The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-03-09
The Assessors Will Try to Find
Out.
This Is Year for Taking State
Census.
MIR. COBURN DOES 1T.
Secretary of Agriculture viii
Be in Charge.
Also Secure Facts on Manufac-
lures and Mining.

The township assessors who are just
beginning their annual rounds this year
have extra duties to perform in the way
of taking the state census. So when
the assessor asks you lot of ques-
tons about how old you are, where you
were born and why. the color of your
eyes, who your grandmother was, what
you were in jail for the last time, why
you don't get married and 127 other
questions, you may know that he is re-
quired to find out those things and If
you don't tell him he will have to guess
at it and swear that his guess is correct.
This is the first time the assessors
have taken the census for ten years.
Every year ending in IS" the state
takes a census. This makes it come
just half way between those taken by
the federal government, so that Kansas
really gets a census every five years
The decennial state census is taken
under the direction of the State Board
Of Agriculture. This viii be the second
time that Secretary Coburn has super
intended the work. Twenty years ago
it was directed by Major William Sims,
who was at that time secretary of the
state board.
Each wear the township assessors are
required to gather crop statistics and
to make an enumeration of the popula-
ton, but this is not a regular census
such as will be taken this year.
In addition to the regular population
and agricultural statistics gathered, fig
ures will be taken this year relative to
the mining industry and oil ana gas
production, which will be of great inter
est. Manufacturing statistics and wages
will also be compiled, together with
data relative to schools, churches, IL
braries and newspapers. Also the
names of unfortunates, paupers, and
criminals. together with interesting
It,, .,T,
The State Board of Agriculture pre-
pares blank books for the taking of
the census along with the usual agrl-
cultural statistics. These books are
sent to the county clerks of each county,
each book marked for the township or
city for which it is designed. The
books are of different sizes, and Secre-
tary Coburn knows about what size
book will be required for each township,
and they are marked and sent out ac-
cordingly. The county clerks distribute
the blank books to the various town
ship assessors. This has already been
done.
In ordinary years these books are
returned to the county clerks along
with the tax rolls, and the county
clerks make an abstract of the fig
ures required by the board of agri-
culture, which is forwarded to the
board, but in census years the entire
books as made up by the census
takers are sent in. This makes sew
eTal tons OF DOCKS, ana WtieI lil6y are
returned this year they will contain
the names of every man, woman and
child in the state of Kansas.
The data taken is as it was on
March l. Any babies born after that
date do not get into this years census.
The data includes the names of each
individual with their age, sex, and
color. The number of houses and the
number of families is also noted.
Under the Ownership of home" is
noted whether it is owned or rented,
where it is farm or a house only.
and if owned whether it is mortgag ed
or otherwise.
The place of birth of each individ-
ual is taken; where he or she came
from to Kansas; his or her profession,
occupation or trade; the number of
months employed during the year; the
trade or profession being learned by
those under p years of age; how long
they attended school during the year.
Illiteracy figures-the number who
cannot read or write-are gathered
for those between 1 and 5 years of
age. those between Is and 81. and
those over 81.
The military record of all old SOL
diers is also recorded. as follows: If
honorably discharged; the state in
which enlisted; the company and
regiment; what branch of the serv-
ice; and if confined in a military
prison, what one.
Agriculture.
Schedule relates to agriculture |