The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1889-07-11
COUNTING THE PEOPLE.
THE WORK OF TAKING THE GEN.
SUS OF THE UNITED STATES.

First Census" Second Census" etc.
These books are the original returns
made by the enumerators in taking ev-
cry census from the year 1890, when the
first census was taken, down to 1880, the
year of the last census. Prior to 1850
only the names of the heads of families
were taken, but when the census of that
year was collected the name of every in
dividual in the United States was emu
merated. This room, consequently, con-
tains the name of every man, woman
and child who has been born or who has
lived in this country since the first day
of June, 1850.
THE OLD WAY.
l do not think many people know of
this, and at some time it may be of the
greatest use to lawyers and others who
are engaged in the search for missing
heirs, and who want to ascertain whether
a certain person was living at a particular
time.
1t is an interesting study to note the
evolution of the census, so to speak. For
instance, in turning to the first census
the first volume on which laid my hands
happened to be the returns for North
cumberland and Mifflin counties, Penn
sylvania. 1t is book of about couple
Of hundred pages, AXIS inches. On the
fly leaf appears this inscription written
in fair hand:
James Potter's return. Northumberland and
Mifflin.
The inside page facing the first leaf,
reads:
The number of persons within my division,
consisting of 22,359 appears in schedule here
unto annexed, subscribed by me this Goth day of
April, 1901. JAMES POTTER,
Assistant to the Marshal of Pennsylvania
There are no printed headings as are
found in later census returns, and at
the top of every page the subdivisions
are written. At that time all that the
enumerator was required to do was to
take the names of the heads of families,
the number of males in each family
above and under 16 years of age, the
number of females, without regard to
age, "all other free persons and the
slaves Apparently the government did
not provide books of a uniform size for
the use of the enumerators, for some of
them are big and others small.
In the second census a great stride was
made in the way of obtaining a more
accurate and thorough enumeration.
This year printed headings were used,
and the ages were divided as follows:
Under 10, of 10 and under 16, of 16 and
under 26, of &c and under As, of As and
upwards. The same classification was
adopted for females.
The third adopted the same age di-
visions, but in addition some slight atten-
ton was paid to manufactures.
The changes made in the fourth were
the addition of a column for the ages of
males between 16 and IS, the enumera-
ton of unnaturalized persons, the num-
Der of people engaged in agriculture,
commerce and manufactures. Separate
volumes for the first time were devoted
to industrial statistics, and the occupa-
lions were infinitely divided. An inves-
| tigation was also instituted as to the
amount of material used in manufacture
ing establishments, the number of per-
sons employed, value Of the plant, pro-
| duction, revenue, etc.
The fifth made the enumeration still
more definite The age schedule was di-
vided in this way: Under 5, from to 10,
10 to Is, 10 to 20, and from 20 in 10 year
periods up to 100 The deaf, dumb and
blind were also enumerated.
In the sixth for the first time the num-
Der of pensioners ''for revolutionary and
military services" was given. The edu-
cational, Industrial and commercial sta
tistics are very complete
The seventh was really the first
thorough census, as it gave for the first
time the name of every person in the
United States at the time that the census
was taken. The occupation or profes
sion of every male, the value of his rea
estate, the school attendance, the mum
Der of illiterates, the insane, INDECENT
and criminal were all counted. Slave:
for the first time were enumerated II
separate volumes, as were also the NOR
tally statistics The amount of taxa
ton, the number of libraries, news
papers. the different religious denomina
tions, with the value of their property
and the question of wages all received
attention.
The eighth and ninth were on abou
the same scale, with some slight add
tons, a noticeable feature of the latte
being the cause of death of every indi
vidual who had died during the censu
year.
When we come to the tenth, it woult
be easier to tell of the subjects which
did not handle than those which it did
Almost everything capable of being pu
into figures went into that work, ant
: the number of volumes is almost withou
limit A sight of the returns of tn
enumerators conveys better idea of tn
magnitude of the work than any amour
of description can.-Washingto Letter
= Different Initials.