Fergus County argus., 1890-05-01
UNCLE SANS cArEcHIsM.
Prepare for the Coming Of the Inquisitive
Census Taker

EIePate io' tno So1AinB " s"e A"t~'s'e
Census Taksr.
The enumeration is to start out on
his inquiry June 2. Ii he is to work in
a city of more than 10000 inhabi-
tants he must finish hiscanvass in two
weeks. Ii he has IL country subdi-
vision he will not be called upon for a
return until the end of the month.
The list OF questions drawn up for him
is gwen belo,.. With this he must 60
to each family and. il possible, get
answers from each member Of it to all
the quest ions which lit the case. The
enum-rators, says the New York Tri-
bune, contemplated the securing OF in
formation on these general points
Name, age, sex, race, place of birth
and residence, citizenship, occupation,
education. health and family ties.
These are all questions more or less OF
statistics, such as have been asked in
almost every census, and answers to
them ought to he easily Obtainable.
Less success may he expected with the
last few questions, which are politico-
economical in character. They try to
draw out some information on IA sub
ject beset with dtliculties-the relative
proportion OF owners and lessees OF
houses and farms and the amount OF
membranes on farms and homes Oc-
cupied by their owners. There seems
to he widespread demand, however,
for such information on these ques-
tions as could be got through the cen
sus taker, and congress at this session
amended the census law SO as to re
auire the collection OF statistics about
homes and farms. Most of the pros
pective victims Of the inquisitive gath
erer OF facts, who will be let loose June
=, will doubtless he Interested to know
Just what an ordeal they will have to
90 through. Here is list OF the qies
tions
|. Give Christian name in full and
initial of middle name, surname.
2. Whether a soldier, sailor or ma
rine during the civil war United States
or Confederate) or widow OF such per
son.
3. Relationship to head OF family
1. Whether white or black, mulatto
| fhsp..Sa
ese, or Indian.
). Sex.
Is. Age ut nearest birthday. II I'm
der one year give age in months.
Z. Whether single, married widowed
or divorced.
=. Whether married during he cen
sus year (.Iune /, lSSo, to May 81
500.
-. Mother of how many children
and number of these children living.
10 Place OF birth.
: II. Place of birth of father.
II. Place OF birth Of mother.
: l3. Number OF years IN the tnite'
States.
IA. Whether naturalized.
: 10. Whei her naturalization paper
have been taken ont.
Ii. Profession, trade or Occupa
tion.
IL Months unemployed during th
census year (.june | 1859, to May3l
$3.50.
r Is. Attendance at schools III
| months) during the census year (Jun
/, 1889. to May 81, 1880.
-. Able to read.
Z 2O. Able to write.
i u. Able TO speak English. Ii moi
the language or dialect spoken.
-. Whether suffering from acut
OF chronic disease, with name Of Dir
f, ease and length OF time afflicted.
1 23. Whether detective in min,
, sight, hearing or speech, or wheth
Icrippled, manned or deiormed, wit
name of defect.
: ~ Whether a prisoner. convic
: homeless child, or paup-r.
~ - and 26. j. the home you live
n hired. or is it owned by the head or b
= "A mrmber OF the family?
II %. Ii owned by the head of ii
i. family. is the home free from mortga;
), incllmbrance?
N farmer is the farm which he cultivate
9. hired, or is it owned by him or by
"A member OF his family?
i 30. Ii owned by the head or a mel
N ber of the family, is the farm free fro
A. mortgage incumbrance,
ii 30. Ii the house or farm is own,
i by the head or a member OF the far
r. lily, and mortgaged, give the postofli
a address OF owner.
n Many OF the questions, it will he see
If are not intended to he put to all I
% members OF the family visited. Fro
ii their general scope they are likely
II nation that is needed in the trsa
IL ment OF population and social stat
H. tics. With the exception OF the qu'
%. tions about mortgages the entire i
n, will be pronounced inoffensive. Pt
sibly the few spinsters OF uncertain q
and the unlucky grass" widows "
fall under the enumerators ) crOss-f
may regard the ski h and seventh qu
ne tions as inqui>itorial But there is
-. law to compel such witnesses to ma
y admissions damaging to themselves
an Tho work of the snecial AGENTS "A
ed collect statistics OF manufactures
les not To be limited to the month
TO- June, and the facts they gather v
III not be put into shape until after
Iue tables OF population are complet
all it may he added that Mr.. Porter ho]
1T to have a rough estimate OF the POI
les lation OF the various states and tel
nv tories ready early in August. lie '
ole complete the tables needed for the
-, ! appoiut mept of reprr~rnt "A I ives in q