The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1910-04-04
AN Innovation IN
CENSUS TAKING
POPULATION SEIZED.
uLE-THE CENSUS BUREAU IN
TENDS INTRODUCING SOME
THING NEW IN CENSUS TAKING
METHODS IN LARGE CITIES.

Each head Of family In a number
Of large cities will receive. few days
prior to April is, when the United
States census begins, an advance pop
ulation schedule" containing ell the
questions which appear in the Official
population schedule to be carried by
the census takers, according to a no.
tice just received from Washington.
These advance schedules are to be
hlied 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 enumera.-
! ton.
This action on the part of the census
bureau Is a complete innovation and
an important advance in American CEN
sus methods Of obtaining a count of
the population, and the bureau authori-
ties expect 1T to prove of great practi-
cal and scientific value.
1t tnsures greater accuracy and com
pleteness in the returns, as the heads
OF the families, who are generally the
most reliable sources of information.
are themselves given sufficient oppo-
tuntty In advance of the enumeration
to examine deliberately and to answer
exactly the census questions. In past
censuses 1T 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 SER
wants or children, or on neighbors. none
or whom can be classed as dependable |
informants.
The advance schedule will also un-
doubtedly prove of great assistance to |
the enumerators. IT will enable them
TO perform their work more expedit-
lousy and agreeably and will lessen /
ahe number of cases involving calls by
them.
1t is the intention of the census au-
thorities to confine the present scope
Of this auxiliary method of population
enumeration to the large cities which,
in the past, have contained Ghe greater
number of absentee heads of families.
In communication to the Head of
the family" printed on the back Of each
schedule, Census Director Durand
states:
In accordance with the act of con-
gress approved July 2, 1908, the enum-
GRAFTON of the population of he United
states VIII begin on April Is. An emu
merator will call at your house, or
apartment. for the purpose of obtain
Ing the required information con-
eerning all persons belonging to your
household. 1t is necessary that yo1,
should prepare the information In adj
vance of the enumera'ror's visit. Please
therefore, answer all the questions con-
-ained on this advance schedule for
zach member OF your household and
preserve it so that IL can readily he
given to the enuemator when he calls.
BY doing this you will not only aid
greatly in the work of securing an ae-
'urate enumeration of the population
put will probably save yourself mich
rouble, since If you do not do so. a
treat deal of your time will unavoid-
IDLY be taken by the enumeration in
occurring the information he must oh
ain, and he may have to call on Won
everaI times.
This schedule as flied in by you.
Mould be given to the enumeration
Fhen he calls. AS he has been given
etailed instructions, which 1T has not
cen possible to put on this schedule.
oncerning the exact manner in which
ach question should be answered IL
all be necessary for him to 20 over
ne answers with you or with some
lelnber OF your family for the purpose
making such additions or changes
$ are called for by his instructions.
ii such additions and changes should
Q made by the enumerator on this
'hedule or on his official schedule be-
IRE he leaves the house. The advance
,hedule, whether filed in by you or
OF, should then, in all cases, be given
the enumeration to be forwarded to
Washington with his official schedule
pom which the corrected information
IT all families in his district has been
rirten.
Read the presidents proclamation
. the schedule which emphaticalIy
ates that you cannot possibly be
armed in any way by giving infor1na-
on to the census"
Another section of the back page of
10 schedule is devoted to brief in
ructions to govern the head of the
mily In filling the schedule. A third ~
'ction contains the complete text of a
le presidents census proclamation.