Omaha daily bee., 1909-11-03
Some Things You Want to Know
The Thirteenth census-Gathering the Data

he will be asked to explain. His final re-
port must balance exactly with the sum
OF his daily reports.
Up to the census Of 1850 Il was required
that all the returns Of population be posted
at some conspicuous place in the enumer-
alton district so that every person inter
ested could make sure that there was no
padding OF lists and no omissions. Since
that time the daily report system has been
in vogue, and has largely served the same
purpose, at the same time greatly reducing
the expense OF the work.
In the past there nave been many at
tempts at padding the lists. In one census
a Mlssississippi enumeration, a negro, made
the returns for AL the farms In his district,
and then duplicated these returns for every
member OF the family on each farm. This
padding was for the sole purpose OF in
creasing his pay. Usually padding has
been more marked in the cities, and has
been done more for the purpose OF boost
ing population totals than anything else.
in the 1890 census two cities In a north cen
trail state undertook to pad their popula-
ton returns. Each was watching the other.
The one went at it in a coarse, crude way,
and was soon caught IN the act The
other handled the situation with q finer
manu. ana mlknl nave 0StaHNu uNADNNibA
but for the watchfulness OF the rival city.
In one city there were several hundred
people returned as permanent jewellers In
the union station. A prominent Newspaper
building was reported to have sixty-five
permanent residents. When the census
bureau decided upon a Recommendation, a
committee was sent TO Washington to pro
test against Il. Among the members of the
committee was the owner of the big news
paper building. When he had spoken at
some length supporting the accuracy OF the
first returns, the record for his own build
ing was produced. He was forced to join
in the laugh that followed at his own ex-
pense.
II remained for a man under the very
shadow OF the dome OF the national capt
tol to discover the most unique way OF
padding his returns at the last census. He
was a Maryland enumerator, and he
visited the cemeteries In his district and
returned the names on the tombstones.
But he was not able to cover up his tracks
and was very soon overtaken by the lynx
eyed census office detectives.
Bitter disappointment is in store for many
cities next year. For. instance, Los
Angeles and Seattle are each determined
to be written down by the thirteenth
NUhoub do TIC SttbHu SlAy vi NHu X dJAN
coast, and they have been booming them
selves for all they are worth. Their race
is only one of dozens that are now going
on. Buffalo is working hard in advance,
and Houston and San Antonio are having
a great race for primacy In Texas. It Is
the common experience of census au-
thorities that when the showdown comes
very few cities are able TO live UP TO their
claims Of population. Some Of them, how
ever. recognizing the danger of exaggerated
claims, have stopped setting their figures
above the census mark.
1t is estimated that the actual cost OF
enumeration or gathering the data will be
in the neighborhood Of 1900, 600, At the
last census the average pay for each
enumerators was about SEQ. It is expected
that fully 30 per cent OF this will be paid
out within three months of the date OF be-
ginning the enumeration. As stated be-
fore the returns of manufacturing mining
and quarrying will be secured by special
agents. These men will be appointed be
cause of their especial fitness for the work
and there will be several assistants under
each chief special agent. 1t is hoped that
a highly competent corps of agents equip
ped with simplifled schedules will make
this census OF manufactures a notable one,
II the country continues TO grow in the
next twenty years as It has grown in the
last double decade. the fifteenth census
will require IN army Of men as large as
Grant commanded at Appomattox to carry
out the work. At least SEQ O0, 900 will be
required to execute the task, Some eX-
perts think that the census will soon be-
come such an extensive thing as to topple
over OF its W weight, but the majority
of those who have followed the develop
ment of census taking from the beginning
to the present, unhesitatingly declare that
every recurring period produces more Ac-
curate returns and drives the business OF
census taking nearer to the hoped-for goal
of an exact science.
by Frederic J. HaSkin,
Tomorrow-Ths Thirteenth Census.
m--Tabulating The RstuTns.