The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1890-07-10
THE CENSUS IN IT'S ENTIRETY.

tention to the fact that the division
of population is but division merely
of the census bureau, and though that
is the popular branch, it represents
really small portion of the work.
The censuses of the United States are
not confined to the work Of counting
the number of inhabitants alone, but
they are decennial "stock takings,"
the canvassing OF the nations wealth
and resources. The organization of
the bureau OF census is much
larger and more far reaching in its
effects than the general public is apt
to believe. The bureau is divided into
about twenty divisions, prominent
among which of course is that of
population" Then there are the
divisions of "Pauperism and Crime"
"Vital Statistics" and Farms, Homes
and mortgages" which on account of
having their questions included on
the enumerators' schedules, and be-
cause Of the liberal way in which the
ACCESSIBILITY and pertinence Cor imper-
tinence) of the questions have been
discussed by the daily press, have be-
come more or less familiar to the pub
lie. But aside from these, there are
very important branches of the work,
which because of the quiet, unobtru.
sive manner in which the in
vestigations are carried on, are
but slightly brought before
the public eye. Their work, however,
is very important and forms highly
interesting and significant part of the
investigation. Among these are the
divisions of the Manufactures"
Transportation" "Fish and Fisher
ies," "Mines and Mining" ETC., ETC.,
in which full inquiry is made as to
amount of capital invested, labor en-
ployed, wages paid, value of produc-
ton and such other salient points as
may be of interest in divining the
wealth, growth and general prosperity
of the various productive industries
OF the country.
The southern states are as much
interested in seeing that their pro-
ductive industries are properly enum-
Grated as in having fair representa- ton
in statistics of population. The
growth of manufactures, for lnstanc e
is really more indicative of the devel-
opment ola towns resources than
is that of population, and no southern
town, City or community should allow
itself to lack fair and just representa-
ton of its productive industries in the
eleventh census report. One of the
greatest difficulties encountered by |
the census authorities is in the in |
difference Of the people themselves, as
shown in disinclination to respond |
to inquiries sent out from the census
Office in Washington. This is largely |
due to a reluctance on the part OF
many people to betray their private
interests. They should bear in mind
that all special agents and
enumerators are under oath of Sc
crecy, that any information is held
strictly confidential and is asked for
under guarantee that it will not be
used for any basis of license or taxa
ton or in any way to adversely affect,
nor will any publication be made that
will disclose the interests of individu-
ais. The South owes it to herself to
see that she has all her resources re-
ported in the present census. 1t is
believed that the census authorities
desire to give full and complete re-
port of the country's population and
wealth, and where possible they should
receive the hearty cooperation OF the
people.
A special agent of the mines and
mining division of the census was in
Austin yesterday and is making a
canvass OF the State for the purpose of
obtaining the statistics of that indus
try, and The STATESMAN asks for him
the co, operation of corporations, firms
and individuals engaged in the bust
ness.
Col. ]. G. DEGREES, chairman of the
Republican State executive committee,
has issued call for a convention, to
be held in the city of San Antonio,
Tex, on September 3, for the purpose
of nominating State ticket for the
November elections and the trans
action of such other business as may