The Washington times., 1901-07-14
FINISHING Up THE CENSUS.
Director Merriam Determined TO
Complete the Work on Time.

More Than Half the Allotted Period
Has Already Expired-CIerks Seek
ing Permanent Berths Elsewhere
Danger TO Records From Fire
Though the heat in the hot house
buildings OF the Census Bureau Is at
times well-nigh iEtolerabie. and claims
daily its many temporary victims. the
work of the bureau gUiuds on at unceas-
ing speed toward the time goal set by the
act Of Congress creating the bureau OF
the Twelfth Census. Congress has supu-
lated July J. 1872, shall see the completion
of the work, and Director Merriam has
opened the valves, put on all pressure
and. barring Providence Interfering WI!
do as the law directs.
The clerks of the Office, by new ar
rangement. put into effect some little
time ago. are now permitted to make an
extra dollar or SO by working overtime,
If they are So disposed. About 3.OV clerks
viii sign the pay roll Of the Census Bu-
reau twice a month. This number is be-
ing depleted gradually 10y resignations
atthe rate of about two a day. These TesiS-
nations are due TO the fact that the
completion OF the work means the loss OF
position. and the clerks that can do so
are forestalling the future by securing
new places whenever possible, and re
signing their census desks.
Owing to hot weather. absences, and
vacation leaves the regular force of the
bureau on duty now is less BY 20 per cent
than the actual number Of clerks on the
rolls.
Director Merriam is working for a rec
ord. and is determined that nothing shall
interfere with the progress Of the work.
Not even hot weather Is to be permitted
to stop things. and no one is TO be spared.
Finding that the work did not progress
as rapidly as was necessary, owing TO
the many absences and the lethargy pro-
duced by the heat, he has ordered that
the places Of absentees BE- filled with sub
stitutes. In this way abolt 600 clerks have
been temporarily added TO the force.
The Director has no doubt that the work
viii be cou.'leted in time. He is pre-
pared TO see that 1t is done, if every
available man in the country is needed to
help effect that end. But such drastic
measures are improbable, as it appears
now that with the present force. despite
its daily depletion. the work will be con-
summsTed in Just about a years time
The population statistics are now pTac-
tically completed, and a monograph of
$50 pages devoted TO this one branch of
the work has already been printed and
issued This in itself is an unprecedent-
ed achievement. Never before in the his
tory Of census work has the publication
OF the population statistics been com
pleted within the same or even approxi-
mately as short a space of time. In the
Eleventh Census, the population stats
tics were ready in 1895, and the present
condition OF that part Of the work beats
that census by four years
The law authorizing this census work
contains clause requiring that the sta
tlstlcs on the four main subjects be com
pletec July, 1902 but this section was in
serted in d spirit OF jest Such thing
mad never been approximated. much less
accomplished. and the member. of Com
gress had nO idea Of seeing it lived I'D to.
The joke is now reacting on some Of them
Tor with the completion of the work they
see lot Of their constituents about TO
be turned out Of their positions and they
are already hearing from these constit-
uents. who know that from now on it
viii be a question Of the survival of the
ones with the strongest pulls.
The Director is hearing from Senators
and Members OF Congress, who want TO
know why he is rushing the work at such
furious pace and what he means by
0yerwOrking his force. The Director
law which they passed.
After July I. 1892 some little work will
remain to be done. Reports on niscel-
laneous subjects will follow from time
to time This will keep a small force of
clerks and statisticians employed for sew
eral years. but the great work of the
Census will have been accomplished by
that date This means the publica titn
OF ten volumes Of statistics on the sub
Jects Of agriculture, manufacturing, pS.,
ulation, and vital statistics.
The force at the Census Office viii be
reduced 10 about so by next January. The
slaughter OF the inDOcents win not be
gin until the coming November but al
ready the men and women clerks are be-
ginning 10 look for new positions.
Incidentally the clerks generally man
age to date their designations at the end
OF a thirty days leave Of absence, with
possibly few days 70 spare for Illness.
This adds a little 10 the expense which
is now running at about s. 019 day. The
June payroll was SO. .0ao.
The loss which would occur by a fire
in the CELSIUS building is matter which
is always present in the mind OF Director
Merriam. The results Of over a years $
labor in punching cards. revising sched-
ules, counting. and tabulat ting-nct to
mention the field work which went to
gathering the materIalS-is- nearly all as
sembled under the roof OF the Census
building. In cost to the Government it
represents millions Of money, and IL is
now in such shape that IRE would
sweep II all away except what has ap-
peared in the published statistics of popu-
lation
The building IS thoroughly combustible
and with its contents would burn like a
tinder box Every precsu utfon is taken.
Three watchmen patrol the aisles day
and night There are special chemical
engines and apparatus at hand. and
there is special communication with the
District FIRE department. II fire should
break out in working hours the greatest
danger would be from panic.
Congress will have its attention called
TO this matter next winter one OF the
arguments in favor Of creating a perma-
nent Census Bureau and giving il a sub
stantial structure OF its own with vaults
for the safe keeping of records.
MORE CENSUS STATISTICS.