Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-05-12
IOWA FOREHANDED
IN CENSUS WORK
LAST ENUMERATION GIVES FACTS
AS TO AVAILABLE MILITARY
FORCE.
ORIGINAL CARDS ARE
AVAILABLE AT PRESENT
Half Million of Military Ase-little
Change Probable in Component Parts
of jority Of Foreign
Born Population Comes From Coun-
tries Of Central Powers.
Special to Times-RepublicanD

special 10 lllHeS-rsspuS4A'"i'
Des Moines. May 12.-No state or
the union has been more forehanded
in the matter Of the listing of it's popu-
lation so as to know with reasonable
exactness the available militia force
than the state Of Iowa.
1T was fortunate that Iowa made
a complete enumeration Of its popu-
lation less than two years ago, sara
Ora Williams, editor Of the census,
who had charge Of the compilation OF
The vast amount of material embodied
in that book now, for use in connection
with the war preparations, short or
year of work and at an enormous eX-
pense: but it is all available. and prac-
tically as good as If it had been Sc
cured this year instead Of twenty
months ago. The listing of the popu-
lation was made by the assessors at
the time Of the making of the assess
ment of property the last time. The
material has been compiled and the
main results and essential figures nave
been published in a book. But what
is OF perhaps greatest Importance IS
the fact that the original cards on
which the listing OF the entire popuIa-
ton was made. are available now,
carefully preserved in steel cases,
classified by counties and by precincts
so that they can be used. For instance,
II you should wish ITO know Just how
many men there are between the ages
of Fl and 80 in a certain township or
"A certain town or city, you can go 10
the cards and quickly get the inforna-
lion. Not only may you know now
many. but what are their occupation.
their nativity. their education. While
this material is now nominaly nearly
two years old. the main facts have no.
greatly changed. and it will De easy
to check up to date. and thus to have
the record complete. So it is quite
fortunate that Iowa made this enum-
Grafton and that it is in such shape
that It can be used in connection with
the war preparations.
Most Complete Ever Made.
In this connection it can be stated
without fear OF contradiction that this
enumeration By the state was the most
complete and most satisfactory OF any
ever made. ! have no doubt that 1t
was far more nearly correct in every
particular than any made by either
state or federal authorities in the past.
There are internal evidences To sus
tain this view. The state executive
council did splendid job of planning
for this enumeration and it was car
ried out faithfully. To no one is due
more Of credit than 10 Mr.. A L. Swan,
i, .nl ~ Ia ,f tt,n n
and the working out of the material
received from the assessors and VINO
incurred diSpleasuTe at the hands Of
more than one person by his insistence
on accuracy and honesty in the enum-
Grafton. The work was well done and
now we ought to make use Of il"
1t is not probable that the compo-
nent parts Of the population Of Iowa
are greatly changed from what they
were in 1915, or at least, that there has
been much change in the proportions.
The census of Iowa reveals, therefore.
substantially the military strength OF
the state as it is now.
The census showed that IN Iowa
there are males of militia age number
ing 509,421. The militia age in Iowa
IS IS 10 40 years. OF these there were
s6.032 of IS to u years. and 1899 Of
q TO As years.
The original cards will show, but the
count was not made, Just how many
there arc between 81 and so years Of
age. and this can be fairly estimated
st about 163 900, Of which $4,000 are
foreign born and $4,000 native born.
Now 1t is shown elsewhere that Of
the SO, 1877 foreign born males Of militia
age in Iowa substantially One-naif are
not naturalized; so ii Is fair 20 assume
that Of those under the presidents
call about 1850 have not become
natura!2ed
Germans Lead in Foreign Born.
Another Interesting TACT l. disclosed
in the census. as related 70 the place
OF birth of the foreign males in Iowa
From the countries which are making
war on the United States there came
the following:
Germany ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 1862
Austria ...............-.... 1850
bohemia ....,.........-.... 4,9IS
hungary ..............-.... SlJ
turkey observation-disclosures. @OI
$3.50
From the countries which are now
liz alliance against the war Of the
central bowers there came the follow