The sun., 1900-08-05
RAPID CENSUS COUNTING.
FACTS REDUCED TO HOLES AND
THEN TABULATED ~ A JIFPY.
Each Persons Card ls Punched With Care
with All the Facts That should lie There:
Then Fed to = Mschins and Pressed.
And Electric Currents do the Rest.

=
And Electric Currents do tho Rest
From the Chicago Times Herald,
The premier mathematician OF the United
States Census ONCE IL a mildmannered, tink
ling and open-faced electrical cabinet. yet II
does tho work OF twenty experts every work
Ing day OF the week. II is not generally known
throughout the United States that Chcago's
two million and moro of people can be counted
easily In the Census Once In Washington one
by one by means OF two classes OF machines
In five days. This would require the united
efforts Of moro machines than the chief stat
istician probably will care TO put on the returns
from ono city but the fact remains that his
machines can do the trick In four or five days
The question IL how long would 1t take score
OF abls-bodied, leather-hnged human beings
10 mako the same count and include various
relative matters about each person counted.
besides There IL no answer. for mans brain
would reel and his fingers grow numb In an
effort to overcome such a monstrous propo-
sition. All honor. therefore, TO the wonderful
machines in the Census 0fiice.
There are two classes Of these calcuators
now at work under the supervision OF the Direc-
tor OF the Census. former Gov. Merriam Of
electric tabulator. The "puncher" has the first
strike at the game and ia such fast rascal that
It makes Mr. Electricity hustN and hump his
metnphorical back TO keep up with his rival,
Various descriptions OF both these machines can
be given according to the wisdom OF the person
who attempts the description Descriptions
technical and general can be given. and II Is
Questionable II either kind would prove salts
factory. and for this reason more than one
account OF It's remarkable makeup will be given
briefly.
The punching machine Ia the less difficult
TO picture. 1t Ia known as the Keyboard
punch" and Is about the size OF typewriter
tray, having In front q perforated punch-board
Of oelluloid. Over this keyboard swings freely
q sharp index finger. whose movement, after
the manner OF a paDtagraph, Is repeated at the
rear by punch. The movement Of the punch
Is limited between two guides, upon which are
placed thin manila cards e'i inches long by
8k inches high. with the lower corner slightly
clipped The keyboard has twelve rows OF
twenty holes, and each has It's distinctive letter
ing or number that corresponds 10 the inquiry
and answer respecting every person. Hence
when the index finger is pressed down into any
one Of these holes the punch at the back says
: ditto by stamping out hole In the manila
card.
At first glance. perhaps. tie keyboard looks
but It Is scientifically grouped
and Is very readily learned. For such inquiries
Is are answered bv one Of few possible classes
sax, for example the answer Is simply male
or female, or M" and IF" 50. too, In regard
10 conjush relationships. where the answer
aish taSxlA IA tt.il
divorced. One punch suff1ces for each OF
.hese conditions OF freedom or servitude. These
loles may easily bs found. 30 familiar do the
Jerks become with the position OF the holes In
lhese cards, they can read thom or at glance.
msans Of ysfyins a., how"ysr the leading
,izs w the card. and having also each of the
l%0 Authorizations In ,Quartsr-inch space.
70 that whom 2, perforated card Is put on this
! hole has been punched. This templet Is.
practically. Q reduction OF the original key
II End J..e: E. Ts: ~ DsS's of
The punching machine Is something like
= typcvritAr in appearance. The punch Is
= as HeS
board Of . typewriter. 1t contains 2ss SYM
70 contain ain. the S,, statistics i Of each
Consist of figures and sssfly understood abbre, b
viauons, and tho labor OF learning TO operate
the machine Is hardly any greater than that OF
Director Merriam has disposed of the punch
Ing apparatus even more briefly. He says In
I reoept aruole
This transcript from the original returns
DO done with small machines. something like
called keyboard punohers About
900 Of those will be used. and tho entire work
.ivrv ehA Id, al
records will be done In about 100 working days.
,r nearly four months"
The electric tabulator would be NIL without
saHs the n6thSS d bd 5de w6a
% very lonesome without the little cards mem
manila pasteboards boarded away. and IN use
figured it out that though each card Is only
'-iooo Of an inch thick. the total supply Of
cards on hand will form stack nine miles high
lie a Chinese puzzle. containing a $ it does
various figures, abbreviations and symbols
Each figure. abblevation ,or, symbol means
.ome!hing ana when punched i,s tells some sort
Tor every man. woman and child In this broad
and has card TO the twelfth census OF the
The card representing John Smith, aged 30
rears, resident Of Chicago, single, machinLst,
kc,, has but comparatively few punches In
Z, but II It Is punched wrong and makes out that
old the man" he was, the electric tabulator
MN refuse TO say anything wrong about smith
md reject the card, thereby scoring one point
IN It's friend across the way, the "puncher,.
But tho tabulator. II must be acknow lodged
8 the star attraction Of the Census Bureau Its
steel fingers, deft and minute.
IRE ever busy. During the working hours
iuid-the blood of "a strange, mysterious body
NAT ia hidden nowhere and IL felt everywhere.
fhey touch here and there and day in and day
,ut keep unfolding the story Of vast nation.
These machines are rented 10 Uncle SAM at
N COO year. II there are tO be $50 OF them
busy within the next few months the inventor
md proprietor Of them, Herman Hoierith,
The Government has purchased outright,
however the 600 or more punching machines
zach costing about $50.
Tabulaiing will 20 on for months inilsmuch
IA there are so many features of the life OF the
,yerage American citizen that must be- ptlt
iown In black and white for him to read about,
,lse he will be sorely diSappointed and would
end a storm Of criticism Merriamward An
Instance OF this was the failure to ind out the
number Of single men and women IN TINS nation
,y the managers of the tenth census, Tn,
ipon this person and that and while II may have
Yiyen various aged splnSters cause for silent
ngratulation, the people In general were
,ngry because there was an absence Of statis-
The mighty task Of satisfying the curiosity
u the American people IL consequently on the
electric tabulator. In the words OF the plain
,poken IL IL up 20 the tabulatOr.' Ia n semi
echnical may the tabulator may be said 10 CON
,lst of three main parts, namely, the press or
device. the dais or counters
md the sorting boxes, I'll" press consists
If hard-rubber pat" provided with $40 holes
)r pockets The relative positions OF which cor
respond with those of th" holes In the Keyboard
and gang punChns Each OF these pockets Is |
partially filed with mercury, and they are thus |
IN electrical connection, when the circuit is |
closed, with the h.ndng-post, and switch
board at the back Of the machine