The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1899-08-31
Collection Of Mortality Statistics For
the Census.

the Census.
Director Merriam, of the L. s.
Census Bureau, WILL make every ef-
fort TO collect mortality statistics for
the next census which will be valu
able. Owing to the neglect of this
work in many parts of the country,
and the difficulty encountered IN the
taking of previous censuses IN seeur-
ing reliable statistics, circular let
ter will be sent to all persons inter-
ested, asking their assistance and
giving suggestions for the best me
thod of accomplishing the desired re-
suit.
it is a comparatively easy matter
10 secure statistics Of the living
population through the census
enumerators. but experience has
demonstrated that they fail to report
more than 80 or GO per cent. of the
deaths occurring in the country. Cen
sus returns by enumerators, there
fore, furnish no basis for computa-
ton of death rates per thousand OF
the population in any State or IN any
more restricted area.
Director Merriam takes the view
that the end sought in the study OF
the population is to determine its
natural law of growth, as controlled
By births, deaths, immigration and
emigration. A complete return OF
deaths is essential to the solution OF
the problem thus presented. No
such record can be obtain through
the agency of enumeration, nor can II
be obtained from official records, un-
less officials will agree to furnish for
use in in the census full replies to all
the inquiries contained iu the NOR
tality schedule.
The law governing the return OF
mortality statistics varies in dit'
ferent States. In some States
the law provides for genera
system af registration and the max
ing of returns of births and deaths
to a central Office, but in others the
registration is purely local, being
confined to certain cities and towns.
To secure a complete knowledge OF
the methods followed in various
cities and towns where such statistics
are kept, the director sent to the
health authorities of all towns hav-
ing a population of 5000 by the last
census a circular asking for de-
scription of the method employed
in their city. The data thus obtain
, ed, together with the responses which
are expected from the new circular
will. it is hoped, enable the bureau
to devise a plan for the satisfactory
collection of mortality statistics
throughout the country.
To insure the success of this plan
the director of the census suggests
that a blank be used for this purpose
which shall be uniform throughout
the country. The inquiries most
commonly omitted from the returns
of deaths required by law or by some
municipal ordinance are those relat
ing to the birthplace of parents, tC
occupation and to the coDjugal con
dition. Two of the principal end
sought in statistical research are
thus defeated. In every case the in
ouiry must cover the decerdent'
name, sex, color, age, coDjugal con
dition, place Of birth, birthplace o
each parent, occupation, cause oi
death, date of death, and. if borr
in the census year, the date of birth
In order to give time for the adop
ton of uniform system of registra
ton, Director Merriam proposes tina
mortality statistics for the calenda
wear of 1900 be taken, instead o
those for the y months ending Jun,
! 30. 1900. This change will have tn
further advantage that the popula
ton on June l, 1900, will more close
ly approximate the mean population
for the calendar year. Greater &C
curacy in calculating the death rat
can therefore be attained by tn
adoption of the calendar year in
stead of the fiscal, or census year, q
the period of investigation. Directo
Merriam will ask the assistance o
medical journals in agitating tn
matter, and also hopes the medica
societies will consider it.