The age-herald., 1899-07-12
THE CENSUS OF 1900
 TO BE THE BEST OF ALI

Washington, July 6.-The average tn- crease in the population in the United States for each decade since the first cen sus has been about 120oo O00, but Director Merriam estimates that the twelfth census will show an increase of not over 10,0 ,000. He places the population for 1900, in round numbers. at 72OO0, 900. The slight falling off is undoubtedly due to the restriction of immigration. One small volume of fifty two pages comprised the entire first census of the United States. It consisted only of a return from the whole number of persons within the several districts of the United States, and was prepared at a total cost of s44 S37.1S. The population of the young re- public, according to this census, was 3,929, 214. The enumeration was taken in 1790, and the one volume was issued in 1792.
 The eleventh census, taken just 100 years later, consisted of thirty large volumes, in- cludlng an elaborate atlas. and covering every subject of possible public interest. The population was shown to be 62.622, ,250, and the cost of gathering and publishing the nforma ton secured was $11, ,271.5 800. It was nine years after the work began that the last volumes were put in circulation.
 The growth of the population and various industries of the country is strikingly shown in the evolution of the census from the beginning. From small start the talk ing of the census has grown to its present gigantic proportions as follows In 1860, one volume of IS pages; cost, 66,609.04; pop ulation, 53GS, ,4S2. In 1910. two volumes. 260 pages; cost, S178,44.67; population. 2, ,239 ,SSl. In 1920, two volumes, 264 pages; cost, $20s,- 525 99; population, 9,633S22. In 1880, one vol ume, 163 pages; cost, $37S, ,543.13; population, 12,S66,020. The printing of this census was so wretchedly done that congress required a republication, which greatly enhanced the cost In 1S40, four volumes, 1,455 pages; cost, $S33 ,37095; population, 17,0G9,453. In 1S5O four volumes, 1S69 pages; cost, $1,329, 027 population, 23 191 ,S76. In 1860, four vol umes, 2.316 pages; cost $1, ,922 272; population, 31 ,449,321. In 1870 four volumes. 3,268 pages; cost s ,336,511; population, 3S,55S,31. In 1880, twenty-two volumes, 9995 pages; cost, $5,- S62, 75024; population 50,155,7S3. In 1890, thir- ty volumes, over 12O0O pages; cost, 11,271,- 5OO population, 62,622250.
 As the census has increased in cost and the country in population, so have the num- Der of topics dealt with grown, especially since 1870. The tenth and eleventh censuses were the only ones that really sought to bring out general information concerning the development of our country. The first efforts to gather statistics relative to man. ufacturing and agricultural products was in 1S10 but the method was crude and un- satisfactory. These results were compiled from the reports of marshals and secreta- ries of the territories, and down to 1860 all reports concerning manufactures and agri- tpd nf hrip dj- gest, which gave little information that was accurate or of value The sixth census that of 1S40. contained a census of pension CTS for revolutionary and military service with their names, ages and places of resi- dence The crudeness of the methods in vogue as late as 1870 is noticed from the fact that everything devoted to wealth, in dustry. manufactures and agriculture is contained in one volume of d little more than 500 pages
 It was in 1880 that the census began to assume its present proportions. Jumping l as it did, from four to twenty-two volumes the government first undertook an exhaust i've inquiry into such subjects as transpor- tation, cotton production, taxation and | public indebtedness; newspapers and ship building, forest trees of North America
 
 | tistics and technology of the precious met | als mining laws and mining industries water power, special statistics of cities | wages, prices of -necessaries of life, trades | societies. strikes and lockouts, power and | machinery employed in manufactures and l the ice industry.
 | Experience proved that many of these l topics were not practicable in the work of l taking census, and their subsequent in- vestigation was turned over to the labor | bureau, which was created for that pur- | pose. The eleventh census was divorced 1 from many of these subjects, and the in- quiry conducted along more legitimate lines of census work, with results that were of | practical benefit.
 l Congress has provided for a somewhat l similar investigation in connection with the twelfth census, and Director Merriam has | declared his determination of pushing the | work to as speedy conclusion as possible, | and getting the published volumes before | the public at a much earlier period than has l been the custom in the past It was nine | years after the census of 1850 that the data | in connection with manufactures was is- | sued by the department. Eight of the | volumes of the tenth census did not ap- | pear until after 1895, and two of these were l eight years in being issued from the press. It is expected that all the volumes of the | twelfth census, save few dealing with special lines of Investigation, will be ready for distribution within three years from the
 beginning of the work in the field. The
 cost of the next census, it is estimated,
 will run up into the neighborhood of $16,- O0OOOO
 "GOOD MORNING." IN OTHER COUNTRIES | From Tid-Bits.