The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1880-05-22
Taking the Census.

| Taxing En0 CtnSuS.
Under the act of Congress approx.
ed March 3, 1879, a census of the
population, wealth and industries OF
the United States is to be taken for
the twelve months beginning May 81
1879, and ending June l. 1880. Out.
side of cities having 10000 inhat l.
tants the work will extend through.
out the month of June. In cities
having 10000 inhabitants it must be
finished in two weeks--that is by
June IA. The work is in charge OF
100 supervisors appointed by the
President and confirmed by the Sen
ate, who are under the gen eral direc.
ton of Gen. Francis A. Walker,
Chief of the Census Bureau-the best
man, probably, for this important
and difficult charge that could be
found in the United States. General
Walker is located in Washington,
with well equipped quarters and a
competent staff of subordinates. The
supervisors appoint large number
of numerators, whose duty it is to
visit personally every dwelling in
their districts and to obtain all the
information asked for on the printed
schedule. BY dwelling" is m cant
Ii; Of 10 ~ in
stance, as river boat, canal boat,
lofts in public buildings or any other
place of residence, temporary or per-
manent. The work, as may be seen
at glance, extremely difficult and
requires the utmost care and vigi
lance. The cooperation of the pc
lice in all cities has been requested,
and it is TO be hoped that citizens
generally will do all they can to ia
cilitate work whose importance is
readily seen and whose value is de-
pendent entirely on its accuracy.
Provision. moreover, is made by law
for the punishment of all who out OF
obstinacy or recklessnesss attempt to
obsJruct the numerators or refuse
them the desired information. BY
the act of March, 1879, a refusal on
the part of any adult "to render a
true account to the best of his or her
knowledge of every person belonging
ta fl arf
ulars required by law" is punishable
with fine not exceeding 500. This
penalty, however, is only provided
for unusual cases of "mulishness."
In most instances, doubtless, the
numerators will have to contend not
with mere obstinacy, but with a
misconception Of their GRAND. Much,
of course, will depend upon the
manner Of performing their task, and
for this reason it is of the highest inn
portance that persons of pleasant adj
dress and good temper should be
chosen for the position. There are
five general heads under which the
questions to be answered are classifi-
ed. These are Population, agricul-
ture, manufactures, social satisfies
and mortality. The coll sction of So
cial satisfies, however, has been with.
drawn from the regular numerators
and intrusted to experts in the diff
| fnronf broIoha@ oAx,araA
Among the facts to be ascertained
in the enumeration of the population
are the following; Name of street !;
number Of house name of each per-
son in the family; color, sex and age
of each person ; relationship of each
person to the family; what persons
are single, married, widowed or di.
vorced, and who, if any, were mar
ried during the census year occupa-
ton of both males and females;
number of months any person has
been unemployed during the census
year; sickness or disability of any
! person at time of visit whether there
are any blind, deaf, dumb, idiotic,
insane, MANNED, crippled or bed j.
ridden members of the family; how
many attend school; how many, if
any, who cannot read and write the
place of birth of each person and the
Deces Of birth Of his or her father
and mother. All persons will DO in.
Guided who are living June 1 or who