The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-06-01

S0m-SOme
MAGNITUDE of the Undertaking.
Fifty-three thousand enumerators and
special agents will begin at seven o'clock
this morning TO take the Twelfth Census
Of the United States. One hundred and
forty-fiye OF these gatherers Of statistics
will devote their entire time and attention
to finding out things about the people who
live in Washington. and the District of
Columbia generally.
Including enumerators, clerks, super
visors, superintendent, and directors.
more than sixty thousand persons will be
employed in the work OF ascertaining.
among other things. just how many peo-
pie there are in this greatest OF all Re-
publics, where they came from, where
their ancestors came from, how long they
have been here, and what they are doing
here.
1t is estimated that the total cost OF
procuring all the information that has
been deemed necessary will exceed $780,
1000. ,--s.S
Although there are many important
branches of the whole census subject, the
feature of most interest to the greatest
number is that of population. Everybody
wants to know, Of course, just how many
more people there are now in the United
States than were here ten years ago, when
the last previous census was taken.
Figures of 1880.
When the Census of 1890 was completed
il was found that there were in this coun-
try just G.. 622, go persons Of both sexes
and of all ages, colors, and conditions.
Since then 1t has become common for
public speakers. writers, and other people
to refer 10 the seventy-odd. and even
eighty odd, millions of inhabitants Of the
United States. A study of the percentages
of increase in population during the ex-
istence OF the Republic, however, will
show that while it is certainly reasonable
TO assume that there are now under the
protection of the Star Spangled Banner
more than seventy millions of people. there
may be a great deal less than eighty mill
ions.
An increase in population to 10000. 600
from e. GOO. 600 in ten years, would be re-
garded as phenomenal, yet in the District
of Columbia in each of the last five dec
ades there has been even greater ratio
of increase in the number of inhabitants.
The population of the District in 1890
was 230, 392 In 1880 it was LII, ga; in 1870
131, 700; in 1860. Is .0S0, and in 1850 81 6S7
consistent and gradual except in the
decade between 1860 and 1870, during
which the population of the District was
nearly doubled. This may be accounted
for by the fact that there was great rush
to the Capital from all parts OF the coun-
try during and just after the civil war.
Making allowances for the abnormal in
crease during the post 5ellum period, and
assuming an increase for the last decade in
N hpr
since 1850. it is reasonable to suppose that |
the Census OF this year will show the |
population Of the District to approximate |
300, 000
When mere thousands. or even hundreds |
of thousands, are multiplied by two. the
result may attract attention. but where
millions are added to millions the figures
are likely TO be startling. to say the least
Just 10 years ago. or in 1890. when the
FIRST census was taken, the population of
the United States was only 3,a292l One
hundred years ago it was 5,30S4S Ten
years later it had reached 1888, ISL In
1920 1t was 1888 500. and in 1880 IL, sec, 02O.
Then came rapid increase, owing, doubt
less, to large addition to the number Of
immigrants seeking homes in the United
States.
The total for 1910 was 17.oss. 45s; for
1850. 23.19i.S76. and for 1860. 31.4i3.321.
Rapid as had been the growth of popuIa-
lion in the fifty years prior to the civil
war, IL was even more remarkable in the
thirty years following that conflict. Dur
ing those thirty years the population of
the country was nearly doubled II had
reached 3S, 81 In 1870. so, Is. 1888 in
1885, and. as has been said, more than
62 ,000. ESQ in 1890.
1t is possible, Of course, that the re-
ports will show a total population this
year in excess Of so 0OO, coo but IL can
hardly be regarded as probable.
The work of enumerating the popula-
ton will be pushed as rapidly as possible
in order that a report may be presented
TO Congress at the opening of its next
session The representation in the House
OF Representatives is based upon the cen
sus returns, which is the principal reason
for expediting that part Of the work
The Questions Are simple.
OF the $4,000 enumerators and agents.
a few are women. There seems to ,
be no really good reason why women
should not be as effective as men in S
inhabitants, but there may be. |
however, more truth than humor in the
Iacetious assertion that no woman could
be persuaded TO tell any other woman her
exact age, and the age of the inhabitants v
IS almost as important feature of the {
Census as their number +
a great deal OF prejudice was created C
" the needless and impertinent questions =
nat the enurperators were required to ask =
n the Census OF ten years ago All such
questions have been eliminated this time
md only such information will be sought .
IS everybody should be willing to give II i
nay be. o! course. nat some very re- u
pectable and intelligent persons may not p
'e able to tell just when and where their W
ncestors were born but 1t is quite GER Il
ain that almost any member CT any fam r;
" can make a better guess at such data d.
han car an enumeration. who knows moth al
ng at all about the family history OF OF
Tiers. n,
II Is entirely safe to answer the aues- d.
Ions that will be asked, but II is not safe. II