Democratic Northwest and Henry County news. [volume] (Napoleon, O. [Ohio]) 1894-1905, 1896-12-24
CENSUS OF The WORLD.
The Celebration of the Advent OF thu
Twentieth Century.

IWentleth century
A census of the world 1t seems impos-
sible, but it is going to be undertaken.
This unparalleled labor Is to be one Of the
gigantic projects to celebrate the advent
of the twentieth century, and 1t Is safe to
say that a more stupendous Undertaking
has never before been devised
The scheme had its real inception at the
biennial meeting of the International Sta
tistical institute recently held at Bern,
Switzerland. At the instance of DIR. Gull
laume, the director of the statistical Office
of the federal government, committee Of
distinguished statisticians, scientists, trav-
elers and geographers was appointed to
begin work by collecting all information
possible as to the best methods of taking
this world census and to report to the in
stitute at its meeting next year.
The first step in this important commit
tees labor was to enlist the interest and
aid of Ii Hung Chang. They met him
when ho was in Berlin and secured the
promise of his influence In China. In no
nation will the work of census taking be
more difficult than in China, where the
people are as the sands of the sea.
Anything approximating an accurate
census Of the population OF the earth at the
present time is, without doubt, an impos-
sibility. In addition to the poles, there
are many spots on the earth that have
never been visited by the explorer, and
others from which a census enumerator
would never get away alive. The populs-
tion of the earth is now estimated at
!, 700, 900, 900. These figures were given by
Professors Benin and Wagner of the Uni
versity of Gottingen, and their estimates
are based upon the best information. Yet
both frankly acknowledge that they have
had to fill up many of their columns with
nothing better than guesses = guesses
founded upon the observations of travel
ers and upon other guesses mentioned in
treaties given by such countries as China,
Persia, Arabia and Turkey.
In China, for instance, they state that
their figures may be 900, 100000 moro or
less than the actual number of people. In
Africa they may be some 80, 600, 900 astray,
and in Asiatio Turkey, Persia, Siam and
Afghanistan the figures are probably equal
ly uncertain.
China, they are now assured, will take
an official census, and the governments OF
Turkey, Persia, Siam and Afghanistan
Will also be asked TO give their assistance
to the agents of the institute, with view
to making some distrioted enumeration OF
their peoples.
The accomplishment of this will require
large amount of diplomacy as well as OF
money and the widest possible knowledge
of these half barbarous localities.
In the beginning of the next century, at
the present rate of exploration, there will
hardly be square mile of Africa that will
be unsafe for traveller with small
guard, and an enumeration can be made
which, if not accurate, will at least be OF
enormous value By 1900 Russia will have
pushed her two transcontinental railroads
nearly through Asiatic territory, and the
wild regions of Tibet will be open to the
traveller. In the year 1900 many keen and
intelligent observers will be sent into all
these regions to make the great estimate
of the hitherto uncountcd millions.
1t is believed that census of such mag
nitude can be taken on the same day OF
week or month all over the civilized
world. The effort will be made to have il
taken upon one and the same day If pos.
sible. London Mail.