The Goldfield news and weekly tribune. [volume] (Goldfield, Nev.) 1911-1947, 1914-03-28
Census Bureau on Mining

Some time ago tire Boston Transcript, in its news dispatches from
Washington, charged that valuable figures relating to mines and min
ing and collected at the cost of thousands of dollars have been suppress
ed by W. J. Harris, director of the census. To this a n emphatic denial
was made by Director Harris, and he has prevailed upon the Transcript
to give publicity to his explanatory statement.
The original story of suppression of census statistics and the in
thnaton that politics had something to do with the trouble stated that
data on the metaliferous mines in Colorado, on the copper mines in
Michigan, on the lead and zinc mines in Missouri, and on smehers and
refneries which would be of the utmost value because they would
show the cost of production, wages, profits and losses, based upon
authentic information secured from the mine operators themselves"
were practically thrown away by the new census bureau administration
Director Harris, in setting forth the bureaus position in this matter,
says: Such detail analysis for certain branches of the mining indus
try was not prepared in form ready for publication, and from the man
nr in which the work had been conducted was satisfied that there
was no possibility of this analysis being ready for the printer within a
reasonable time. Furthermore, the report on mining as prepared be-
fore l assumed charge of the office contains the following statement
These data cannot be taken as showing accurately the amount of
profit or loss in the coal mining industry OF the several. states, but they
do seem to Indicate clearly that in many states the industry obtains only
a very low rate of profit, if any, In view Of this statement that the
figures as collected by the bureau of the census did not show accurately
the amount Of profit or loss, it seems to me that were not worthy of a
detail analysis, and that the bureau was justified only in publishing the
financial statistics that had been reported by mine operators. This has
been done carefully, accurately and conscientiousy.'
AS to the charge that, apparently, political considerations entered
into the situation, Director Harris states that the committee composed
of DIR. North, Governor Merriam, Professor Wilcox and MIR. Rosster,
who examined the records of the census office early in Director Earriss
administration, was not a committee of democrats. DIR. l. A. Hourwch,
who prepared the analysis in dispute, appeared before these gentlemen
and stated his case. After mature consideration says Mr.. Harris,
they recommended that the report for mining be curtaied in the man
nr in which it was finally published. sent a copy of their report to
Mr.. Duand and asked him to let me have the benefit of his advice. In
reply he states as follows: l duly received the full report of the COM
mtee regarding census work and am inclined to agree that all of the
recommendations were wise. hope that after the census volumes are
published, some analysis of the more important figures, such as those
regarding occupations, may be presented in special bulletins. But l
quite agree with the committee that the set of volumes should be wound
up
Director Harris in his statement goes fully into the matter of the
employment of DR.. Tourwich which was brought out in hearings before
a house committee at the time. DIR. Hourwich had been doing work on
the mines and mining analyses and had had apparently an understanding
with DR.. Durand that he would come to Washington at intervals when
most convenient to his other work in New York, which he had recently
undertaken. However, declares Director Harris, referring to DR.
Eourvch, he was apparently trying to do some OF the work in New
York, while the clerks upon whom he depended for the statistics were
in the bureau without any administrative officer in charge. He de
clned to allow anybody but himself to plan the work for these clerks
or to allow them to prepare any tables other than those outlined by him
during his short visits. The work was being conducted in a very I'M
business like manner. There seemed to be no definite understanding as
to when it would be finished. He spent so little time at the office that
Mr.. w. Nj. Steuart, chief statisGCian in charge of manufactures, who
was required to approve DR.. IIourwichs vouchers, declined to give them
his approval, and when assumed charge of the office found some Of
his vouchers had not been paid"