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

oaity OF the American people IA eonse-
duently ON the electric tabulator. In the
words of the plain spoken. 1t is up 70
the tAbulator." In q SEMI technical way
the tabulator may be said TO consist OF
three main parts. namely, the press or
circuit 81 osinK device. the dtals or count
ers and the sorting boxes. The press CON
HlstB OF q hard rubber plate, provided
with 3lS holes OF pockets. the relative
positions OF which correspond with those
Of the holes 10 the keyboard and gang
punches. Each OF these pockets is par
TALLY flled with mercury, and they are
thus in electrical connection. when the
circuit is closed. VITA the binding posts
and switchboard at the back of the ma
chine.
Above the hard rubber plate swings a
reciprocatinR pin box which is provided
with number Of projecting spring actu-
ated points. SO hung as to drop exactly
into the center OF the little mercury cups
Below These pins are SO connected that
when a punched Gard IL laid on the rub
Der plate aEsinst the guides OF stops and
the box is brought down, all the pins
that are stopped by the unpunohed sur
face Will be pressed through close the
circuit and count on the d.als The cir
cult Is really closed frst through platinum
contacts at the back of the press and not
seen in the cut. In this way no diff
Guilty is experienced from the oxidation
of the mercury from the spark, as would
be the case without this precautlon,
Tho dlals OF the tabulator are not tbs
least important part OF the machine. The
{ front OF each dial or counter is three
inches across. and, as now made, consist
OF paper ingenlously coated with celluloid
insuring smooth bright, clean face. Each
dial is divided into 100 parts, and tw
hands travel over the face, one counting
units and the other hundreds The train
of ciockwork is operated electrically, by
means Of the electro magnet. whose ma.
ture as IT moves each time the circuit ID
closed, carries the unit hand forward one
division while every complete revolution
actuates a carrying device which IN turn
causes the hundred hand to count In
this way each dial will register UP to 10.
000
note worthy feature OF these ingenious
little diafs is that they can quickly be sci
at zero, while they are also removabl,
and interchangeable The elsctrlcal CON
nections are made simply by slipping them
into frames and clips,
AS fast as they are punched and sorted
according to sex. nativity or color M
punched cards are taken to the machine
room and run through the electric tahu.
lating machines. To take off all the IN.
formation contained on the cards the,
are run through the machines four or pos
sihly Ave times. Each instrument Il
capable OF dlsposing OF about 10000 card,
per day, and II viii therefore take from
ten to fifteen OF them TO finally keep pace
with the punchers,
~
Concerning the electric tabulator III
rector Merriam says:
These punched record cards are then
counted or tabulated In the electrical tab
ulating machines. These machines are
/ provided with circuit closing device
into which the cards are rapidly fed one
by one The holes in the card control tn,
electric circuits through a number o,
I counters. which will as desired. count IN,
simple facts as to the number OF males
females. etc, or the most COMPLICATED
combination which the statstician may
ask for.
After the cards for given distric, arc
thus passed through the tabulatlng ma.
chine we know the number of native born
white males OF voting age the number al
white children under years Of age borr
In this country with both parents native
bern or the number OF such children with
one or both parents foreign born. or an,
other Information contained in M,
enumerators' sheet which the statistiolar
desires tabulated. In short, II is only nee.
essary for the statistician TO decide upor
the information wanted and for the elcc.
trlcian to make the proper connection from
the counters and relays to the circuit.
controlling device into which the cards ar,
fed -
The methods employed for checking
the proper workings OF the machines ar a
ingenious and interesting II the card
4 Is not completely punched or not properly
4 fed to the machine or Il placed INSIDE
down, or II some item has heen over
looked, or In fact II evel vthing is not
all right. the machine refuses 10 work
anA tho card y rejected NstthAs wlli