The Cairo bulletin., 1910-03-07
BEGIN CENSUS WORK.
Eighteen Hundred Special Agents
to Study Manufactures.
Answers Are Kept Secret, and En-.
ploye Who Gives Out informa-
ton Without Permission to
BE Punished,

Washington The federal census OF
manufactures, mines. quarries, pc
troleum and natural gas for the year
1909 has been begun under the direc-
tion of the United States census bu-
reau. This census, together with that
OF population and agriculture, COM
prises the principal inquiries en-
bodied In the thirteenth decennial
census. Eventually about 1900 spe-
cial agents will be employed In ma
king the canvass, under the supervi-
sion of William NJ Stewart, chief sta.
tistician for manufactures. Director
of the Census Durand is appointing
these agents from the eligible regis.
ters established as result OF the ex-
animation. held November 3. of candi-
dates for these positions.
Extraordinary precautions have
been been taken by Director Durand
to assure the manufacturers that all
answers will be held confidential. this
statement being prominently dis
played on the front page of the
numerous schedules 1t Ia also de-
clarcd that no publication will be
made in the census reports disclosing
the name or operations OF individual
establishments in any particular.
The act Of congress provides that
the bureau Of the census shall permit
only Its sworn employees to examine
tha individual ronarta ara that apv
employe who shall. without the au-
thorlty OF the director of the census,
publish or communicate any informa.
ton coming into his possession shall
be guilty of misdemeanor
Director Durand. In discussing this
census, said: There is only limited
time In which to complete this work
1t Is essential that all the field en-.
ployes exert themselves to the Ut
most Those who do good work will
be reassigned to other districts and
retained in the service until the work
Is finished
III manufacturers or others fur.
nishing data object to q supposed dis
closure of the secrets of their bust
ness, the special agents will assure
them that the results of their indi
vidual business will not be made pub
lie. They are required also to ex
plain that the information viii not be
used for the purposes of taxation, nor
In any manner to identity the opera
tons of the individual establishments
and will not be disclosed TO any other
bureau of the federal government.
The intent Of the law, which will be
strictly carried out is to prevent the
disclosure of information which Nigh
| operate to the detriment in any WAY
Of the person or establishment supply
ing it.
THE period covered will be, wher
ever possible that of the year endet
December 81, 1909. In the majority
OF cases the data can be secured fol
It, as the business year of most es
Establishments. will correspond to The
calendar year 1909.
THE method Of the canvass requires
that few days prior to the day
when a given firm is to be canyassed
the special agent shall mail to the
manufacturer copy OF the general
schedule. with the proper supplement
tai schedules, together with the re
quest that they be filled out In read
ness for the special agent on his ar
rival. In the event this has not beer
done at the time the agent calls he
will proceed to get the facts imme
diately.
"The information secured must be
accurate. In drafting the schedule
every effort was made to frame the
inquiries in such form that the fan
swers to them can generally be taken
directly from the books Of accounts
and the records of the establishment
canvassed In no case are general
statements or estimates to be &C
cepted where It Is possible to secure
answers directly from the books o.
accounts and records.
"As there is general interest In
the subject Of the comparative I'm
portance Of the cities, states and ter
ritories with reference to the larger
selected industries, 1t Is exceedingly
| desirable that. from the standpoint
Of civic pride alone. the manufactm
i ers throughout the United States
should furnish the data without delay
In order that the Industrial center,
In which they operate may be com
pletely and correctly represented ir
the statistical tables Every nsnufac
turer is therefore urged to cooperate
promptly and fully with the bureau Of
the census"