New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-03-17
PRICE THREE CENTS.
PREPARE FOR THE CENSUS.
ON JUNE . THE ENUMERATORS WILL BEGIN
THEIR WORK.
SUPERINTENDENT PoRrER's PLANS FOR rH1
BIG UNDERTAKING - HOW THE WORK
is NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. THAT
WILL BE ASKED.
fBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRrBuSE.l


nouncement is made at the Census Bureau that
the work of preparing for the coming enumera-
ton of the population next June Is practically
over, so far the central management here 10
concerned. The Superintendent OF the Census
Robert Z. Porter, has. in fact, got the machinery
of the Bureau in such good running order al
ready that he has been able to take advantage
of the present period of routine inactivity TO 90 on
Il ten-days' vacation-gettng breathing spell
now that he would probably have been obliged
to forego during the busy period of tabulation
and computation which will follow the actual
gathering of the statistics
Up to this time the work of preparation has
been confined chiefly to outlining and planning
the canvass, determining the extent and scope or
the various inquiries, and arranging for
speedy and accurate summarizing OF the moro
important results of the census investiga-
tions. From now until next June the more inn
mediate centres of activity will be the district
headquarters at each of which the many details
Of the exhaustive and complicated canvass con-
tempated by the superintendent will have to be
carefully and patiently looked after. There are
l7j supervisors districts: in each Of them 200
cnumerators will have to he chosen and
the exact limits Of each agents work will have
to be fixed Nearly all the supervisors and
probably half the enumerators have been selected
by this time. But in all the districts whether
already organized or still unorganized. vast
amount Of labor and energy will have 10 be
expended TO get the big census machine in opera
ton promptly June .. The field work win
last month"; and from July on the Bureau
here will be overwhelmed with n mass Of returns
from every part of the Union, out of which, II
things go WE'LL it may be able TO make a rough
guess, in a month or two. at the population Of tho
country
TIE work on the present census dates from the
appointment of the superintendent, Mr.. Porter,
in April 1889. The law authorizing tie takirg
of the enumeration had been signed by Presi'en
Cleveland only three days before he went out Of
office, March |, 1889. Mr.. Porter's first step
was to build mp Bureau here, selecting as heads
for the various divisions Of census work experts
in the management Of the sorts Of statistics to
re gathered by the enumerators throughout tho
country. force Of 500 to 500 employees was
gathered together TO do the work Of arranging
and tabulating the data from the field under
the direction of tie heads Of the divisions. ana
finally special agents chosen and assigned to
districts for the collection Of more difficult and
technical facts relating 10 manufactures and
kindred subjects The country divided up
into l7j districts for the general purposes of the
census. ard the President has. since the opering
Of the present session of Congress, appointed
supervisors in nearly all OF them. Meanwhile
the machinery of the Bureau here has been gradu.
ally improved and Mr. Porter hopes. as soon as
the enumeration is over. 10 show. through some
new methods lie has adopted. especially in the
u,c of an improved counting machine, a number
Of surprising and even sensational results In
the WAY of rapid reduction of the chaotic data
turned in upon the Office TO a tabulated and inr
telgibe form ne expects. at least. TO outdo the
censuscs.
The manner OF getting at the number OF In
habitants in each State Territory is simple and
effective The supervisors district is the unit Of the
system. The supervisor appoints the enumcrators,
among whom the work in the district is TO be
subdivided. and is responsible for their zeal and
accuracy BY a provision of the law no enumer-
ator is TO be required to look after subdivision
Of more than 1000 people. and he is also ex-
pccted TO be a resident of the subdivision and
personally familiar with great number OF the
families which he is TO visit The average size
of n supervisors district may be guessed from the
fact that Ncw-York and Pennsylvania have each
eleven Ohio and Illinois eighty one New-Jersey
and Connecticut. two Many inequalities occur,
however In the division according 10 popula-
ton. Ncw-York City. Kings. Queens. Richmond
and Suffolk counties making up together only
TWO of all the eleven in New-lork State. Msssa-
chusetts. similarly, forms but a single district.
while Maryland has three districts.
The enumcrator is TO start out on his inquiry on
June .. Ii he is to work In city of more than
lO. 900 inhabitants, he must finish his canvass in
two weeks II he has a country subdivision. no
will not bc called upon for "A return until the end
of the month. The list of questions drawn up for
him is given below With this he must go to each
=, .ato fro m eac
lcr of IL TO all the questions which ht the case.
The first lis, sent ont for the use of the enumera-
tors contemplated the securing of information on
these general points: Name, age. sex.
race. place OF birth and residence
citizenship, occupation, educa'loh neai.o
and family ties. These are all questions
more or less of social statistics, such as nave oecn
asked in almost every census. ana answers 10 tnem
ought to be easily obtainablc. Less success may
be expected with the last few questions. which
are politicoeconomcal in character. They Try to
draw out some information on subject bcsct Wild
diniculties-thc relative proportion OF owners ana
cssccs of houses and farms, and the amount OF IN
cumbrances on farms and homes occupied py tneit
owners There seemed Ia he widespread demand.
however, for such information on these questions
as could he got through the census-taier. ara Con-
srcss at this session amended the census law SO AZ
10 require the collection of statistics about homes
and farms. Most of the prospective victims OF
the inqusiye gaiheTer Of facts w VINO % oe es @
know lust what an ordeal they will have to so
through Here is the list Of questions:
l. Give Christian IN full. and initial OF middle
name. surname.
whcthcr soldier sailor or marine during the Civu
war United States or Confeierate widow Of such
person.
8. Relationship to head OF family
L. Whether black, mulato qusdroon octorooos
Chinese. japanese or Indian.
!. Sex.
g. Age at nearest birthday. II under one year give
age In months.
Z Whether single. married widowed or divorced
H. Whether married during the census year June l.
1882 to May 81, 1850.
o. Mother how many children, and number OF these
children living
10. Place OF birth.
II. Place OF birth OF father.
l.. Place OF birth OF mother
I3. Number OF wars IN the United States
II. Whether naturazed