82 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



of the population, gradually becoming more and more skillful. 

 The exjDense during the whole ten years would be somewhat larger 

 than is now involved, but the results would be of such infinitely 

 greater value that the increased expense would not be a matter 

 for a moment's consideration. My suggestion, then, for future 

 census work would be, first, a permanent Census Office, involving 

 an efficient field force, under the most liberal provisions as to 

 supervision, and an organization of an office force so adjusted 

 that it could be made elastic and yet preserve the functions re- 

 quired to secure accuracy and completeness; second, an adjust- 

 ment of compensations for field work that would secure complete 

 and accurate returns in all the departments of census work. 



It may be argued that there would be nothing for a permanent 

 Census Office to do a great part of the time. In answer to this it 

 can be said, that if the regular work of the census should leave the 

 force in comparative idleness, it might be employed in tabulating 

 some of the results of previous censuses which it was found neces- 

 sary to abandon ; for instance, in 1880, although the facts were 

 secured by the regular enumeration, no tabulation was made of 

 the single, married, widowed, and divorced. The questions now 

 agitating the public mind relative to marriage and divorce are 

 only half discussed, because the facts for the whole country can 

 not be ascertained. This is only one feature. A tabulation of the 

 facts relative to conjugal condition, as indicated, for the year 1880 

 would be vastly more valuable, even now, than it would have been 

 in 1880. And so of other features. By picking up such aban- 

 doned results, a reasonable force in the Census Office could be 

 constantly and profitably employed, with increasing skill, so that 

 when the results of new enumerations came into the Census Office, 

 a trained force sufficiently large to influence the whole body of 

 new appointees would be in readiness. 



If, in addition to the changes suggested, the several States 

 could be induced to co-operate with the Federal Government, a 

 great advantage would be gained. The States might undertake 

 the collection of the statistics of population, manufactures, and 

 agriculture on as extended a basis as individually they might 

 choose, but guaranteeing to furnish the Federal Government with 

 certain clearly defined and uniformly collected data, for which 

 the Federal Government should provide reasonable compensation. 

 Under some such adjustment the statistical work of the United 

 States Government and of the individual States could be brought 

 to a very high state of perfection, with the burden of expense so 

 divided and adjusted that it would not be considered as a stum- 

 bling-block in the way of progress. 



One of the most encouraging movements of the present day is 

 that of the trade and business organizations of the country to 



