Bryan daily eagle and pilot. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1909-1918, 1909-12-13


greatly reduce the margi
OF statistical error In III
- compilation of the THU
teenth census population
cata have been adopted by Directo
T. Dana Durand.
The card punching machines TO b,
used nj the present census differ yer.
radically from those employed before
and will. II Is believed, not only in
crease the rapidly OF the work bul
tend 10 reduce the number OF errors
on the part OF the clerks doing the
punching. With the old punching ma
chine. n an error was made In a sin
gle Item. even though II might be the
last Item to be punched on the card
the entire card had TO be destroyed.
This consumed time and also resulted
In temptation 10 the operator to let
the error go uncorrected.
With the machines now TO be used.
no hole Is punched In the card until
the keys for all the facts to be punch.
ed have been set. and II the opera.
tor makes mistake by depressing the
wrong key. he can correct II before
the card Is punched. II was not found
possible at the last census 10 check
all OF the cards back 10 the schedules.
and Il will probably not be feasible to
do 90 at this census. Part OF the
cards punched by each operator are
selected az random and compared
back. and II any appreciable percen.
tage OF error Is discovered In those
thus compared the other cards punch.
by the same operator are likewise
compared.
tating machines to be used a, the pres.
ent census will also result, Il is be-
iieved. In n material increase OF rapid.
fly and reduction OF errors. This is
principally brought about by the fact
that the results OF the count for each
unit OF area are automatically printed.
whereas. formerly. they were regis
tired on dials from which readings had
60 be taken and recorded by hand.
The reading OF these dials took large
amount OF time. during which the ma.
chine was idle. and inaccurate read
ings were not uncommon.
The new method OF punching and
tabulation employs a small manila
card. about 6x3 inches in size. 10 rep.
resent each individual composing the
population April Is. 1910. For this
purpose alone. sO.OOO.OOO cards have
been purchased.
In collecting the data. a schedule IL
carried by the enumerators and Ques.
lions in Il concerning each individual.
will call for the name. relationship 10
head Of family. color. sex. age. con.
jugal condition. place Of birth, place
OF birth OF parents. number OF years
in the United States. citizenship, oc.
cupation. whether or not employer or
employe. and. II employe. whether or
not employed at the date Of enumera.
tioa. and the number OF months unem.
ployed during the preceding calendar
year. whether or not engaged IN az.
rteulture. school attendance. literacv.
and tenure OF home. and whether or
not a survivor Of the union or confed.
crate army or navy.
The surface of the population card
q divided by printed lines into what
"a called fields" or divisions, contain.
sns certain figures. authorizations OF
words and combinations OF letters.
which are used as symbols TO cores.
pond with. or represent the details
or items Of data as reported on the
original schedule by the enumerator.
Taking the card as the representa-.
tive Of an individual. Il then becomes
necessary TO transfer 70 the card. ali
the data on the schedule referring 70