The evening times., 1900-06-23

while the impatience of the public is
thoroughly appreciated and understood at
this Office said Director Merriam, of the
Census, tlis morning, lit must be appre-
ciated that the census cannot be taken in
a day and that il takes considerable time
to get comprehensive view OF the situa-
tien. According to the laws, until June IS
was allowed for counting the population in
cities over 5000 population, and for the ru-
raj districts until July 1 was given to
make the count.
For the information of the public 1
have had the following statement prepared
on the subject and copy of it sent to all
enQuirers:
Every enumerator is required 10 I'LL a
daily report card showing how many hours
and minutes he has been at work, and how
many persons he has enumerated that day
Since there are (including special emu
merators for institutions and for the mill
tary and naval population) approximately
%, 600 enumerators and thirty days are al
lowed for the completion OF the census. the
number of daily report cards to be exam
ined in the Census ONCE is somewhere
between one million and million and
half every one Of which has to be copied
by hand upon a series OF blank tabular
state meuts OF which there is one for ev-
cry enumeTatOr. These are then recopied
upon 4 summary statement showing the
amednt OF work in each supervisors dis
trict, and since there is space on each
blank for recording the work Of 100 emu
merators and only part OF the blanks Will
be filled, there viii be approximately 1000
OF these sheets
1T is difficult for anyone not familiar
with the census to form an idea Of the vast
amount Of material to be handled in all OF
the divisions OF the Office. The number Of
Doxes containing schedules sent TO the
enumeratOrs in advance Of taking the cen
sus was $500 and their total weight was
estimated at 200 tons.
An Of this material Is returned 20
Washington. where II has to be sorted
out and arranged IN order BY States. ard
the subdivisions OF States upon shelving
aggregating many miles in length.
There is an invoice of schedules in every
box received. which has 70 be verified,
and the schedules which do not relate %
population must be counted and delivered
10 the chief statist!cians for mortality, ag-
riculture. and manufactures. and their
receipts taken for the same. a separate
receipt has TO be made out by each OF
them for each OF the 5000 enume-atO s.
Next IN order follows the examination
in detail Of the schedules Every sched-
that the euumerator has not made ar
oyercharge for his services- For this pUr-
pose the schedule has TO be compared
with the account rendered by him. Every
possible effort viii be made to pay the
enumeratOrs at the earliest practicable
date. Every business man knows that
$4,000 bills presented for payment in ore
day could not be audited ard paid at
sight
The schedules then go 70 the clerks en-
plOyed IL punching cards for the Holler-
ith electric tabulating m2chines- When
these cards have been punched. they have
20 be verified by the use Of a special ma
chine, so adjusted Is TO thTOw out every
card which does not fulfill certain cOndi-
tions OF accuracy In punching A count
OF the population Will be made, during
this yerihcatiOn by color. by sex. and by
native or foreign birth, which viii coz
sumo possibly Eve OF six months.
Not until this machine cOunt shall have
been made for any particular city. COun-
". OF State. can the figures be given cut
for publication. The cities Will naturally Y
be taken first. and as fast as the actual
population. as returned by the enume-a-
tors. is ascertained, IL viii be posted on
a bulletin board In the hall outside the
Directors room. for the information OF the
press. Figures not given out by the Cen
sus Ofhe viii be understood to be merely
guesses. which may in some cases ap-
prOXimate the truth, but are unauthorized
and untrustwOTthy."