Evening star., 1940-01-07

tistic Of immense interest to almost all
the citizens. The 1910 decennial census
will do far more. however, than satisfy
this common curiosity about the Nations
size. It will, its planners hope, supply
the answers to many questions about
the profound effect upon our national
life and being Of the dark, depression
years which were the norm of the trying
thirties.
April 1 is the day on which the nose
counters, $4,000 strong, get to their
work. They will fight their way through
woods to find rustic guides, cross the
desert to ask questions of remote pros
pectors, inspect hobo hangouts and
knock on the door Of every home in the
country, SO that, in so far as is humanity
possible, not person living in the land
will be left out Of the population enum-
GRAFTON. Since early in the autumn the
censustakers have been receiving train
ing in the fine arts Of enciting informa-
ton, and long before autumn the statis-
ticians, economists, sociologists and
polcymakers Of the Federal Government
evolved the schedule Of questions which
the censustakers will put to the 1910 in
habitants Of the q. S. A.
10 Questions on Employment.
The most troublesome problem of the
times, unemployment, is the subject of a
series of 10 of the questions which the
population taker will ask (there are but
80 questions altogether). The Federal
Government expects to obtain compre-
hensive picture of the variations of en-
ployment status for all persons "A years
old or over by inquiries determining:
Those employed (actually working or
having a job, and whether they were
employed in private industry or in public
emergency work like the w. P. A. or the
C.C.C.
Those unemployed or those new
workers who are seeking work.
Those engaged in home housework
attending school, unable to work, or re-
tired.
The number of hours worked by each
person during the week of March "a to
30, 1910.
The duration of employment in weeks
up to March 80, 1910.
The number of full-time weeks worked
and the amount of money wages or SAL
ary received during the IL months end
ing December 81, 1899.
The occupation, trade, profession or
particular kind Of work performed bv
each worker.
The industry or business eroup in
which each worker is employed.
The class Of worker (for instance
employer, own account worker, unpaid
family worker, private wage worker. or
regular or emergency Government wage
worker.
Broad Basis for Study.
The statistics which will be obtained
on the working force Of the Nation in
the 1910 census will make more valuable
the interesting facts on gainful workers
ootalned In previous censuses. The new
information. combined with the old. will
furnish the most comprehensive fact
basis Tor constructive study of the Ma
tons unemployment problem.
Although the 1910 questioning about
the country's work is far broader and
deeper than the questions put 10 wears
ago, when the depression was so young
that the hopeful still were looking
around corners for the return of pros
perity, enough information on this cues
ton was elected in 1890 so that an in
teresttng comparison can be made. In
formation on gainful workers as
produced by previous censllses is replete
with economic and social interest. It
affords q very pertinent index of the
Nations labor force through the years.
In 1880, out Of the total population of
122,775,046, there were 98,723,047 who
were 10 years old or more. Among the
total population, 1899 $40, or 1913 per
cent, were listed as gainful workers,
labor1ng for wages or an equivalent. The
gainful worker group has ranged from
32.4 per cent Of the whole population
In 1870 to a high of AS per cent in
1910. Then it showed slight decline
in 1920 to 1874 per cent. Male gainful
workers constituted 74.8 per cent of the
male population 10 years old and over
In 1870 and this ratio rose to 81.3 per
cent in 1910. Subsequently this ratio
decreased until it reached 76.2 per cent
In 1880. More women nowadays are
bread-winners than they used to be.
Women gainful workers constituted only
13.1 per cent Of the population 10 years
old and up in 1870, but they constituted
% per cent In 1880.
A particular interest in the returns
from the 1910 census centers around the
question Of working married women. In
1890, when the total number of women
aged IS and over was 19,e02, ,178, married
women constituted 1873 per cent Of the
total number of the 3,712,144 women
workers. In 1880, when the total num-
Der Of women IS years old and over
was 42,s37,149, married women consti-
tuted 28.9 per cent Of the 10, 0,632 ,227 wom-
en- who then worked.
Expected to Show Rise.
These figures show q long-run tend
ency for more and more married women
to become active members of the Ma
tion's labor force. In view Of the depres-
sion decade just closed, it is generally
believed that more members of families
have been seeking work to make up the
family income imperiled by the unem-
ployment Of the regular bread-winner.
How true or incorrect this view is we
win know year from now, when the
census returns are in.