Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-05-13

the correctness Of each card. remains silent
1t Is then q comparatively easy matter to
go back to the schedules and supply the
missing information. whereas on the tally
sheets such a mistake would hardly be
discovered
The third stage in preparing the facts
ana hgurcs for publication Is the tabuatiug.
/ his VIII be in charge OF a force Of unD
clerks and CopyiSts, whose work will be the
preparation of statistical tables and copy
for the printers. The fourth and final stage
is the typesetting. printing and binding.
from which the bulky volumes viii emerge
ready for distribution.
Not only will the coming census have SUI
perior mechanical appliances for preparing
its results. but il will probably be the first
in this or any other country to have the ad-
vantage Of a building constructed especially
to meet the needs Of census work. The
PLANS for the building are already drawn,
and its erection. it is hoped. Will begin with
in a short time.
The Proposed Building.
AT the recent session Of Congress no
action was taken on the question OF a build
ing. and no appropriation for the purpose
was made. We think, however, that pri-
waite capital viii undertake the erection OF
Il building according to plans prepared 10y
ourselves The rent Of such building con-
structed to meet our particular require
uentS will be less than the cost of securing
a sufficient amount of room in any build
ings now available for the purpose in
Washington.
The building Will he Of brick one story
high. except in the portion devoted To tbs
administration. II viii be lighted almost
entirely by slylights. one wing viii con-
tain the punching room, lJoN2Ip feet with
accommodations for the LOCO clerks en-
ployed in that department The other wing
Will be occupied 10y 1000 tabulating clerks.
Between the two VIII be rooms Tor the
schedules, for supplies and for the counting
machines. in the rear Will be a room for
the counting machines, with II small print
ing establishment for the use Of the bureau
in printing its own cards, bulletins ana CIR
culars.
Around the large rooms will run CALLER
les for the storage Of materials, and these
will also accommodate a few clerks en-
gagged in special work.
In Systematic Way.
THE matter Of proper supervision is OF
great importance in work Of this kind. For
example. the 5000 clerks employed in the
bureau will each receive an average salary
of about $500 per year. They will not be
paid so much at the start. This will in
voIve an outlay Of 81, 1000 per year for
clerical work alone. The employees work
six and one-half hours per day, that the
loss of one minute per day in the work OF
the bureau would cost the government s. 900
per year. This example is only one of
many illustrations that could be given Of
the Importance of having efficient and rapid
work.
and the increase in efficiency. building
costing Sl5o,oo0 would pay for itself IN one
year. and in five Years. or the duration of
one census. would save to The government
three-fOurths of million dollars. There is
some reason To believe that II the new
building Is found to meet the requirements
of the bureau. ii will be purchased by Con-
gress for the permanent home of the cen
SuS.
W nile II is impossible TO estimate before
hahd the expense of taking the census. 1t
Is pretty certain, the most economical
basis, TO amount to more than so 100000
That is the minimum OF what il will cost
us 10 learn how great we have become as =
nation.