The Holbrook news., 1921-05-20
Census Again
 in 1925 Likely

| of data by states and minor subdiviS-
 ions and the publication of the census
 abstract and finally the census report
 for 1924. This will complete the "job"
 and will probably be done by the end
 of the year. Then it is probable that | instead of settling down to it's minor
 interdecennial census, it will be in-
 structed by congress to get itself
 ready for three years more of national
 specializing"
 More than 100000 persons were en- plOyed in taking the present census. In all, congress appropriated $23,5O0.- 900 for the three years of work. The period covered in taking the census
 was from July l, 1919, to June 30, 1921.
 In 1918 and 1919, 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 1t at the regular time set aside for it and then, if necessary, take a 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- cial 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 well 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, of labor and of business; all figures used by insurance companies, banking and agricultural statistics would be vague guesses without the comprehen sive and approximately accurate ten year tally made by the government as basis from which to compute.
 When the government started com piling census figures in 1790 the work of enumerating the populace was in- trusted to r United States marshals, and the actual enumeration was done by $50 marshalS' assistants. The fig ures compiled were sent to the Pres ident, who turned them over to the secretary of state. In turn they were transmitted to the printer and printed in an octave volume of 56 pages. There Is striking contrast between the first census report in a book of 56 pages 8 by inches in size and the hundred or more volumes in quar- to (12 by inches) of approximately pages published as result of the 1910 census.
 The first census taking was fraught with hardships, the enumerators mak- ing journeys over unimprOved roads | in stages and on horseback. In fact, | some smaller communities were con- | sidered too isolated to visit. Among | these were Detroit. and VincenneS, | Ind. Western New York was a will derness at that time, Elmira and Bing- | hamton being only detached hamlets. |
 The chief data taken for the first | census related to the heads of fam flies and other data were considered | as related to these family heads. Phil | adelphia was the capital at the time. This census showed the great metrop- | olis of New York with a population | in those days of 33,0OO inhabitants. Even then it was the largest city in the United States. But the state of New York ranked a poor fourth in population in comparison with Vir- ginia, Pennsylvania and Massachu- setts.
 U. S. Had s,ees,6s in 17eo.
 The total population of the United States in 179O was registered as 3,893,- 635 persons For 1920 the census fig ures show a total population of 105,- 70S,771, or a percentage increase in 13O years of $500 per cent. To ex- pect the same relative increase in the next 130 years would give us a popu- Iation in the year 2050 of something In excess of three and a half billions.
 But getting down to earth, it is rather easy to calculate from past his tory what the population mark will