The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1890-06-05

king very hard, and am in poor mood
for writing. 80 excuse, ~
!; DAVID SAITH, r. N.
{. ~ THE CENSUS. ! = -,
Editor ADvANcE-With your per-
mission I would like to say = few
words on; the matter. Of taking the
census.
We are . great nation. We do not
kLow just how great We are either as;
to numbers or wealth, but We expect
soon to know much more about ii
than we do at present.
In few days the census enumera-
tor will make US visit and will ply
US with questions, many OF them, very
likely, such as we did not expect. In
many cases from not knowing what
the enumerator would xish to learn
from US. and not having given the
matter any previous thought; Ne may
not be able, just at the moment, t.
answer the questions correctly. As
the value Of the statistics to be COL
lected depends almost wholly upon
their accuracy, it would be we'll to
post ourselves now, before the enumer-
ator calls on US. .In order to assist in
making the: returns from Mobiles
County as accurate as possible, 1 have
thought that if the county papers
would publish the questions that will
be asked by the enumerator. or at least
the more important ones. Space will
not allow Of giving the questions in
full, but the following will give fair
idea of the drift of them.
In family b d"le. No. ], the
questions are for the most part, simple
aud easily answered. They ask, the
name, whether soldier, sailor, or mar
iae during the civil war;'color, sex, age
whether married or single, whether
married during the census year, (from
June !, 1889 TO May 81, $780,. mother
of how many children, and how ma"v
of these are living, place Of birth, place
Of birth of father, place of birth OF
mother. Number of years in United
States, whether naturalized, whether
naturalization papers have been taken
out, profession, trade or occupation.
attendance at school during census
year. These and few othecs make
up the "Family Schedule."
General Schedule No. 2, is statist les
of agriculture, and will call for little
more thought and preparation in order
to answer the questions correctly. II
asks for: Name Of occupants of farm,
whether owner or renter, whole mum
ber OF acres in farm, how many acres
improved, and of this how many acres
in meadow or pasture. Value Of
farming Implements and machinery,
value of live stock. Number of acres
| of wild or tame grass harvested in 1883
with yield of same. amount Of hay
sold with price sold At. Number OF
acres in wheat, oats, barley, rye, fax,
corn, potatoes, etc. with market value
of each kind of crop, yield of same
and how much of each was sold. Oh
horses, mules and asses it asks: How
many on hands June l, 1890, how many
foaled in 1889, how many sold in 1889
OF sheep: number, and Of what breet
How many lambs in 1889, how many
fleeces In 1889 and weight of same
Similar questions are asked about Cat
tie, number on hand June l, 1890, til
breed, namber Of calves in 1850, mum
Der Of cattle sold in 1889. In dair
products is wanted the number o
pounds of butter and cheese made, an
how much of same vas sold. Simila
questions are asked on swine and poul
try.
There is . special schedule designe
to include all persons who served i
tho Army, Navy and Marine Corps q
the United States during the war 9
the rebellion, (who are survivors) an
widows of such persons. 1t calls fo
name. rank, company, name Of regl
ment or vessel. date of enlistment
date of discharge and length Of ser,
ice.
1t will readily be seen that in orde
to answer these questions correctly
will be necessary to give some lit
. time to preparation. 1t would not
a bad plan to write out, ~ soon as '
have aauttle leisure, the answers
the above questions and so be read
, for tho enumerator when he come
, As I said before, the value of the
: statistics is to be measured by thu
accuracy. ..
: It is said by those who ought
? know, that the census ret urns of Is
. were deficient in many respects, u
/. that ststisticians have been basi
their calculations on these retur
! over since to tho injury OF the far
. ing interests.
( We need not hesitate to answer
8 the questions with the utmost fran
, ness, as the knowledge Is not soue
with any covert pur pose. The gu
8 tions on tho value. of farms and OF
b property have nothin g to do with t,
= alton. The govern ment, which
t this country means the p eople. sim
J, wishes to learn what is the popul att
k wealth, resources and needs Of
J. great country. The government ne
;. this knowledge. II we are to be wis
q governed our lawmakers must kn
z both what are our needs and "
Is available means are at hand 20 m
3. those needs. To make the moet Of