Los Angeles herald., 1909-11-03

the aggregate wealth of the nation. If
the Industrial progress of the first four
years of the present decade had con-
tinued unchecked to the end of the
period we would find ourselves ma
ton with an aggregate wealth of more
than $140, 900, 100000. The increase
probably received a notable check in
the panic of 1907. and $125,000,0 100000
may more nearly approximate the
grand total of all our wealth in 1910.
This is approximately double the
wealth of the next richest nation in
Christendom.
In manufactures, II the rate OF
progress that was shown between 1900
and 1905 should be continued to the end
/ of the decade the results ought to show
an annual output valued at about $16,-
500 0000,0 900. Wages paid in manufactur-.
ing industries ought to amount TO
nearly $4,000, 100000 year.
| A highly interesting test OF the ac-
curacy of the estimates Of the depart
ment of agriculture will be made in
the analysis of the statistics OF the
farm, The department makes annual
estimates of the production of all the
! important crops and of the number of
farm animals In the country. The flg-
ures are based on estimates made by
! crop correspondents of the percentages
above and below normal given year
will, show. The census figures will be
based on actual returns from every
farm and Secretary Wilson will have
| the opportunity to prove that his esti-
mating bureau knows its business. His
crop and stock figures for 1910 will be
on hand first, and the world will have
| a chance to know just how well he
has guessed Those who are cognizant
of the methods pursued by the depart
ment of agriculture in estimating crop
yields and crop acreages are aware
| that these estimates cannot be as ac-
curate as the actual rm-to-farm in
quiries of paid enumerators.
1t is probable that the returns will
overstate rather than understate the
| population of the country even though
| there is not a single instance OF pad
ding them. Most of this will occur In
| the cities. For instance, when an en-
umerator visits a house where a SER
want Is employed 1t is not improbable
that tho servants name will be included
in the returns for that household. in
another section OF the city another
enumerator may be enumerating the
| family of that same servant, and thus
the servant is counted twice In the final
summing up.
Extraordinary efforts will be made TO
make the manufacturing statistics re-
veal the true conditions Of manufacture
| ing TUT hAstduce, III ttle Hidllef OF
canned corn, the major portion of the
value of the product is the corn that
enters into 1t. The actual value added
portion of the gross value of the
product. 1t is possible to arrive at the
actual significance of the corn canning
industry only by showing the differ
ence between the cost OF the materials
and the value of the product. AS the
census office goes further in its investi-
cations 1t is gradually eliminating the
duplication caused by counting the
product of the factory twice. The auto
mobile industry is another remarkable
instance of how values may be dupll-
Gated. One factory makes the tires and
| reports their value to tho census. Even
that value may have been reported in
part by the factory which made tho
coarse goods on which the rubber is
nodded. Another factory makes the
leather Dor the cushions. The steel and
iron mills and foundries make the steel
and iron and reckons 1t In the value of
their output. Another factory makes
the glass. and another the woodwork,
and another the paint. Each makes a
| report of the value of Its output After
each Item has been counted In the gross
operations of one, two, or even three
other industries they are all carried
over to the automobile Industry and
counted again In the value of the out
put there. From this II will be seen
that the only way to find the net re-
suits of manufacture is to deduct the
cost of the materials as they come TO
each factory that has a part In the pro-
duction of the finished article. Tho
thirteenth census will look more care
fully into this than any OF its pre-
decessors.
On the whole. 1t is freely predicted
that the great national snapshot OF
April 10. 1910. will show a picture that
| win crafty every one OF the ninety
million patriotic hearts In this, land OF
the free. II probably will show a
! higher degree of mental, moral and
physical we'll being than any other
census. 1t will tell a tale of progress
that will be justification for pride upon
the part of every American citizen.
| TOmorrew-Tho Thirteenth Census.
! V-History OF Census Making.