Evening star., 1937-04-17

births, deaths and immigration and
emigration, there is a net gain in
population in the United States of one
person every 35 seconds. Six sets of
quadruplets were born in the United
States in 1884 One person in every
25 is the surprising proportion Of the
total population that works in retail
stores and women were 31.3 per cent
Of total retail employees in 1888
1t is evident that the population of
the United States is slowly, but per-
sistently, growing older What is
known as the medium" age is the
measuring rod. The medium age in
1850 was 1873 years; in 1880 it was 20 9
years; in 1900 it was 229 years; in
1910 it was 24.0 years; in 1920, 25.2;
in 1880, 26.4; and in 1885, 276.
This is to say that census figures
reveal the fact that in 1900 the total
number of persons over 70 years of
age was 1,777,572. In 1885. however,
census estimates show this number
to have increased to 4,349,OO0 From
1920 to 1880 the population grew only
about half as fast as in the previous
decade. In 1910 children under 10
accounted for 1871 per cent of the
population while in 1885 it is esti-
mated that only IT'S per cent were
under 10 years Of age The school
population has shown a correspond
ing tendency to shrink. There has
been, simultaneously a continuing in
crease in the number and proportions
OF the population entitled to old-age
benefits.
Social security legislation has given
a greater squirt than practically any
other single factor to the activities of
the Bureau Of Census in this admin
istration.
FROM January 1 to December 81.
1886, $1,000 letters were received
by the Census Bureau inquiring with
respect to age certiication for retire
ment, old-age pensions and similar
requests. There were recorded, in ad-
dition, 1855 personal visits. In the
last month, March, 1887, the bureau
received in its searching section
1O,257 letters on these subjects and
276 personal visits. The increased
correspondence continues and at the
present time about 10000 applica-
tions await examination.
Anticipating the demand for proof
OF age in connection with social
security benefits, the Bureau Of Gen.
sus began in January to copy on
microscopic size film the $4,000, 900
names recorded in the 1924 volumes
of the census of 1880, using photo
graphic equipment especially built
for the bureau.
At the same time different type
machine began recording on film
100000 names returned in the
census of 1900, which had been
Transcribed from original volumes
onto 100000 cards. Based on the
| information contained in these two
censuses-1880 and 19OO-American
citizens will be able to supply the
Government with necessary facts with
regard to birth and otherwise in quail
flying for benefits under the new
social security act. These volumes
in the Bureau of the Census form
the only documentary evidence of the
birth records of many Americans,
since registration Of births by local
authorities was not general prior
to 1915. New Hampshire is an excep-
ton, having birth records on file
dating from 164O.
This miniature copying of census
records by photography will serve
several purposes Original documents
of human history of our country will
be preserved from wear and tear of
frequent handling. A serious problem
of storage will be solved. for one roll
Of films less than four inches in di-
ameter will record the 10000 names
contained in a census volume twice
the size of a large dictionary. The
previous method of searching for
names in a 25-pound census volume
that had to be removed from vault
has been eliminated And the exist
ence Of duplicate records on safety
film will be an added precaution
against loss by fire or water. =
The new apparatus copies large
census record pages on film as mar
row as motion picture film and re-
duces individual names to pin-head
size. However, these names can be
read from the film by means of pro-
jectors which enlarge the writing to
half again its original size. There
are 40 such projectors in the Bureau
of Census
CAMERAS II feet high are doing
the major copying Job. Two OF
these were designed for photograph1ng