The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1913-02-14
CROP CENSUS IN 1915
ADVOCATED BY DURAND
Director Says Schedules Have
Been Too Elaborate
FARMERS HANDED PUZZLES
Need Of New Quarters Where Work
Compiling Can Be Carried On
to Better Advantage.
FARMERS HANDED PUZZLES

One of the most important subjects
discussed in the annual report of
Director Durand of the bureau OF
the census, recently submitted to the
secretary of commerce and labor, is
that of the proposed quinquennial
census of Agriculture in 1915. The
thirteenth census contains proYi'
sion that there shall be in 1915 and
once every ten years thereafter
census of agriculture and live stock,
acreage OF farm land and of prin-
cipal crops, etc.
One of the chief causes of the i'm
perfection Of the recent census of
agriculture has been the great elab-
Grafton of the schedules. The agri-
cultural schedule of 1910 was not
much more detailed than that Of
1900, yet it contained spaces for
more than 500 different items regard
ing each farm. Many of the inquir
les, of course, did not apply to the
majority of farms, but their presence
on the schedule nevertheless made
it confusing and discouraging to the
Cuumerator and to the farmer Among
the inquiries were many which the
average farmer could not be expected
10 answer by the toughest sort Of
estimates. Either the public must get
along without SO much agricultural
information, or part of the informa-
ttOn must be secured by other methods
than that OF general enumeration.
Some Improvements Made.
The population statistics OF the
thirteenth census, like those of the
two preceding censuses. have been
tabulated by means of punched
card system. Prior to the thirteenth
census the punching machines. cleo.
trical card-sorting machines, and cleo.
trical tabulating machines required
in connection with this method of
tabulation were rented from private
concerns. Those used at the thir.
teenth census, on the other hand
were devised by experts employed
by the bureau, and were either con-
structed in the machine shop of
the bureau or by outside concerns
under contract. Thus the census
bureau now owns its tabulating ma
chinery. These machines have been
greatly improved by the addition of
new devices, which materially re-
duceS the expense OF tabulation. AS
the result of the expenditures of the
census bureau the past few years
for devising and constructing tabulat-
ing machinery, the bureau now has
in its possession machines which can
be used with little additional invest.
ment for future censuseS. The pres
a lnt l.
little modification, prove adequate to
the needs of the bureau for several
censuseS to come.
Furnishing of Data.
One of the difficult questions con.
fronting the bureau of the census
is the extent to which census Stats
tics shall be tabulated and published
with refereuce to small areas. Natur-
ally it is proper that more details
should be published for the United
States as whole and for the states
as units than for such areas as coun-
ties, villages, wards of cities, or still
smaller areas. The drawing of the
llre with respect to the amount of
detail to be tabulated for small areas
has for the most part been left by
congress TO the judgment of the di-
rector of the census.
The suggestion has often been
made that the census bureau should
compile and publish detailed inform
alton. when desired, at the expense
of the local governments or indivi-
dualS desiring it. The director rec
ommends an amendent to the law
which would permit the employment
of additional clerks for this purpose
provided the amount of salaries paid
TO such clerks, together with other
expenses, should not exceed the
amount received from outside sources
for work performed.
Need New Census Building.
Since for many reasons the census
office proper has not the advantages
that could be secured in more mod
ern and suitable quarters, there was
some hesitation about retaining it
during 1913, but after thoroughly
canvassing the situation it was de-
cidcd upon as the most advisable
course, especially as the lesser Of
fered 20 expend several thousand dol.
lars in much-needed changes, chiefly
designed to improve the sanitary con-
VI INC ihOu-
ern building erected with view to
present an future needs of the
permanet bureau, with better facili.
ties for lighting and sanitation, and
a large amount of storage space
for documents, records, equipment
and furniture carried over between
census periods, would greatly facili-
tate the work of the bureau and
would add to the comfort and we'll
being of its employees. The need of
a fire-proof building is particularly
great, in view of the vast quantity
of valuable records which must be
stored.
Cost of Last Census.
The annual report of Director Du-
rand For the fiscal year ended June
so, 1912. has been submitted to the
Continued on Page Four.