Los Angeles herald., 1909-10-09
WILL TABULATE
MANUFACTURES
is MOST DIFFICULT PART OF
CENSUS TAKING
SIMPLER METHOD OF RECORDING
DATA TO BE USED
Problem of Securing Accurate and
Representative Figures Is Greatest
with Which Government Bu-
reau Has to Contend

ulC " seizure Ine QdId T6ldIlV6 TO Ildll-
ufactures Is indicated in an interview
obtained with Prof. Carroll w. Doten,
one of the group of college professors
of economics and manufacturing eX-
pertS who have been advising Director
Durand of the bureau of the census
concerning the form and scope of the
inquiries to be asked by the special
agents making the canvass beginning
January 1 for the manufactures census
period, which Is the present calendar
year 1909. Professor Doten is secretary
of the American Statistical association
and also is assistant professor of eco
nomics in the Massachusetts Institute
of Technology. He is also a specialist
in railroad economics and accounting
labor problems, factory systematizing
and social investigation.
"From 1910, when the first attempt
was made to secure data concerning
industry" said Professor Doten, 'one
of the most difficult problems involved
in census taking has been the census
of manufactures. At each recurring
decennial period, except in 1920, when
no provision was made for securing
statistics of industry, more and more
elaborate schedules were prepared, as
the growing Importance and diversity
of the industries of the country seemed
to require, until 1890, when the system
almost broke down Of its own weight.
System SlmpIlfled
"Since that time a reaction has set
in and there has been a movement in
the direction of greater simplicity. This
has taken two forms, as eXemplified in
the censuses of 1900 and 1905. In 1900
the schedule was simplified materially
by the elimination of certain inquiries
and the consolidation of others, notably
the inquiries in regard TO capital and
employees. In 1905 few changes were
made in the schedule, but the scope of
the census was limited to those estab-
llshments conducted under what Is
known as the factory system, exclu-
sive of the so-called neighborhood and
mechanical industries.
"Both of these methods of simplihca-
ton have been made necessary by the
changing character and by the grow
ing size and complexity of our manu-
featuring industries. The hardness
with which the fact that the factory
system long ago supplanted the house,
hold or neighborhood industries of an
earlier stage of our national develop
ment has been taken note of In census
work was in part the result of desire
to make each census comparable, so
far as possible, with preceding CEN
suses. There was also the desire that
the census of manufactures should ao-
ut for all production not included
in me extractive industries or in trade
I'D transportation. The attempt 10
enumerate the hand trades, however,
was never successful, and as they be-
came of less relative Importance the
reasons for abandoning the attempt
made a stronger appeal to congress and
the census officials.
1.-THE act providing for the taking of
the thirteenth decennial census limits
its scope practically to the same field
as that covered by the quinquennial
census of 1905. The inquiries within
this field include the name, location
and ownership of each establishment;
the character of the industry; the num-
her of officers and employees, with the
total amount of their salaries and
wages; quantity and cost of materials. .
miscellaneous expenses; quantity ana
value Of products; time in operation
during census year, and character ano
amount of power used. The only thlng
required now is to perfect the method
of securing the data within these mar
rover limits.
"It is to this task the committee of
experts on manufactures, called to-
gether at the census bureau by Director
Durand, have devoted their particular
attention. Recognizing the desirapillty
of preserving compatibility, they nave
in either the form or contents of the
inquiries included in the general sehed-
ule of manufactures. They have, more
over, been Influenced by the obvious
necessity of limiting the expense and
effort required to obtain the data III
the field. AS users of the census ngures
in research and classroom work, tney
have also realized the Importance OF
the early publication of the results OF
the census, and they have been espe-
cially anxious to facilitate in every way
possible, without sacrificing thorough
ness or accuracy, the speedy compile
ton of the field work and the compna-
ton of the information collected
Accuracy Desired
at is perhaps too early to announce
specific changes, as the tentative
schedule will probably be tested In the
field before its final adoption, but II
may be safe to speak of the general
trend of the committees suggestions
They call for definite figures from the
books and payrolls Of manufacturers
where this does not involve too much
trouble and when the inquiry cannot
be regarded as unduly inquisitorlal'
'In order that this should not Involve
added labor in the filing out of sched-
ules it has been found necessary to re-
duce the number of inquiries or SUD
inquiries. The theory on when TINS mas
been done is that three or four accu
rally determined figures are better as
a basis of deduction than dozen estl-
mates which in many cases must heces-
sraily be merely guesses.
"In some cases 1t has seemed de-
sirable to reclassify the items ALREADY
included in an inquiry. This does ho'
in the least interfere with the compare
bilitv of the totals, but it serves to
fnf, fnnHnnninG the
dustrial field which the former
methods of presentation were found to
obscure.
"While it is the primary aim of a
census now, as it has always been, to
take an inventory of the nations re-
sources and productive capacity, stlll II
seems desirable to secure other eco
nomic and social data, at least as by
product of this great enterprise. The
United States census has come to be
regarded as a model the world over,
and other countries are falling In line
with it's methods. Its reports are more
and more being used as a storehouse OF
material by economists and social IN
vestigators, not only in this country
but abroad
"In view of these things the commit
tee has felt that no backward step
should be taken at the present time,
and that every legitimate effort should
be put forth to secure accurate and
complete data in regard to ways, hours
of labor and regularity of employment,
as evidences of the well being of in
dustrial laborers.
"Quite as important on the other
hand, however, are the inquiries show
ing the improvements in machinery and
in the methods of organization, which
make it possible to utilize our natural
resources to the best advantage and
with the least waste"