The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-06-13
ORIGIN OF the CENSUS.
Moses In the Wtidernes<-Popular Enum-
erations in Europe.
Indianapolis Journal

erati0ns in Europe.
Indianapolis Journal.
The most ancient statistical record of the
kind is that of Moses in the wilderness
That enumeration must have been exceed
ingly simple. as shown by the first chapter
of the fourth hook of Pentateuch. Take
ye," says this account. "the sum Of all the
congregations OF the children Of Israel
after their families, by the house Of their
fathers. with the number OF their names.
every male by their polls; from 20 years
old and upward, all that are able to go
forth to war in Israel: thou and Aaron
shall number them by their armies" The
names OF the chief euumerators are also
given, those who assisted Moses and Aaron
being 1.-THE renowned of the congregation,
princes of the tribes of their fathers.
heads of thousands in IsraeL.' Then
the enumerators assembled all the con-
gregation together on the first dav of the
second month. and they declared their
pedigrees after their families by the house
OF their fathers, according to The number of
names, from 20 years and upwards, by the
polls" This enumeration must have been
an affair soon over, requiring probably no
more than days time, being merely q
counting of the heads OF the lighting men.
There was no counting of women. or chill
dren, or old men, or cripples. and "the
Leyites were not numbered among them. !"
Those who did stand up 10 DO counted
numbered 613.I0.
There is record OF a census in China as
far back as the year s0i2 b. c.. and OF one
in Japan the last century before Christ.
Under the constitution of Scion the citi-
zens OF Athens were divided and registered
into four classes. according to the amour.
Of their taxable property or income. The
Roman census was burdened with more
statistics than any OF these simple enumer-
atoms. Il originated under Servius Tuilius.
sixth king OF Rome, and was an affair OF
much solemnity. 1t Is not at all likely any
man or woman was found sufficiently lost
to fear OF consequences to make faces at
census officers, or withhold desired infor-
nation. Every citizen had 10 appear upon
the Campus Martius and declare upon oath
his name and dwelling and the value of his
property under the penalty of having his
goods contiscAied and OF being scoureed
and sold for q slave. There was no trouble
about having such census full and COM
psese. Ii had the benefit too, OF making
the people TO be counted anxious to find
the census man, while he was not nut to
the labor of going from house to house TO
find the people. Augustus Cesar, who had
great head for detail, when he had the
population numbered greatly enlarged the
scope OF the census and improved the
method of taking it.
The census of modern Europe Is compar-
atiyeIy recent. No exact popular enun,er-
atoms were made In the seventeenth CEN
fury, bat in the eighteenth great progress
was made in the development Of statistic al
science In Russia the taking Of the GEN.
sus in crude way began in 1900, and In
I7l9. under Peter the Great, though I'm
provement had been made. females were
omitted from the enumeration. Census
taking in Prussia dates from the time of
Frederick William III. The Prussisn CEN
sus OF today is very exact and complete. II
is taken by civil officers in one day. by
means of printed schedules. The first CEN
sus in Austria was taken in 1854. and for
100 years was taken each three wears
for military purposes only. In Sweden
the science OF Statistics has been particu-
farly cultivated and Belgium ranks among
the first nations of the world in Complete.
ness OF its national statistics. In Italy the
returns OF this character are very complete
the range OF inquiries having been greatly
extended The movement OF the popuIa-
ton Is determined from civil registers KEEP;
by the municipal authorities. In Turkey
the enumeration Is very imperfect. the
chief object of taking il being TO provide A
basis for taxation and conscription. In
France the first census OF which
records are extsnt vas taken In l7Dj
OF course. as in everything pertaining to
statistics. work OF thas kind Is thorough in
France The first census OF Great Britain
was taken IN ls0i. and embraced the ser.
but no; the age. OF all subjects The fami.
nss and occupations were classified. so a.
10 exhibit the number empioyed in arri-
culture, IN trade and manufactures or
handlcrafss, and those not comprised in
the classes. Blanks or householders'
schedules are now left ali over the king
dem by an army of enurnerators. and
these are required 10 be filed up on the
night OF April .. and are collected by the
enamerafoFs the following day. The police
assist in enumerafing the houseiess popuis-
tion- The army and navy are returned by
the nayal and military authorities.