The evening times., 1899-11-09

Actual Collection of Information
Will Bexin-The Labora Of Exam.
iners-EnormOus Correspondence
At the ofices Of the Census Bureau today
it was announced by Director Merriam thai
the new building would be ready for oc-
cupahcy on January /. and that the actual
work Of beginning the taking Of the cen
sus would commence on that date.
The department is working energetically
In preparing for its great task. During
the past six months, Director Merriam as
serted today. the work has been thor
oughly in hand. Arrangements have been
completed for a new and commodious
building. which will be ready for occupa-
ton on January 1; 5000 persons have been
examined for clerical positions, and 1,400
have been placed on the eligible list. These
examinations were held in this city. in the
East, Cincinnati, and Chicago, and one is
now being conducted at st. Paul. which
will continue until the first of the year.
1t is expected by the Director that by jan
uary / the list of eligibles will contain
1880 names.
The work now being done has been appor-
toned to 800 supervisors who at present
are aiding the bureau in procuring neces-
sary preparatory information and in cir
culating data among the people to educate
them to what the bureau expects from
them In the taking OF the census.
The correspondence Of the bureau is
enormous, for almost every State official
In the United States has been, or will be,
faI v,ith fhnn-
sand other persons. lfii5s s @
To systematize the labor Of the
bureau the United States has
been divided into districts for
the convenience and. accuracy of
the $4,000 enumerators who will begin the
active work of taking the census under
the supervision of the 300 supervisors on
January 1, and this work will be pushed
with every possible speed consistent with
correctness.
report has just been made by the
statisticians of the bureau to the Assistant
Director which shows that the work done
to date has been entirely satisfactory to
the bureau. and that the plans and scope
Of the work TO be accomplished is well ad-
vanced.
To keep himself thoroughly conversant
with the details of the bureau, the Direc-
tCr luslStS tHat edcu division sudli renuef
reports to him at stated intervals.
This enables him to grasp at glance the
situation and condition of the work being
performed'in each division.
Under the act of Congress the census for
population, vital statistics. agriculture, and
manufacturing must be completed and
ready for the use of the public within a
period of two years. AAe
The time is so short that the bureau will
conf1ne its entire time to this branch of
the census before touching upon anything
else.
Director Merriam said today that he will
require the entire two years 10 comply
with the requirements of the law.
After this census has been turned over
to the public the Census Bureau will de-
vote its time to the collection OF the other
information required by the act of Con-
gress, which includes the insane. feeble
minded. deaf, dumb. and blind; to crime,
pauperism, and benevolence, including
prisoners, paupers. juvenile delinquents,
and inmates of benevolent and reformato-S
institutions; to deaths and births in regis
tration areas; 10 social statistics OF cities:
TO public Indebtedness. valuation, taxation,
and expenditures; to religious bodies; TO
electric light and power. telegraph. and
telephone business; to transportation
by water. express business, and street rail-
ways: to mines. mining, and minerals and
the production and value thereof. including
gold, in divisions of placer and vein. and
silver mines, and the number of men en-
ployed, the average daily wage, average
working time, and aggregate earnings in
the various branches and aforesaid diris-
ions OF the mining industry.
To collect this vast fund of information
%. .000, 900 schedules, containing such inter-
rnpafOriac ms ha aJa
the information, will be prepared by the
bureau. and 100, ,000 900 cards for transfer
renee to tabulating machines will be re-
quired
The details of the census are to be SO
exhaustive that it has been deemed neee;-
sary by the bureau to Institute cam
paign of education as preparation for
the people of what the bureau will expect
Of them. Newspapers, trades Journals
and societies have been asked to cooperate
with the bureau in making plain the du-
ties of the citizen to the bureau and many
circulars have been sent out for distribu-
tion to assist in this camaign OF instruc-
ton.
Owing to the Ignorance Of many people
the bureau has called especial attention 10
the fact that no information gathered by
census officials will be disclosed to private
individuals or assessors, or tax collectors
or to rivals in business.
1t will be used and published imper-
sonally, never in connection with the name
Of the person or corporation to whom it
relates or by whom it may be given.
The penalty for any such disclosure on
the part Of officials is severe. There are
also penalties for Furnishing persons who
neglect or refuse to give infor-
nation when called upon to do so.
Another circular says that all farmers |
are urged to make written records of their
'arm operations during the year 1893. SO |
hat when the enumerator calls next June
he information to be gathered by him will |
be at hand.
The law requires for each farm the to.al |
lcreage; acres improved; acres unimproy- |
ID; acres irrigated; number Of acres own |
ID by occupant; number Of acres leased |
" rented by occupant; color of occupant; |
Talue Of whole farm; value of buildings |
md permanent improvements; value OF al |
implements, vehicles, ETC.,
hereon; acreage and quantity Of crops |
aised in 1899; number and value on hand |
Iune l, 1899; quantity and value made in |
S99. ~
Ruaiueas in Chrfaffanfa