New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-08-18
TIE POPULATION COUNT COMPLETED.
SUPERINTENDENT PORTER COMMUNICATING
THE WORKERS AT A DINNER-HIGH PRAISE
FOR THE WOMEN CLERKS.

Washington, Aug. II (SpeciaD.-The chief Of the
population Division Of the Census Office celebrated the
,ompeon of the count of the population OF the United
states by giving a dinner on saturday. The Hol-
,erth electric tabuatng system has been in use by
the Census Office for the tabulaton of the schedules
Of population taken under the eleventh census supern
tendent Porter in expressing his congratulations upon
the rapid and accurate completion of this great work
spoke as follows:
1t may not have occurred to any of this little band
Of faithful workers, consisting of chiefs and section
chiefs the Population Division Of the Census, that
you are celebrating great event here in this picur-
esoue spot. For the first time in the history OF the
world the count of the population of great Nation
has been made by the aid of electricity. The number
Of names on every one Of Is 900 900 schedules has
been registered twice by the nimble and expert fingers
of the counters and the G4000OO0 people have
marched, as ii were, under the vision Of the young
men and women who have done such remarkable work
with such extraordinary rapidity and precision.
What procession you have had pass before you 1!
The men who wrote those names have had to find them
In every human habitation and existing under every
Imaginable condition. within this vast domain OF ours
In June these blanks distributed throughout the
country in July and August they md themselves
hack in the Census Office, counted twice and ready
for the next statistical treatment. Allowing for the
time spent in teaching, and In getting up tle ma
Chimes the count proper was not begun before July
l. and the night force was not organized until some
time afterward We have actually counted 125,OOO0Oo
In six weeks, the entire population OF o4oooooo
twice in that period
beginning with 1000 and 1900 families OF
10000 and $4,000 persons per day, tne operatives
progressed in dexterity, until last thursday no less
than forty three counted 10000 families, or
10000 persons each; one young lady reaching inc
astonishing total of 1901 families or about $4,000
persons on that day not only the highest averages
were reached but the greatest number counted the re-
ports showing 342 31s families GIL 500 persons
This represents an average Of 6135 families or 4O67o
persons, per clerk.
Gin this connection think il my duty to that In
the general average tho male clerks-manlke, hear
some OF the young women whisper-seek refuge behind
the pettcoats of the gentler The number
counted by the woman clerks was $500 families, or
A. $50 persons and by the clerks 0,5S7 families
or 80 o35 persons. Thus il will be seen that the
women averaged nearly one-hah more than the men.
II is also worth noting that Of the fortythree that
counted more than 10000, thirty eight were women
and only five men. These facts and. indeed, the
record of the entire six weeks, show that women are
better adapted for this particular work than men, Iey
are more exact in touch moro expeditions In handling
the schedules more at home in adjusting the dencate
mechanism of the machine. and apparently more aihO
fious 10 make good record
"Whle gratulote you on the cOmPlet0n OF Il,e
rough count and thank you sincerely JOE ile epeaV
nxtra hoirs YOU have freely given TO Keep IL moving
! must sympathize with YOU IN tle sOLO"iui i|CV
that you have no more couhtres 10 CoIltj as No
snder is said 10 have wept because ne lad no more
rnrIds 70 CONQUER Hunt and sutherland, In the
df Of This CAV festivity. look solemn and sad at te
patty total Of Rad Rad to E count t the poPua
a., tice in order to reach those figures, Distance Is
overcome and essened when we can naSh our thousho