The evening times., 1900-06-01

The work of taking the Twelfth Census
Of the UEjted States began this morning
At o'clock ffty-three thousand enumera-
tors and special agents started on the task,
plodding from house to house, gathering
information that Will doubtless show the
remarkable strides and advances made by
this country since the last previous census
was taken ten years ago.
According to the plans as mapped out by
Director Merriam the returns for the
population must reach Washington within
thirty days so that the work Of tabuiating
and classification may be begun.
In an office especially prepared for the
purpose in this city there are 5000 men
and women who have special qualifications,
as shown by an exhaustive examination
who will handle the entire work Of compi-
lation in every detail All that human
ingenuity can evolve in the way of me
chanical devices has been brought into
play and some OF the machines seem 10 be
inspired by almost human intelligence.
Much interest attaches to the work in
the District OF Columbia where the cen
sus is expected to be one OF the most COM
plete ever had. This work has been as
signed TO Harrison Dingman as supervisor.
He has selected corps Of li5 able and FL
telligent assistants and he asks the aid
Of every citizen in behalf OF them. not
alone that their work may be facilitated
but that correct statistics may be secured.
The work Of the enumerators today was
found to be dif1cult but it is expected
that within a day or two everything Will
move along smoothly.
Each euumerator must complete one
block before he can begin with another.
Every block in the city is duly numbered
and recorded on maps flied in the main Of
fee. AS the reports come in from these
blocks tneir numbers are checked on the
records. The enunerator's report goes
through the supervisors. The report from
each district will be made when the count
is declared complete by the supervisors
There is a card ready for every man,
woman. and child in the United States.
The 50. .OO0, Coo there now, II piled on top OF
each other would rise to height Of nine
or ten miles.
As the reports come in the clerks viii
not write the data on these cards They
have been properly printed so the desired
records may be made with a punch. The
cards are then thrown into an electrical
tabulating machine. This machine does
it's work with a mass Of little needles.
The needles fall on the card Those that
strike the holes go through, completing an
/ electric contact, which registers the data
! for each particular hole IN its proper place.
/ The labor 10 be entrusted to this machine
[ may be understood when il is said that
/ each card has 240 spots for punching holes
! Although the complete returns are 10 be in
| on June 30, it viii be al least six months
( before any definite announcement Of re-
/ suits can be made, and probably TWO years
! before the Census Will be complete
1t is gratifying 10 be able 10 say said
/ Mr. Dingman this Afternoon. that the
/ enumerators have been received with the
/ greatest courtesy wherever they have
/ called and the Information sought has been
/ given with the frankness and apparent
! truthfulness that Is desired. Should this
I be found TO be the case as each day goes
/ BY. il can be safely said that this viii be
/ the most complete, most thorough, and
most honest census ever taken in the Dis
trict of Columbia Ny enumeratOrs are
an exceptionally intelligent body Of men
and l have found little difficulty in ex-
planning TO them so they could thoroughly
/ understand Just exactly what is expected
| OF them. / ask for the men a continuance
| of the courtesy saready extended
/ by the way, there appears 10 be mis-
! taken idea" said Mr., Dingman, in Ie-
/ gard 20 counting those residents OF the
! District who are employed IN the various
departments Of the Government. Every
man, woman, and child in the Govern
| ment service will be counted among the
residents of the District unless 1t can be
clearly shown that they have sleeping
place outside the District lines. This
think, is the proper way to do ii, and
| as ! am directly responsible for the
| proper taking of the census in the District
this is the manner in which IL will be
!