, and it SHOULD therefore be
carefully guarded against any overbur-
den Of additional matter. or course
every one interested in the growth Of
the country, in its wealth, it's industry,
its health, the distribution Of its popu-
lation and resources, would like to have
the fullest details; but when it is re-
membered that the vain attempt to get
minute particulars on so many subjects
only defeats the purpose Of securing
accurate returas on the more important
points, that desire ought to be givea up.
There are special reasons why there
should be great care with the coming
census, aud why the returns will be Of
supreme interest. Since tho
ton of 1860, the country has passed
through a revolution-not merely a re-
belliou and a war, but q revolution
much broader in its influences than that
which usually results from the shock Of
armies on the battle field. There is
reason to believe that great changes
have been brought about in our national
industries, in the expansion and wider
distribution Of some, and in the dimin-
ution Of others. There are new indus
tries and products unknown here ten
years ago. Some have been enormously
stimulated and others unusually de-
pressed. The fields occupied by some
industries have been greatly enlarged,
and the former productions of some
parts of tho country have been largely
changed. The results of these changes
should be accurately shown in the CEN
SUI, for it is Of Importance that our
people should fully know and study
them. Then comes the serious inquiry
as to the effects Of the loss of Eve or
six hundred thousand adult males
during the war, in addition to our usual
mortality. The precise proportion in
which this will affect our usual percent
age Of d%ecsnnial growth, and how far 1t
has disturbed the proportions Of the
sexes, will be a matter Of the highest
interest. 1t would be easy to add to
this list of reasons for special care in
taking the coming census, and it 10 to
be hoped that whatever notifications
are made in the Act Of ~ls49-5o, provis.
ion will be made for the selection of
intelligent agents, prompt performance
Of the work, and simplicity in the
schedules.
Tus loss of the S,onewall, with q full
cargo of precious lives, is one Of the
most heartrending calamities in the his.
tory Of human disaster. It calls loudly