Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-11-16
THE CENSUS
To BE Placed Before Congress the Conn
ing Session In the Form OF
Compendium,
Under the the Direction of Mr.. ssatep,
Who Does Not Fill General
walkers Place.

WAsHINeroN. November I5.-The super
lntendent OF the census is attempting 10 DO
very singular thing. He is about to publish
compendium of the census of 1880, to pre-
sent TO Congress during the coming session
Ii seems that the plan was of rather sudden
conception, because the special SCENTS were
only notified month or six weeks ago that
they must have their statistics ready BY the
10th OF the present month for this compen-
dunn. 1t has been the custom heretofore to
publish volume of results OF statistical IN
formation collected after all the reports
upon the separate subjects are ready. This
compendium has been Sort of handy
volume for use by those who did not care
for detailed statements, 1t cotriprised in
compact form the gist OF everything. 1t was
complete review Of the work, and was only
| complied after every separate branch oil
work had been finished. How it is possible
to make a respectable compendium OF the
census with the work in an incomplete con-
dition, it is impossible to see. The fact
| Is that even the enumeration OF population
for the census of 1880 is not completed. The
actual count of individuals, the nativity and
sex have been determined, but clerks are still
| at work upon tables which WI show, if ever
completed, the occupation, trades and probes
| sions OF the people enumerated. 10 the edu-
| cational division the work is very much be-
| hind, owing 10 the constant discharge OF
| clerks and the difficulties of securing the sta
| tistics. The report on public schools is one
| OF the largest in all the census work. Every
effort is being made to complete it in time
for Mr.: Seston's compendium. Nothing, how
| ever, can be furnished 10 time relative 10
! the thousands OF private educational insti-
tutious all over the country. Indeed, up to
| the present time; although two years aud a
half have elapsed since the lime when the
| census purports ought to have been taken,
there are many private educational institu.
| tious to which; DIP 10 to-day, no schedules,
asking enumeration of pupils and other
| information, have been sent. OF course
| no compilation of statistics tan be made
| relative to a subject about which primary
facts have not yet been gathered. With re-
| gard to the wealth, debt and taxation di-
vision, only the report on de b; is ready. Very
little, if anything, can be given in the pro-
posed compendium in reference TO the other
| branches of The work. With regard to the
| defective, dependent and delinquent classes
| il is understood very little, except simple
enumeration, can be ready in time. To sup
| ply the deficiency in this general branch
| there are a number of specisl reports upon
| fisheries, fuel, distribution of population,
watershed of rivers, manufactures oil certain
| sections, fur, seal islands, ETC., which will
| furnish some material for the digest. Within
| the bureau great discomfort and dissatisfac-
| ton are said to exist. Mr.. Wines, who has
charge of the dependent CLASSES" seems to
have become disgusted wi h the work, and
seldom comes TO Washington. M. Porter
has practically shaken the dust of the census
Office from off his feet, and will have nothing
more to do with it except to put the finishing
touches to his remaining reports. He will
give no more personal attention TO
the details. Almost everyone haV.
ing responsibility Tor The result OF
the work seems 10 be diEgrunlled.
Those who have not left are dissatisfied, and
express regret for not resigriing at the time
Gen. Walker went out. Ii seems that the
scope of the census as planned by him was
so broad that those who have had charge OF
il since he left have been unable 10 grasp
the enterprise aud carry it forward. Officials
of the bureau regard Mr.. Seaton's 'previ-
ous' compendium as a ludicrous attempt to
throw a sop TO the next session Of Congress,
and think that the work will have little
other value. II will be complete in no field
of investig alton, and cannot be correct in its
statements in lines of work only partially
completed up 10 the time il will go TO the
press. Census officials cay that the volume
will be useless provided complete compen-
dunn is ever published.