The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1910-04-13
The Census Bureau Intends Introduce
ing Methods i'm Certain Large Cities

washington, April 11.-Each head
of a family in a number of large
cities will receive, a few days prior to
April Is, when the United States Gen.
sus begins an advance population
schedule" containing all the ques-
tions which appear in the official pop
ulation schedule to be carried by the
census takers
These advance schedules are to be
filled in by the heads of families or.
in their absence, by other members
of their families, and the schedules
will be taken up by the enumerators
during the progress of the actual emu
meration.
This action on the part of the Cen
sus Bureau is a complete innovation
and an important advance in Ameri-
can census methods Of obtaining a
count of the population, and the bu-
reau authorities expect it to prove Of
great practical and scientific value.
1t insures greater accuracy and
completeness in the returns, as the
heads of the families, who are gen.
orally the most reliable sources of in
formation, are themselves given suffi-
cient opportunity in advance of the
enumeration to examine deliberately
and to answer exactly the census
questions. In past censuses it was
the case usually that the head Of the
family was absent at work when the
enumeratOr called and reliance had
to- be placed on other members of the
family, frequently servants or child
rem, or on neighbors. none of whom
can be classed as dependable infor-
mants.
The advance schedule will also un-
doubtedly prove of great assistance to
the enumerators. 1t will enable them
to perform their ework more expedi-
tiously and agreeably, and will lessen
the number of cases involving repeat
ed calls by them.
1t Is the intention Of the census
authorities to confine the present
scope of this auxiliary method of pop
ulation enumeration to the large cities
which, in the past, have contained the
greater number of absentee heads Of
families.
In a communication to the Head
of the family" printed on the back
of each schedule, Census Director Du-
rand states
I'm accordance with the act of con-
gress approved July 2, 1909, the
enumeration Of the population of the
United States will begin on April Is.
An enumerator will call at your
house. or apartment, for the purpose
of obtaining the required information
concerning all persons belonging to
your household. 1t is necessary that
you should prepare the information
In advance of the enumerator's visit.
Please, therefore. answer all the aues-
tions contained on this advance
schedule for each member Of your
household and preserve it so that it
can readily be given to the enumer-
ator when he calls BY doing this
you will not only aid greatly in the
work of securing an accurate enumer-
alton of the population but will prob
ably save yourself much trouble,
since If you do not do so, a great deal
of your time will unavoidably be talk
en- by the enumerator in securing the
information he must obtain, and he
may have to call on you several
times.
This schedule, as filled in by you,
should be given to the enumerator
when he calls. AS he has been given
detailed instructions. which it has
not been possible to put on this sched-
ule, concerning the exact manner in
which each question should be an
swered, 1t will be necessary for him
to go over the answers with you or
with some member of your family for
the purpose of making such additions
or changes rs are called for by his in
structions. All such additions and
changes should be made by the EMU
merator on this schedule or on his
official schedule before he leaves the
house. The advance schedule, wheth-
er filled In by you or not, should then.
In all cases, be given to the enumer-
ator to be forwarded to Washington
with his official schedule upon which
the corrected information for all fam
lilies In his district has been written.