The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1934-11-26

intimate incidents Of the national
life, as well as reflect progress IN in
vention. science, and discovery.
Taking the census Is q solemn mat
ter. The people are called to be num-
bered through a proclamation by the
president of the United States. It Is
the duty of every citizen, said Presi-
dent Hoover In the 1880 proclamation,
to answer all questions on the census
schedules applying to him and his
family, and his business, in order that
the census may be a complete and
accurate report on the population
and resources of the nation. To allay
fears that any one might entertain,
the president stressed assurance that
there would be no disclosure OF in
formation bearing on the affairs of
any individual or corporation, citing
the law protecting the information
under heavy penalties. The Hoover
proclamation was issued In q differ
ent languages and posted In every post
office In the country.
Taking the Census
With the nation placed in this state
Of mind, the enumerators set out to
take the census Of 1880. There were
100000 Of them and In q short space
Of time they had counted 22,775 ,046
persons In continental United States,
and had collected data Of 29,004 ,663
families, 6,288, 648 farms, 2lO,03o man
ufacturing establishments, and 30597
firms engaged in construction. The
census was a comprehensive inventory
of the population, resources, and
economic activities Of the nation, en-
bracing agriculture, irrigation, drain
age, manufactures, mines, distribution
Of trade, building, and unemployment.
The outlying territories and possess
sions Of the United States also were
covered.
In answer to the population ques-
tions the people stated their relations
to the head Of the family-such as
wife. son. and daughter sex, age,
color or race, marital status, single
or married, widowed or divorced,
whether attending school or college,
nativity, inclusive Of that Of parents,
and occupation, II any. Farmers
were asked the acreage Of their farms,
the value of their land and buildings,
their mortgage debt, what they ex-
pended for labor, feed, and fertilizer.
machinery. acreage yield and value Of
crops, and quantity and value Of their
livestock. The manufacturers report.
ed on the value and quantity Of their
products, the number Of their EN-.
ployes and the aggregate payments in
salaries and wages and also on the
cost Of the materials used and fuel.
Mines and quarry operatives did the
same. Merchants reported on the
kinds Of business they engaged In.
and on the distribution Of their goods,
net sales. number Of employees, COM
pensation paid, and stocks on hand.
Contractors, subcontractors, and
operative builders answered on con-
struction. wages. cost Of materials,
and contract work performed or let.
The statistics were gathered, tabu-
lated. and published in detail for each
Of the 48 States, 3,O57 counties, 90
cities having q population Of more
than 100000 persons, 3,072 municipal
tiles between $500 and 100000 In pop
ulation, and 64,387 townships or othc.
civil divisions. Reports were also
made on the population Of 1888 in
corporated places having fewer than
$500 inhabitants. In three years, the
reports Of the most comprehensive
census ever taken were printed In 81
volumes with q total OF more than 80
600 pages.
For all this, elaborate preparations
had to be made well In advance OF the
actual enumeration. Each decennial
census has found the nation much
expanded In many directions. More
enumerators had to be employed, fol
one thing. BY 1890 the number Of
questions, originally classified by age
and sex. had grown to 81 on popula-
ton statistics. and 235 for farms. Thu
cost Of the 1880 Census was $50 5O7,-
$50, the largest ever recorded, a
against $4,000 for the 17o0 Census
The cost has especially grown In re.
cent decades, being $4,000, 900 in 1911
and 420,000,O00 in 1920. The expan.
zion between the last two censuses car
be appreciated from the Statement
that the 1920 Census comprised onl,
II volumes with q total Of 1928;
pages.
One Hundred Forty Years Ago
In all, the fifteen censuses have cost
In the aggregate $140,O00,000. Tit
Census Of 1880 required the services
ct only II marshals and 200 assistant
70 gather and prepare the returns, q
against the 100000 for the Census o.
1890. The latter also involved tn
printing and distribution Of $780, 90
schedules Of questions and the fina
printing Of the reports. It took til,
euumerators Of the 100 Census /,