, 1872-11-09
THE CENSUS.
An intermediate Census for 1870
New Machinery Wanted.

An intermediate Census Tor 1870
New Machinery Wanttd.
The following paragraphs are from superln-
teudent Walkers census report:
The cordiality with which the press anu lne
country have recognized the publication OF the
prime results Of the census has afforded ample
Compensation to the Superintendent Tor az the
effort that has been required to accomplish the
completion Of the work OF computation within
two wears from the conclusion Of the enumera-
ton. There is no reason, however, Why, with
such notifications Of existing laws AS would IN
sure that the material should come originally to
the Census Office in the proper shape Tor
tabulation, the entire computation snon1o
date Of the first receipt Of returns. It Is not
possible for any one who has had such painful
occasion as the present Superintendent to OBJ
serve the workings Of the census law OF 1901 70
characterize it otherwise than as clumsy, anti
ouated, and barbarous. The machinery 1t pro-
yides is as unfit for use in the census Of the
United 6tates in this day Of advanced statistical
acience, as the smooth-bore, muzzle-1oadlng
aOueen's arm Of the Revolution would be for
service against the repeating rifle OF the present
census should be taken under this law; such a
thing ought not to be seriously proposed: Ihe
country has suffered more than enough already
Of discredit and OF loss on account OF the
wretched insuthclency and y, ,nappIopIlatenesss s
of the provisions OF tm6 1A-cous'iue@eo ono
outgroWn statute.
21o earnestly recommend that the attention
Of Congress- be especially invited to the prop1le~
ty and expediency OF an immediate census, to De
taken in 1875, in preparation for the approaching
centennial celebration Of the political birth OF
the nation. A census Of the United States
taken under system, and With q management
which would secure the publication OF the result
by the lat OF June, 1876, would be noble mon-
ument to erect st the end OF century OF the na,
tion,s life. It would mark OF the first grand
- spHr nfrin1
together unprecedented in history, and serYe az
the starting point of q fresh career which ne
have. under Providence, reason to believe
shall be- greater and happier yet.
Another consideration which strongly lnhuGn, ';a,
that census in 1875 would, in all probability
secure the taking Of the Federal censns 81 there
after, at intervals Of five yea1B only me in5er-
val Of ten years fixed by the CONSTITUTION nag
been found to be far too long Tor an the uses
cept only for the redistribution OF Congfesslon'
30 rand are the internal changes Of the coun
try. oftentimes setting calculations at nought,
80 fierce and vast the growth OF the na!1on as
whole. that the hiatus in the statlst1cat intofma
tion vt the command of the Legislator, the
pamphleteer, the journalist, and the social ane n
noitical philosopher, five or Six years a1ter the
date of the census, becomes posltlvei1
painful. Whoever will call to m1na s 19e u ;ena ests
States. States a and sections, which Immediately befor'
| the occurrence Of the last census were proper.
| nut forth, we're made the material OF Po!1tlca
and Industrial speculation, and we're even take1
81 the basis of State and national legislation
viii hardly be disposed to question that th'
| cost cost Of q census once in FIVE years, would b
amply repaid By the light it would shed upon tn t
condition of the people and the progress OF tn
nation in population and wealth. We're th
country once to learn by practical experience th
advantages Of quinquennial enumeration, it
not likely that longer period would ever there
| after be allowed to intervene between the Fed
/ erl censuse5.