New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-09-01
PUSHING THE XITH CENSUS.
OUTLINING
SUPERINTENDENT PORTER OUTLINING
HIS PLANS.
THE PROGRESS ALREADY MADE-sEvERAL I'M
PoRTANT APPOINTMENTS OF SPECIAL
AGENTS.

AGENTS..
Washington. Aug. 31.-Robert p. Porter, the
superintendent of the Nth Census has submitted his
first annual report the Secretary OF the Interior
He says in part:
Besides the inquiries authorized by the law OF
1879 an additional special inquiry is demanded by the
act under which the &Ith Census Will be taken,
relating to the statistics of the recorded indebtedness
Of private corporations and indivd ias. In inc
preparation OF the branch Of the work rclallhg 10
special subjects it has been found necessary to con
suit with experts NJ different parts OIL inc countl5'
who have made lifetime studies OF these topics.
The aim of the Office will be 10 keep strictly WITHIN
the requirements Of the law, and at the same uDo
10 as cary as v PS'O o has ' also added to
the correspondence of the Office and many conferences
have been had with specialists. ,
II has been decided 10 collect the statistics relating
to the public Indebtedness Oh the Unllcd old,es m
each Of the years intervening between l9ao ana asGy
and the schedules for this purpose are HtdlS Gt
The law provides that, in cases where II Is u4Tu b
reports shall be Of and for the fiscal E year
having its termination nearest June !, 1890, ana lat
the superintendent shall also, at the time OF JnT
thereto as me Secretary Of the Interior may o.
te,mne collect the statistics Of and relating 10 .ng
recorded Indebtedness of private coIp2ianoh, d d
individuals In accordance with this provision y ma
been thought wise ocoec The statl't 81 dIes
of mines and mining, Of express and insurance CON,
panles for the calendar year ending Decetpsr, o.,
as rapidly as possible considerable preparatory %TrA
has been done: as already decided upon IN CONSUME"
ton With the Secretary OF the Interior. -, othor
For comparative purposes, the reports ol o. ard
countries on vital statistics municlpal nndh.g, en-
other subjects arc OF ;aluc ana ulroush o s' now
oneration OF the state Department. efforts arc ~"
being made 30 secure inforna alton OF this charac.o'
superntendent Porter has appointed Dr. cha'' -
A. Ashburner and John II. Jones special agents "
collect the statistics Of coal for the Nlth Census
DR. Ashburner while geplogist in charge OF the 1o'
logical Survey Of Pennsylvania. gave personal a''cn
ton 10 the location. mining methods ana plouuo,r'"
of the anthracite coal mines OF PennsyVahla' i"s
work has lately earned him the honorary degfo' VI
doctor OF philosophy from the University OF rem
sylvania In 1885 DR.. Ashburner wa called upon pS
the United States Geological Survey to make report
on the coal production Of the entire United states
This great TASK begun and finished by him IN SIX
weeks. Since that time this work has Deen uno -
his charge He has prepared the reports on coal ip
the volumes Mineral Resources OF The lnltcd otd"'
for 1855, 1886. 1887, aud IS now compouhs 'nA '''
Mr. Jones began his work on coal statistics In 1870
as statiscian for tie railroad COMPANIES engage ~
every year -fnce that time reports anthracite snip
%e9ts Which haze AYE aae h G R also appointed
James NJ. swank. of Philadelphia, special agent 10
United States for The census o OF l7' in
Mr.. swan& held The same ne, o,r once up6n
iron and steel as well as his compilation o.. ne "a
tstcs Of these branches OF Soductve indn.ly, -
Mr. Porter has also appointed James H. B!oascir VI
Roc kfod, Ill., special agent Of the crlsno Wto the
United States for the new census. Mr. Blodgett - a
native OF NewYork but has lived since his boy noo s
mainly I'm illinois, where he took an important piI'
IN the for formation Of the school system Of the siae
He enlisic1 a. a private In Company r, 'oth ili, ,
infantry IN the late war, aud was promoted 20 cap
tain during the service After the war ec wa sar
fifteen years For the last five years ne mas ut .
The editor Of the publications Of the United states
Geological Survey. - .noin,ed
Joseph d. Weeks Of Plttsburg, has been aPpoh,,fso
special agent OF the Census once 10 co G class
statistics of petroleum, coke, natural gas and bta,
for the Nth Census Mr.. Wecks's reports on M's A.,
and prices and on coke and glas fespectlVeH, va
the Census of 1880 were as complete and EXHAUSTIVE
as the conditions would permit