Evening star., 1917-01-07

F1HE New Year sees the bureau of
the census girding up it's loins
in preparation for the taking of
the next decennial census Of the
population in 1920. The fourteenth
census of the United States is to be the
greatest census the world has ever
known.
So vast and complex an undertaking
has this statistical reckoning become
that it requires several years of grad
ual preparation to be in perfect readi-
ness for the start.
Times have changed since this coun-
try was able to gather together a tenn
porary force of officers and clerks and
make more or less accurate account
ing and statistical enumeration Of tho
American people and their vocations.
1t was in 1902 that longlaid plans for
permanent census taking organiza-
ton found their consummation, and re-
suits have amply justified Its existence.
The census bureau Of the United States,
of which Samuel L. Rogers is director.
has become the greatest statistical
laboratory in the world. and the facts
and figures 1t is gathering and tabu-
lating and issuing at all times are Of
development Of tho United States.
The permanent office force of this
bureau Of the Department of Commerce
numbers about GOO men and women.
who are kept constantly at work be-
tween times on intercensal activities
When the great reckoning Of Americas
forces of people and their condition;
of its manufactures and their kinds and
mineral products and other lines Of In
vestigation arrives. an ONCE force OF
nearly 1000 is on hand. with an outside
army of over 10000 enumerators and
other special employees. all ready to be-
gin operations at the arrival of the
proper moment Their work is to gath
er in the data accurately and expedi-
tiously; to tabulate and otherwise pre-
pare them and to send them forth to be
woven into the fabric of a great ma
to take their place in the history OF
that nations growth.
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With this expanding and contracting
force to be mustered in and set to
work without confusion or delay. again
to be mustered out when the work is
done with the least possible loss Of
time and money. 1t is interesting to
know that woman's head devises
goodly part of the planning Of this oh-
cial mobilization and in experimenting
It's carrying out.
Miss Emily l. Farnum Of the appoint
ment section of the bureau of the CEN
sus is given credit for unusual admin
istrative ability. both during the three
year period Of the decennial census.
when she acts as assistant to the tenn
porary appointment clerk. and in her
post under Mr.. William L. Austin. chief
clerk of the bureau, during the inter-
censal period.
Miss Farnum has filled this Office
since the establishment
of the permanent bureau of the census.
and she has carried her share of tho
work successfully through the twelfth
and thirteenth censuses. She has civil
service ruler which govern the ap-
pofntment OF all clerks at her fingers
ends. and she is thoroughly familiar
with departmental usage and with the
history and customs of the bureau to
which she Is attached. all of which
stand her In good stead at the stress
full time Of census taking.
The rapidity with which the once
force Of the bureau OF the census Is
expanded and contracted to meet the
needs of the great census taking Of the
United States is shown by the fact that
at the beginning of tho last decennial
census period. July !. 1908, there were
626 employees on duty in Washington;
in August, 1910. tho maximum number,
3.73S, was reached: in December, 1911.
the number was down to 2.013. and In
July. 1919, the bureau had been re-