Evening journal., 1909-12-13
NEW QUESTIONS
FOR THE FARMER
Census Man Will be More In
QuiSitiVe Next Year Than
Ever
IMPORTANT DATA
FOR THE GOVERNMENT

WASHINGTON. d. c., Dec. ls.-United
States Census Director Durand states that
the new inquiries in the general agricul-
tural schedule for the census OF 1910 are
expected 20 develop important data on
the questions whether or not the native
American farmer is holding his own
against the foreign-born home maker in
this country; the age period when the
"hired farm hand" becomes an indepen-
dent farmer himself; the age when the
tenant farmer ceases 10 be ''renter" and
becomes an owner; and also concerning
other vital facts relative to the social and
industrial tendencies among the millions
Of tillers Of the soil in the frst decade
OF the twentieth century.
The new questions were added to the
farm schedule by authority OF the act OF
Congress providing for the Thirteenth
and subsequent decennial censuses. but
United States Census Director Durand
was instructed to determine the form and
subdivision Of the inquiries--in other words
70 frame tho main questions and the sub
Inquiries concerning the ffty-eight groups
Of topics embraced in the schedule.
a HnDrONlIIlHIt
from the enumeration depends not only
upon the supervisors and enumerators. but
largely also upon the form OF the sched-
ule. Census Director Durand called into
consultation with himself and his admin
istrative staff this summer a number OF
farm economists and farm-managemeut
experts who assisted in the preparation
OF the questions with view TO simplicity
and clarity Of language and the avoidance
OF technical terms not in common use. A
comparison OF the new schedule with the
one used I'm the census OF 1900 shows that
great progress has been made I'm this d.
rection. II Is believed the enumerators
will have less difficulty understanding
what information the 1910 schedule is try
ing 20 bring out and that the farmers
will be able to give fuller and more ac-
curate replies The new schedule will
also facilitate the use Of a more thor
ouEh system OF office checking whereby
inaccuracies may be discovered.
Three Glasses of New Questions.
The new inquiries fall into three classe.
First, those seeking information not OBJ
tanned by former census; second, those
calling for more extensive data on previ-
Gus census topics; and, finally, those con-
cerning conditions or industries which
have arisen since the last census.
In the FIRST class are those inquiries con-
cerning the age Of the farmer and the
country OF his birth; mortgage indebted
ness; acreage to be planted to crops in the
year 1910: breed OF pure-bred animals; and
acreage OF mixed timothy and clover hay.
In the second class are the inquiries rel
ative to the amount Of feed purchased for
live stock and the amount and value Of
live stock purchased; the value Of eggs
sold: value OF wax sold separate from
honey; and amount Of pasture land under
irrigation
In the third class the new questions pro-
vide for tho separation Of wheat into its
various varieties-common spring. com
mon winter, Durum or macaroni, Emmer,
and spelt: for the increase Of the number
OF the varieties Of vegetables from seven
to twelve; for the addition Of guinea fowls
and pigeons to the poultry list; for the
statement OF the amount received for
standing timber; for the amount of wood
land on the farm; and for the amount re-
ceived for pasturing domestic animals.
The farmers answers concerning their
ages should throw much light on social
conditions In agriculture. From these II
viii be possible 10 calculate with reason
able accuracy the age when a young man
passes out of the ranks OF the hired farm
hands" and becomes either tenant or
owner OF a farm possessing his own imple-
ments. machinery, live stock and prop
erty. The answers viii help FIX the age at
which a farmer may expect 20 stop being
a renter" and arrive at the dignity or
ownership OF the soil. Whether or not It
Is becoming more and more difficult FOR an
American farmer TO rise from the "ten-
ant class 10 that OF farm ownership will
he pretty clearly indicated by the classi-
fcation OF mortgaged farms by age per-
iods. II farmers under IS have. relatively.
the greatest mortgage indebtedness. It will
be fair for statisticians to assume that
the Indebtedness has been incurred IN the