Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1870-06-06
DaiIp 3irnnrbrr Sournal,
AUG L s IA,
MONDAY MORNING. June @, 1870,
THE CENSUS.

The officers appointed to take tne nlbtil
census are now engaged in their work
and must complete it this month. They
will call upon each family before the
month closes to obtain such information
ashley are required to get. 1t is simply
taking the account OF the population, bust
ness, ard sothel facts, for the purpose of
information in relation to The government,
thepeorle and their affairs. In orderthat
the census officers may do their work
properly. it will be necessary for heads of
families and others to cooperate with them
in the collection OF the necessary facts.
There are eighteen inquiries to be made
in respect to every male, and sixteen in
respect TO each female. These are
1. Name of each person in full.
9. Age at the last birthday, and number
of wears. if over one year old; but if under
one year, the number of months must be Civ
en-. in fractions, as l-l2, ZIP, &C.
3. Sex.
4. Color. White, black, mulatto, Indian,
Chinese.
5. Profession Or occupation of males or
females.
6. Value of personal estate owned.
7. Value of real estate owned.
8. Birthplace. If in this country, give
the State; if foreign give the country.
9, TO- Birthplace of parents, father and
mother as above--as John Lenfar, father
England, mother Wales.
IL. If born within the year, state the
month--as June, July. April.
L.. If married within the year, state the
same.
ID. Whether he or she has attended school
within the year.
IA If he or she cannot read, state the
fact.
Is. If he or she cannot write, state it.
16. If deaf and dumb blind, insane or
idiotic, state this fact
The above inquiries are to be considered
and answered in respect to both males
and females. Two others are specified in
respect to males alone =
II. Is he citizen of the United States, q
years old, native or naturalized?
IS. If citizen, has his right to vote been
denied or abridged for any cause, except fol
rebellion or crime?
These constitute the first schedule, and
relate TO those who were living on the first
day of the month.
The second schedule includes eleven in
quiries in respect to those who died in the
wear ending with the 3lst of May last, as
follows: /, name; 2, age; 3, sex; 4.
color; 5, single, married, or widowed; 6,
birthplace; Z, and s, birthplace OF father
and mother; 8. month of death; 10 oeeu-
patton; IL, disease. or cause of death.
These are to be answered in the same
way as similar inquiries in respect to the
living. 1t is necessary for the purposes OF
the government and fulfilment of the terms
of the law, that each should be answered
in respect to every person to whom it is
applicable. 1t is important both for the
people and the nation that the answers
should be full and accurate.
There are difficulties in the way of TAX
ing the census which may be obviated by
a little pains on the part of the public.
The marshals appearance at the door,
says the Boston Advertiser, lis the firstin.
tirnation that the family have of the spe'
cifc purpose of his mission. He has {
large field TO survey. The law requires
that he shall not have more than twenty
thousand people to enumerate and de
scribe He may have, and probably il
most cases has, smaller number to yisi
in course of the month: certainly he viii
have enough assigned to him to occupy al
his time. He must work diligently
through all the business hours, from morn.
ing 70 night. He must move rapidly from
house TO house, and be detained as little
time as possible for his information. He
first asks to see the head of the family, the
husband or father; if he is absent, he in
quires for the wife; If she be not at home,
then tor an older child; and if these are
not to be found, he takes the next best wit
ness, a younger Child, a servant always
looking for the best authority then in OF
near the h0nse,
Now, few men are to be found at their
homes during the business hours ofthe day.
They are away in their fields, in their shops,
stores, offices, or wherever the chances of
work or the interests of employers may call
them. Many housewives are also absent
on business, or visiting, or are inaccessible
through sickness. The older children are
subject to the same necessities of absence
The chance is very small that the marshal
can get his information from the best au-
thority very frequently he must fail to get
it from the second best. and often he must
depend on child or domestic, who is some
times stranger and unacquainted with
the personal condition of the members OF
the family. ts.
There is yet way by which this difficult
ty may be very easily obviated Let each
family take a copy of all the personal in
quiries which we have here quoted from
the marshafs, schedule. Let them care
fully consider these and consult together
in regard to the answers. Write the name
of each member, parents, children, board
ers. domestics, dodgers, and under each