The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-08-12

Washington AugHgt 2.-'rhs ehFee ana a
half million people OF Texas are being
counted here in Washington By the speed
lest and most accurate lightning oalcu-
lator" that ever announced result. IN
like the wizards and geniusee OF the white
tent. the premier mathematician OF the
United States census office Is a mild
hammered. tinkling aud open-faced cleo
trical cabinet. yet II does the work OF
twenty experts every working day OF the
week.
1t is egreed here that tho census OF
Texas will have fully $500 900 people. but
the fact is only the machines know and
they will have the exclusive news until
the ANA moment. when Chief Statistieian
OF Population William C. Hunt Is handed
the tsbulated result OF the machines work
ana puts his 20 X to 1t, sends the sheet
to Director Merriam, who ia turn stamps
his approval and at once orders the figures
oulletined. To the machines in the cen
sus office. therefore, can be ascribed tho
impoAiblity that surrounds any effort
by ambitious scrloes to get an earlier re-
port on the census OF a particular city
before his rival.
There are two classes OF these caiou-
lators now at work under the supervision
OF the director OF the census former Gov
ernor Merriam OF Minnesota--the punch
ing machine and the electric tabulator
The ''puncher' has the first strike at the
game and is such fast rascal that II
makes Mr.. Electricity hustle and hung
his metaphorioal back to keep MP with hi.
rival Various descriptions OF both these
machines can be given according to the
wisdom OF the person who attempts the
naSrrtnfiOn naarriNtia,s,
general can be given. and It Is question
able II either kind would prove satisfac,
tory and Tor this reason more than one ac-
count OF It's remarkable makeup will oe
given briefly.
The punching machine is the less dith-
cult to picture II is known as the 'ltey-
board punch" and is about the size OF a
typewriter tray. having in front per-
forated punch board OF celluloid. over
this keyboard swings freely a sharp index
finger, whose movement after the manner
OF a pantRgraph Is repeated al the rear
by punch. The movement OF the punch
is limited between two guides, upon which
are placed thin MANILA cards six md i've
eighths inches long by three and one.
fourth inches high, with the lower corner
slightly clipped The keyboard has twelve
80 VI t"'h9 aNiebs anu eacn mas HIS
distinctive lettering or number that cor
responds DO the inquiry and answer re.
speoting every person. Hence when tn,
index finger is pressed down into any ont
OF these holes the punch at the back saw,
ditto by stamping out hole in tn,
MANILA card
At first glance perhaps. the keyboard
looks complicated. but II Is scienAlAeall,
grouped, and is very rapidly learned Foi
such Inquiries as are answered by one o
q very few possible classes--sex, Tor ex
ample--the answer is simply male" NJ
female" or M and IF" So. tor /,
regard to ccnjugal relatienships. wher,
the answer would be either single. mar
rted, widowed or divorced. One punel
nuffices for each Of these conditions a
freedom or servitude. These holes ma
easily be found.
SO familiar do the clerks become win
the position OF the holes In these cards
they can read them on at a glance. As
means OF verifying, however, "readin,
board Is provided for that purpose. In
same size ss the card, and having ale
each OF the $40 authorizations IN quarter
tnoh space, SO that when a perforated car,
10 put on this teInplet the abbreyiatl o.
VIII shcw wherever hole has bee
nTccn> This templet h, practically.
fedpotion OF the original keyboard
- tred X, Wines. assistant dsrecto