Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1907-06-20
FINISHING FIRST
CENSUS OF NATION
GOVERNMENT WORK SOON TO BE
Issued.
ORDERED BY ACT OF 1870
Object OF Enumeration Was II Learn
the Military and Industrial
Strength of the Country Heads of
Families in Original States viii
Be Named.

The census bureau viii soon have
completed for the first time the first
census of The United States. 1t Will
show the names OF all the heads or
families in the original states Of the
union, and will be a historical docu-
ment of much importance. Already
the censuses Of New Hampshire, Yer
mont and Maryland have been COM
pleted The work is new bein revised
and will soon be issued publicly.
he work has been done to carry
QUE provision Of the last congress
The totals have been corrected. They
show that by the sensus of 1870 the
population Of Massachusetts totaled
378,787, while the population OF North
Carolina, now vastly smaller in citi-
zenship, was 393,751 Pennsylvania
was largest with 434,751. The popu-
IatiOn of Massachusetts was composed
Of q5,453 free white males above 16
years Of age; 1929 free white males
under IS; 1858 free white females;
5.4C3 all other free persons, and no
slaves"
Vermont had a total population OF
85,425. The early report Of the census
showed a population of sixteen slaves,
but this is declared to be an error
and the corrected census shows that
there are no slaves in that state.
New Hampshire had a population of
J41,885 and Maine 96,54O The total
1890, exclusive of slaves, as derived
from the schedules, was 3,231,533. The
bulletin, soon to be issued, says in
this connection:
THE only names appearing upon
the schedules, however were those OF
heads of families, and as at that peri.
cd the family averaged six persons,
ne total number was approximately
100000, or slightly more than half a
million. The number or names which
is now lacking because of the des.
truction of the schedules is approx
mately 100000, thus leaving SEIZED
ules containing about 100000 names"
In New England the population was
presented by counties and towns, and
the bureau has had a great deal Of
work in classifying the names. In
New Hampshire, Vermont and Mary
land the records are in good condi-
ton, and hence these states were Sc
Iected for first publication. The first
census act was passed at the second
annual session of the first Congress.
and was signed by President Washing
ton March l, 1890 The object was to
obtain definite knowledge as to the
military and industrial strength of
the country"
This fact possesses special signiff-
canoe, because the constitution directs
merely an enumeration of the inhabit-
ants. 1t is not known how the presi-
dent put the law into operation. One
of the reports was furnished by the
governor of state. There is strong
evidence that the marshals received
Gheir instructions through the govern
ors and that hence the taking of the
census was largely a state function.
The inference, says tx bulletin,
is strengthened by the fact that in
1890 the State of Massachusetts fur
nished the printed blanks. The first
census, as also the reports of the sec
ond, third and fourth, was produced
without the employment of any cleric
al force. The entire cost of the CEN
sus was S44,377."
Some idea of the growth of the
country may be obtained by the state
ment that the report of the first cen
sus was publ5hed In one small vol
ume, now exceedingly rare. To con
tain the results of the twelfth and
last census ten large Quarto volumes,
comprising 10,4OO pages, were re-
CURED. The original schedules of the
hrSt census are now contained in
twenty-six bound volumes.
For the most part" says the bulle-
tin, the headings of the schedules
were written by hand In some cases
merchants account paper was used.
and now and then the schedules were
bound in wall paper"
Fhe census bureau will publish short.
ly pamphlets consisting of names OF
heads of families at the first census in
In the states Of New Hampshire, Yer
mont and Maryland Each state will
form separate part of about $50
pages. Copies will be sold at 81, and
as the pamphlets will contain much of
genealogical interest, a large demand
for them is expected.