New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-08-04
THE CENSUS OF CUBA.
THE PRESIDENT ORDERS THE wopv
TO BE PUSHED.
INFORMATION ON WHICH CONGRESS MAY
BASE LEGISLATION FOR THE
ISLAND DESIRED.
lpy TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE. I


Washington Aug. 3.-The President has dIrsc..
that the census Of Cuba be taken soon as M.
sible. The matter has been theoretically taken n,
BY the War Department, with the expectation !.
completing the work and furnishing the princ,.,
results to Congress AT the opening of the next sac
sion. On Secretary Roots return to washinrto,
next Tuesday he will hold final conference In M,
office 10 settle the details OF the undertaking w,h
Assistant Secretary Meiklejohn who has immediate
charge OF colonial affairs. and with the officials a,
the Census Bureau. The latter have already
drafted the blanks which probably will be used nv
the enumerators. and these schedules are now IN
process of translation into Spanish General Broot
commanding the Department of Cuba has an
pointed Ave experimenting enumerators who A..
now on their way to Washington TO receive instnc
tons as to the manner Of taking the census ana
to famarize themselves with American method,
of insuring accuracy In the data 10 be obtained -
The Cuban census is 10 be wholly independent NJ
the United States census Of next year altheush
the large organization under Director Merriam
which will not begin It's actual field work until tn
first of the year. may be utilized TO some extent In
the tabulation and arrangement OF Cuban data ga
cured in the next three months 1t is determined
that the Cuban census shall be finished before tina
census of the United States. including Porto Ri,o
begins. The object OF haste IN determining IN.
condition OF affairs statistically In Cuba Is to fur.
nish to Congress such an exhaustive statement OF
facts that legislation for the future OF the Island
may be promptly and intellgently accomplished II
Is expected that the President will be able to in.
clude a summary OF the results in his next Mes.
sage. and at the same time furnish preliminary
report OF the census. with the prospect OF giving
the Senate and House the hnal and complete de-
tailed results by the middle of January 1t Ia not
intended TO secure simply an enumeration OF the
Inhabitants Of the island. but to determine pre-.
cisely as possible It's agricultural and industrial
conditions.
The last Spanish census OF Cuba taken m
1887. While its accuracy In many respects
doubtful. a whole II conceded TO give a fair
ton said to be s3l ,6S7, OF whom nearly s. per
cent white. Army officers who have been
connected with the Cuban administration since the
American occupation began estimate that this total
has fallen TO about 10000 The census Of ls,
gave nearly 10000 horses and mules. 10000 cattle
and 5000 pigs In the island These. according to
Army officers. have practically disappeared as
result of the long war. The income Of plantations,
the sugar making capacity and acreage under eul.
tvaton for tobacco have been almost oblterated,
but these and other vast sources Of wealth
being rapidly restored and It will be OF the oh.
jects OF the census to show what opportunities
may be found for the revival and development Of
Cuban resources The collection OF information will
be in General Brooke's charge, the expense being
met from the Cuban revenues.