The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1870-04-14
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
WAsHINGToN, ID. c.,
February 26, 1870.

May %, 1850, copies of which, in form
convenient for daily use. will be sent
you at an early date. The c. nsus Office
has been organized in this Department,
and Superintendent appointed, to
whom returns will be rendered in ell
the matters provided by law, and all
communications in the ordinary course
of business relating to the census will
be addressed.
Herewith you will find blank form
for the Marshals oath, prescribed in
section 2 of the law of 1850. Having
qualified as therein required, and having
forwarded the inclosed form, duly filed,
subscribed and certified, TO this Depart
ment, you will proceed to discharge the
duties Of your office in respect to the
ninth census of the United States.
You will, at the earliest date, form
your district into subdivisions for the
purpose of enumeration, according TO
the third ssction of the law of 1850,
which is as follows:
Each Marshal shall separate his dis
trict IN subdivisions containing not eI-
ceeding 10000 persons in each, uLlrss
the limitation to that number causes
incOnyenient boundaries, in which case
the number may BIZ larger; and shall
estimate, from the best sources of in
formation which he is able to obtain,
the lumber ofsquare miles in each sub
division, and submit the same to the
Department of the Interior: Prorided,
hOwerer, that in bounding such subdI-
visions, the limits thereof shall be
known as civil divisions, such as county,
parish, township, ward, or district lines,
or highways, or natural boundaries,
such as rivers, lakes, &C."
In The census of 1860, the number of
Assistant Marshals actually employed
was AIS. VIII Gu, with population of
81, ,443, ,32l, shows the average number
of persons in a subdivision to have been
7llS, little more than one third of the
maximum number allowed by law. 1t
il believed that the causes operating to
produce minuter subdivision than
seems to have been originally contem-
plated will be found TO have equal force
in the present enumeration.
The following suggestions are offered
for the consideration of Marshals in the
discharge of this duty:
l. All things equal, there is q plain
advantage in preserving the boundaries
of subdivision takes for the last census,
wherever the prOviso attached to the
third section was then proper! Y respect
ed. In this way it will be easier TO
make an approximation to the present
number of persons, farms, shops, &c,
in each subdivision, both with reference
t. determining the probable conpensa-
tion of assistants and the distributing
in advance the blanks required for
enumeration.
.. All other things equal, subdivisions
should be formed with a view to equal
izing as much as possible the lsbors of
assistants.
3. Where any section of country is
distinguished by special industry, it
is highly desirable that such section
should foriH distinct subdivision or
group of subdivisions. 1t is plain that
that such an arrangement will tend to
secure more full and exact representa-
tion of that industry. Particularly is
this true of the coast and lake fisher
les, which have hitherto been most in
adequately enumerated. 1t is therefore
recommended that in making appoint
ments and assignments IN sections in.
terested in the fisheries, the subdivisions
be made as large as is otherwise con-
venient, and that they extend well
along the shore, rather than reach far
inland.
4. 1t is not desirable that the arrange
ment of subdivisions should be made
alr MI 70 Arp |
or geographical uniformity. Subdivi-
sion vary ing considerably in extent of
surface and in number OF population,
but suited to all the other conditions of
q thorough enumeration, and consistent
with a Just distribution ef the compen-
sstien among the whole body of assist
ants employed, are to be preferred to
subdivisions cut out from q district by
Q uniform rule, without regard to pecp-
liarities Of occupation, &c.
1t is desirable to respect the unity of
every city in which more than one As
sistant Marshal may be appointed, in
such q way that the returns of two,
three, five, ten or moro assistants who
may be assigned to the enumeration,
shall together make up the proper re-
turns of the city as a whole, including
nothing beside.
1t may, in come cases, be necessary to
assign part of one village, town or
ward, and the whole Of others to q sin
gle assistant; but the assignment TO an
assistant of parts of two towns, vii
lagos, or wards will be unnecessary.
After separating your district into
subdivisions, according to the terms of
law, and as far as may be consistent
with the spirit of these Instructions,
you wilt proceed to choose assist ants, as
provided in section of the act Of May
%. 1850.
II is earnestly hoped that this duty
will be performed with caIe. Temper
ate, INTEL gent and active men, gener-
ally and favorably known in the COM
muOity, aid well versed in letters and
figures, should be selected for this
work. No other considerations can ex-
ist which are of sufficient Importance
to outweigh the demands of an accurate
and complete enumeration.
The law requires that assistants shall
I've residents of the subdivisions for
which they are appointed.
Where q foreign language is spoken
to any great extent, it is essential that
assis' ants snould be able 10 converse in
that tongue. Where the industry of 8
section is strongly marked by the pro.
dominance of special manufacture, 1t is
very desirable that the'assistants should
be selected with some reference to their
acquaintance with such manufacture.
Inmedistely on completing the d.
vision :. f your district IN the manner
prescribed by law, You will forward to
this Department q report of the same, q
form for which 10 inolosed. In filling