Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1890-03-29
TAKING THE CENSUS.
Some Information OF Interest to the Pros
pective Victims Of the Inqulsltive Gath-
erer of Facts.

TAKING THE CENSUS.
Some Information OF Interest to the Pros
pective Victims OF the Inaulsltive GATH
erer of Facts.
The enumerator is to start out on his
inquiry on June z. II he Is TO work in a
city Of 10, 900 inhabitants, he must finish
his canvass in two weeks. II he has a
country subdivision, he will not be
called upon for 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 family and, u
possible, get answers from each member
OF it to all the questions which lit the
case. The first list sent out for the
use OF the enumerators contemplated
the securing of information 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 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 char
acter They try TO draw out some in
formation on subject beset with diiii-
culties-the relative proportion Of own
ers and leSsees of houses and farms,
and the amount Of membranes on
farms and homes occupied by their
owners There seemed to be vide
spread demand, however, for such in
formation on these questions as could
be got through the ce nsus-taker, and
Congress at this session amended the
census law so as to require the collcc-
tion of statistics about homes and
farms. Most Of the prospoc tive victims
of the inquisitivc gatherer Of facts who
will be let loose on June I'd, will doubt
less be interested toknow Just what an
ordeal they will have to 90 through.
Here is the list Of questions:
i. Give Christian name in full, and initial Of
middle name. surname.
.. Whether colder, sli'or or marine during
lnt ilNll W hr ~ nll"l 0ldi'S VI NpLlt''ldttl
or widow of such person
g. Relationship to lead Of family.
T. Whether whi'e or black, muatlo, quad.
ron, octoroon, h ne. C. japanese Or Ind an.
D. Sex.
g. Age at nearest birthday. II under one
year give age in montl s.
:. Whether single, married, widowed or
divorced.
s. Whether margiod during the census year
tJuna I, 1889, to May 81 lsl)).
o. Mother of how many children, and number
of these children living.
10. Place of birth.
II. Place of birth Of father,
r. Place of birth OF mother.
u. Number Of years in the United S,a'cs
H. Whether naturAlized.
II. Whether naturalization paper have be n
taken out.
49, Profession. trade or occupation.
II. Months unemployed during the Census
yer June /, 1889, to May 81, 1S.ol
IS Attcn 'ance at school IN months during
the Census year OJunc l. 1889, to May 81, 1880,
~. Able to read
% Able to write.
o. Able to speak English. II not the Ian
guage or dialect spoken. .
90 Whether suffering from acute or chroni.
disease. with name Of disease and length oi
time afflicted.
% Whether defe tive in mind. sight hear
ing or speech, or whether cripple !, MANNED OF
deformed, with name OF defect.
~ Whether q prisoner, convict homcl'S
child or paupcr.
% and 26 Is the home you live in hired CT /,
] ii owned by the head or by n member Of th'
family
| 81 II owned by head or member Of family, i
/ the home free from mortgage incumbrarc';
2s If the head Of the family is a farmer, Il
| the farm which he cultivates hired, or is Il
owned by him or by member of his family;
% II owned by head or member Of flmi'y. /,
the farm free from mortgage membranes
30 If the home or farm is owned by head o
member Of fanny, and mortgaged, give III,
| post Office Gd lrcss OF owner.
Many of the questions, it will be seen
are not intended to be put to all tn,
members of the family visited. From
their general scope they are likely t,
furnish the Bureau with all the infor
nation that is needed in the :rcatmen
of population and social statistics
/ With the exception of the questions
about mortgages, the entire list will b,
pronounced inoirenSive. Possibly tht
few spinsters of uncertain age and the
unlueky grass" widows who fall under
the enumerator's cross-fire may regarC
the sixth and seventh questions as in
quisitorial But there is no law to com
pei such witnesses to make admissions
/ damaging to themselves.
The work of the special agents VIII,
collect statistics Of manufactures is no
to be limited to the month of June ant
the facts they gather will not he pu
/ into shape until after the tables of popu
lation are completed. 1t may be addet
that Mr., Porter hopes to have a rough
estimate of the population of the vari
ous States and Territories ready earl,
in August. lie will complete the table,
needed for the rcapportionmcnt of Rep
resentatives in Congress in time for us,
at the short session.