The review. [volume] (High Point, N.C.) 1908-19??, 1921-05-12
Census Again
in 1925 Likelv

of data by states and minor subdivis
ions and the publication of the census
abstract and finally the census repor
for 1924. This will complete the "tob'
and will probably be done by the enc
OF the year. Then it is probable tina
instead Of settling down to its minor
interdecennial census, it will be- in
structed by congress to get itself
ready for three years more of national
"stocktaking."
More than 100000 persons were EN-
ployed in taking the present census
In all, congress appropriated 500, 800
OOO for the three years of work. The
period covered in taking the census
was from July 1, 1919, to June 80,
| 1921.
In 1918 and 1915, when congress
was appealed to for funds for the
work the members were warned that
the results would probably be unsat-
isfactory and that another census
might be necessary almost immedi-
ately. SO important was the census
considered, however, that congress de-
cided to take it at the regular time
set aside for it and then, If necessary,
take following census
Importance Of the Census.
Unless one studies the reports of
the census figures he does not realize
how important it is for Uncle Sam
to count noses, first of all for reasons
of government and, secondly, for the
harmOnizing of our industrial and so
c1al life. The census, Of course, gives
fairly accurate figures of actual and
potential wealth throughout the coun-
try, which is invaluable for tax pur-
poses.
Consider the plight the staff Of the
army would have been In during the
war, as we'll as the rest of the coun-
try, If it could not estimate either the
source of human or material supplies.
All the statistics of the government.
or labor and of business; all figures
used by insurance companies, banking
and agricultural statistics would be
vague gueSseS without the cOmprehen-
s1ve and approximately accurate ten
year tally made by the government as
a basis from which to compute
When the government started COM
pll1ng census figures in 1870 the work !
OF enumerating the pOpulace was in
trusted to II United States marshals. |
and the actual enumeration was done
by $50 marshals' assistants. The fig [
ures compiled were sent to the Pres
dent, who turned them over to the
secretary of state. In turn they were
to the printer and printed
n an octave volume Of Sc pages.
There is a striking contrast between
he first census report in q book Of
IS pages s by 5 inches in size and
he hundred or more volumes in quar-
% az by 9 inches) of approximately
10000 pages published as a result of
he 1910 census.
The first census taking was fraught
With hardshipS, the enumeratOrs MAX
ng journeys over unimprOved roads
n stages and on horseback In fact,
ONE smaller communities were con-
ide1ed too isolated to visit Among
hese were Detroit. and Vincennes,
nd. Western New York was a will
erness at that time, Elmira and Bing-
anton being only detached hamlets.
The chief data taken for the first l
ensus related to the heads of fam
les and other data were considered \
s related to these family heads. Phil L
delphia was the capital at the time. L
his census showed the great metrop- )
lis Of New York with a population '
I those days Of $4,000 inhabitants. Z
wen then 1t was the largest city in i
ne United States. But the state of
lew York ranked a poor fourth in {
opulation in comparison with Vir- [
mia, Pennsylvania and Massachu- {
atts t
U. s. Had s,sea,es in 1890. s
The total population of the United C.
tates in 1890 was registered as $685. t
b persons. For 1920 the census fig "
res show a total population of 1O5,- h
)S,771. or percentage increase in
30 years of $500 per cent. To ex- L
7ct the same relative increase in the
Ext 13O years would give US a ponu- Il
ton in the year 2O50 of something y
excess of three and a half billions C
But getting down to earth. It is Al
ther easy to calculate from past his p
ry what the population mark will n