The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1907-07-11
ABOUT OUR FIRST CENSUS.
Unique Volumes show the Result of the
EnmeratiOn Made in 100.

Unique Volumes show the Result of the
Enumeration Made in 1890.
The census bureaus unique ,publica-
ton, who's Who in 1890. is just off
the press. A limited appropriation
makes it impossible at the present time
to issue the returns from all the states
then existing, The schedules for New
Hampshire, Vermont and Maryland,
however, are completed, while those
fcom the remaining states will follow
soou.
These volumes are reprint of the
first eensusreturns. Each will form an
attractive boonlet os 100 pages, one vol.
ume for each state.
The original documents form a queer
collection These are preserved in 26
oddiyassorted volumes in the census Of
fee. For themost yart the headings are
written in by hand. The marshals, on
whose shoulders the task Of making the
first enumeration devolved, were obhg
ed to furnish lheir own blanks. In con-
sequence, many of the returns were
written ON merchants account forms.
These were bound, sometimes In wall
paper, sometimes in anything that came
to hand Crudely sewn together, they
vary in size from four inches in length
to three feet.
Genealogical experts and others in
terested in family origins found.it prac-
ticable to refer to these tablets, and SO
great was the demand for information
on the subject that the census Office de-
c!ned to publish the compilations in
convenient form. Thus, the list Of
heads Of fnmilies III years,ago will be
an open book for one and all.
In March, 1890, the Union was com
posed Of twelve states, Rhode Island,
the last Of the original thirteen, being
admitted May 20. Vermont, however,
was admitted before the results Of the
| first census were announced. Maine
was a part ofMassachusetts, Kentucky
a part Of Virginia. Alabama and Mis-
sissippi were included in the state of
Georgia. Ohio, Indiana, Illinois,
Michigan aud Wisconsin composed the
great Northwest Territory, while be-
youd the Mississippi river lay the
4 greatunexplored wilderness, then the
\ property Of the Spanish crown.
New York City had a population Of
5}l3i, and the entire poplation Of the
I UUited States was 3, ,23l, 533. AS fami-
4 lies at tbat time averaged six members,
/. tho t9tal numbers of heads Of families
was ABOUT half million. The records
for Delaware, Georgia, Kentucky. Ten
ueasae and Virginia were burned when
the British set fire to the capitol in 1912,
but they nave been supplied in part from
state enumerations taken in the same
year.
The object OF the census was to ascer
tain the nations militray and industrial
stronSth, aud the woIk was done under
difficulties that seemed almost insur-
mountable. The journey between New
York and Washington could be accom-
phshed under favorable conditions in
eight days.
There were Lo roads, aud bridges
weresuudreamed Of. People were sus-
pioious, fearinglan increase Of taxes,
Others had religious scruples, hesitat-
ing to give their names lest they offend
; the Deity. The reports that struggled
in during a year and a half, however,
J now make an interesting report.
! Virginia is accredited with the great
est number ef slaves, having 292, 2G7.
] Through an error Vermont is given IL
; slaves, which she disdainfully repudi-
Q'es Although Massachusetts, is Civ
en- credit for hnying no men in bond
age at that time, local tradition disputes
j this point, and in certain half-forgotten
: graveyards tablets can be found today
marking the burial place Of slaves.