New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-08-16
PREPARMq FOE THE CENSUS.

A TALK WITH PROFESSOR wALKER-THE WORK OF
ENUMERATION To BEGIN JUNE 1. 1880.
A TRIBUNE reporter found Professor Francis
A. Walker supern endent Of the United states Census
for 1880 at the Brevoor House Wednesday afternoon
ard gained from him information as TO his general
plan OF collecting statistics, and as TO the pro-
gress which mas thus far been made in the work Pro-
lessor Walker said that the census year began June l.
1873 and that the statistics % be published as indlcat
1ne tleren years progress would be for the twelve
mouths from that date The actual enumeration OF tne
inhabitants OF the Will not begin until June J.
1880 and the country Will be divided for that purpose
into very small districts so that the work be COM
ple-d in cities OF 10000 Inhabitants IN two weeks
and in one month in the rural districts The enumera
ors are all yet 20 be appointed and their duties will in
Guide also the collecting Of large quantity OF nforma
ton on general subjects for the year The seec
ton OF these enumerators viii dev0lve, subject 70 the APP
proval of the superintendent the Supervisors OF the
Census whom $50 are TO be appointed by the Presl-
dent and confirmed by tie Senate.
The duties which az present are occupying
the attention OF the Census officers at wash
inCtou are the dividing OF the entire c0un-
Try into these $50 districts and the assignment OF the
collecting Of information special subjects TO experts
IN various departments. The first 70 more serious task
than II would at first thought because the data on
which the d vision is based embrace large heldi
supervisors district being large small, not simply ac
cordingy to the density population, but also ac
cording to the ease difficulty OF communication the
number OF men dit for the duty Of compiling
which tn district IS likely TO contain, ana
the intellectual status Of the population. Thus far each
state has been assigned It's quota. New York having
II OF the $50 and PENNSYLVANIA TO- There yet remains
the cult task OF marking the limits OF the ind
vidual districts within the states, and for this purpose
communication IL being had with the Governors and
Congressmers OF the various States II is hoped that
TINS work will be completed by october Is. and there
anon the selecting the supervisors wll begin ne
gua caOus for these positions will embrace. IN adul-
ton general intelligence, personal acqualhtduCo
ir the district previous experience IN COM
phng statistics. From the time OF their appointment
until the following June tire duties Of the supervisors
ldIdates for the enumeratDrs posi-
tions When the enumeration begins returns OF the
various districts viii be made 10 the superintendent
thrUugI them.
The selection Of EXPERTS has advanced already 70
considerable extent. and OF them nave already De
gun TO collect statistics n their various departments
Hitherto IL been customary 10 lntrust the entHt
work the enumera0rs, and 10 leave 10 altogether
this system IN the fact that the number OF hcu
competent for certain branches IN the country was e1
reedlngy limited, and that the collecting OF statistics
subjects like mortality ana disease Tor year lAd'
had passed not possible with decided accuracy;
Those grea' industries which exclusively cOnnbeu
% particular districts, like the cotton Industry OF cue
trade IN irOn are now intru,ed 10 experts who attend
10 tile collecting Of the statistics these snplecis
throughout the entire country. The cooperation O to
physicians OF tue country mas been secured In TIE A
ter Of mortality and disease. through the Circulation Oh
some go, 900 pamphlets OF instruction among them,
which, vast plumber OF instances have already met
with favorable answers. This method or c0npl-i nE
statistics while the occurring Will Involve
much expense than the old of doing the WORE
al the end ~ the IN three months, but the go"
accuracy and the breadth OF the field covered, VIII
more than compensate Tor this.