The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1890-03-29
Taking the Eleventh Census.

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The work of taking the eleventh
census of all the states and terrific
ries will be commenced on the I'd
day of next June, and the prelim-
mary work of obtaining statistics
completed by June 3Oth. Believing
that a sketch of the manner in
which the service is to be performed
may be of interest to our readers,
we publish extracts taken from an
article on the subject published in
the New York Tribune of a late date
handed US by Major A. J. Pinkham,
supervisor of census for the district
of Idaho:
The manner of getting at the number
of inhabitants in each state or territory
is simple and effective. The supervisors
district is the unit of the system. The SUI
pervisor appoints the enumerators, among
whom the work in the district is to be
subdivided, and is responsible for their
zeal and accuracy.
The enumeratOr is to start out on his
inquiry on June 2. The list of questions
drawn up for him is given below. With
this he must 60 to each family and, if
possible, get answers from each member
Of it to all the questions which tit the
case. The first list sent out for the use
of the enumerators contemplated the Sc
curing Of information on these general
points: Name, age, sex, race, place of
birth and residence, citizenship, occupa-
ton, education, health and family ties.
These are all questions more or less of
social statistics, such as have been asked
in almost every census, and answers to
them ought to be easily obtainable. Less
success may be expected with the last few
questions, which are politico economical
in character. They try to draw out some
information on subject beset with diff
culties the relative proportion of owners
and .essees of houses and farms, and the
amount of membranes on farms and
homes occupied by their owners. There
seemed to be widespread demand, how
ever, for such information on these ques-
tons as could be got through the census
taker, and Congress at this session amend
ed the census law so as to require the |
of statistics about homes and |
farms. Most of the prospective victims
Of the inquisitive gatherer of facts who
will be let loose on June 2 will doubtless |
be interested to know just what an ordeal
they will have to go through. Here is
The list of questions:
1. Give Christian name in full, and |
initial of middle name, surname.
2. Whether soldier, sailor or marine
Turing the civil war Omitted States or
Jonfederate) or widow of such person.
8. Relationship to head of family.
4. Whether white or black, muIatto,
luadroon, octoroon, Chinese, japanese or
indian.
5. Sex.
6. Age at nearest birthday. If under
me year give age in months.
7. Whether single, married, widowed
II divorced.
s. Whether married during the census
'ear June 1, 1889, to May 81, 1s9O).
8. Mother of how many children, and
lumber of these children living.
10. Place of birth.
II. Place of birth Of father.
10. Place of birth of mother.
Ac' ANuA4OCA years Ill IHC OullcO OldlcS
IA. Whether naturalized.
Is. Whether naturalization papers
ave been taken out.
16. Profession, trade or occupation.
II. Months unemployed during the
ensus year (June /, 1889, to May 81, '9O).
IL. Attendance at school Gin months)
uring the census year June /, 1889, to
lay 81, 1900.
10. Able to read.
20. Able to write.
81. Able to speak English. If not,
be language or dialect spoken.
%. Whether suffering from acute or
hronic disease, with name of disease and
ength of time afflicted.
%. Whether defective in mind, sight,
caring Or speech. or whether crippled,
laimed or deformed, with name of defect.
"a. Whether prisoner, convict, home
sss child, or pauper.
30 and &c. Is the home you live in
ired, or is it owned by the head or by
aember of the family2
81. If owned by head OF member of
.mily, is the home free from mortgage {
]:
%. If the head of family is a farmer,
the farm which he cultivates hired, or
it owned by him or by member of y
is family2 :
30. If owned by head or member of
Imily, is the farm free from mortgage !
{
80. If the home or farm is owned by {
cad or member of family, and mortgaged I
i've the postofice address of owner.
1t may be added that the superintend
1t hopes to have rough estimate of the :
opulation of the various states and ter
tories ready early in August. He will :
'mplete the tables needed for the reap \
ortionment of Representatives in Con-
ress in time for use at the short session.
In addition to the plan prescribed for
king the census of the Chinese, bill
as passed the House of Representatives
lthorizing the superintendent of the I
'nsus to enumerate the Chinese popula
on IN such manner as to enable him to
axe complete and accurate descriptive
st OF all Chinese persons in the United T.
.ates at the time of taking the census. 4
I'd to give to each person so enumerated O
certificate containing particulars neces- d
ry to fully identify him. And such 8
shall be the sole evidence of :,
e right Of the person TO be and remain v
the United States. The bill provides Il
penalty against the Chinese who shall, Il
ansfer, or dispose of such certificates. y
le sum of 100000 is appropriated to q q
Try out the provisions of the Act. a