Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1878-12-20

whether of numbers or social or phvSi
cal condition, must probably bc col
lected together because they Will correct
and check each ether and in order Is
avoIu duplication they should he gath.
cred on single day and Of course from
districts sufficiently small 10 be travSrs.
ed and examined within ten or twelve
hours. On the other hand the statistics
Of production and Of wealth must he
collected with more aehheration and
with greater care than has yet been APP
phcd to them in this country. Farms,
do not run away; factories have AN
abiding hahltation; crops and capital
can be traced. Hardly any man can
accurately report the products of his
own land, the wares OF fabrics which
his establishment has turned out with.
ma year. without calculation or refer
enee perhaps 10 several books. 1t is
possible to gather accurately the mum.
oers of the population by machinery
which will be utterly useless for pre-
senttpga record Of the industry and
wealth. Thus indeed the last census of
tins state was IS Shahhily taken ii
respect ~ the latter class ol subjects
that the important tables concerning
manufactures for which inquiries were
ordered, were not prepared ut all I've,
cause the figures We're upon their fare
absolutely without value.
The enumeration is II task which can
I've accomplished So MS to correspond
with the Instantaneous photograph,
The calculations 10 serve us truthful
presentation of the work and the wages
and the earnings and the savings OF the
people. must involve patience and I'M
Nestlgation and comparison and careful
summing ny. For enumeration the
districts must he many and small. For
INDUSTRIAL statistics they can be larger
and less numerous. Inc wmk rclatos
u different matters, toa different tirid.
and calls for very different sort I'll
capacity.
Fins division 81 labor is one ol The
first conditions of.m accurate census.
the mere counting Of tnV people even
With n statement Of their condition nc.
eording to the usual schedules, is VERY
simple. Because 1t affects with us the
distribution of political power, il should
he So done MS To command confidence
III It's fairness and thoroughncss The
exhibition of what cur people arc dong
and earning, and boarding rs reserved
capital, is more complete task. Ii
bears i'll many ways upon social and
business and political problems. 1t
cannot be claimed that this last duty
has ever been performed IN this country
70 the thorough satisfaction OF any Welt
Informed statlstlclan, and certainly not
~ the satisfaction Of any prudent officer
who has had tho oversight ~ it.
The present congress should take
early action on the matter. The census
bureau should he authorized before the
Year is far advanced TO prepare its table
OF inquiries bearing upon industry aud
wealth, SO that specialists in these de-
partmcnts can bo conducting their in
qulries on uniform lines. While cer-
tam vital statistics must be connected
with the enumeration, good will come
Il additional attention Is given to this
class of questions hy skilled men in
various parts of the country, Even for
tire mere count the superintendent who
Is to be responsible for IL, should be nj
lowed opportunity 70 arrange his dis
tricts and TO select and instruct the
chiefs Of his geographical divisions
The people should be made familiar III
advance with the aim, ana scope Of the
census and he invited Ia prepare 10 rs
sist the enumcrntors in their mission.
The national census is important III
itself. and the plan for it should be we'll
elaborated, because it is usually adopted
rs The model for the census III every
state. Tho United $ ntes has led the
world i'll many features of Its statistics.
1t will be easy, by preliminary care and
study To secure greater fullness and nc
eurcy III the census Of 1850 than i'll
any OF it, predecessors, and as it is To
be the tenth, rounding out n full cen
fury, it is desirable that this national in
yentory should DO for us MS complete
and authoritative as the Domcsdav
Book which the C,nqucror gave 10
England 500 years ago