The New York herald., 1921-04-17

pfling census figures In 1870 the work
trusted to seventeen United States mar
shals, and the actual enumeration was
done by $50 marshals' assistants. The
figures compiled were sent TO the Presi-
dent, who turned them over 10 the Secre-
tary OF State. In turn they were trans
mitted to the printer and printed IN an
octave volume OF fifty-six pages. There
is striking contrast between the first
census report In q book OF fffty-six
pages eight by five inches In size and
the hundred or more volumes In quarto
(twelve by nine inches) of approx
mately, 10000 pages published as a re-
suit OF the 1910 census.
Census I'm the Constftution.
The requirement under which the first
and all subsequent censuses have been
taken is found in Article /, Section OF
the Constitution. which reads In part:
Representative and direct taxes shall
be apportioned among the several States
which may be included within this Union
according 10 their respective numbers.
which shall be determined by adding
TO the whole number of free persons, In
cluding those bound to service for a
term of years, and excluding Indians
not taxed, three-fifths OF all other per-
sons The actual enumeration shall be
made within three years after the first
meeting of the Congress OF the United
States and within every subsequent
term OF ten years in such manner as
they shall by law direct"
In pursuance OF this provision, Con-
gress from time. TO time passes what
are termed enabling acts" which grant
the authority for specific censuses and
provide the funds therefor.
The first census taking was fraught
with hardships. the cnumerators maxi
ing journeys over unimproved roads in
stages and on horseback. In fact, some
smaller communities were considered too
isolated to visit. Among these were
Detroit. and Vincennes, Ind. Western
New York was a wilderness at that
time, Elmira and Binghamton being only
detached hamlets.
Most of the territory west of the
Allcghanies was unsettled and even un-
explored. Mail service was irregular,
expensive and uncertain But the great
est difficulty encountered was the un-
willingness OF many citizens to give in
formation. The Federal Government In
the early days was not generally trusted
Many people thought that giving true
llAOTHldtiOn WOufu ieau 10 Increased
taxes and others In fear recalled from
the Old Testament the disagreeable con-
sequences following tho enumeration or
the Children Of Israel.
Features Of First Census.
The chief data taken for the first
census related to the heads OF families
and other data were considered as re-
lated to these family heads. Philadel-
phia was the capital at the time This
census showed the great metropolis of
New York with a population In those
days of $4,000 inhabitants. Even then
1t was the largest city In the United
States. But the State of New York
ranked a poor fourth in population In
comparison with Virginia, Pennsylvania
and Massachusetts,
Including male and female adults,
children and slaves, New York State
had total recorded population In those
days Of only $4,000. Maryland had
more than $4,000 inhabitants. Massa-
chusetts, 377.07S; North Carolina, .s93. .751 !:
Pennsylvania, 434,373, while Virginia had
747.610, or nearly the combined popula-
ton Of Pennsylvania and New York.
The New York State population was
divided as 75,70O adult free white males.
S,122 free white males under 16 years
of age and 152, 800 free white females.
1854. and all others registered were
1854.
The figures for Virginia, the leading
State OF the day, showed adult males,
110. 0.996; males under 1S years, 1895;