THE INADEQUACY OF CENSUS DATA FOR CERTAIN EUGENIC 



INVESTIGATIONS 



CHARLES C. GROVE 



College of the City of New York 



This brief paper or note is to suggest a form and a procedure for securing 

 further, more intimate information than that obtained from ordinary census 

 data towards answering such questions as follow: 



What has been the number of births in families from generation to genera- 

 tion? What percentum of the children reached years of economic produc- 

 tivity? How many years of such economic productive life were lived in each 

 succeeding generation? Has this number had the same trend as the birth 

 rate or, although the number of births per family has decreased, has the 

 economic value of the lives increased? What causes curtailed life in the 

 several generations? What causes took away those from one to eighteen 

 years of age? — those from 18 to 45? — from 45 to 65? — above 65? 



The answers to these questions, if secured faithfully from all sections of 

 the country in sufficient number, will enable us to get down very closely to 

 operating causes and also to the study of variations geographically, in groups 

 as to racial ancestry, as to occupation, as to educational development and 

 outlook. The data can be transferred to tabulation punch cards so as to 

 yield the several classifications expeditiously. 



The family histories required can be secured only by persons in the sym- 

 pathetic confidence of the family. The Pastor and the Physician are the 

 most likely ones to secure such information. These must be shown the value 

 of the study and their interest must be aroused. The pastor may be led to 

 appreciate that cooperation furnishes him a rare opportunity both to impress 

 the Christian duty of keeping physically fit, and to stimulate a conscious 

 aim to pursue good health and right living just as we pursue pleasure, wealth, 

 and a livelihood. And to what real pastor would not these aims furnish the 

 highest incentive ! The physician will readily appreciate the value of such 

 a study if sufficient information can be got from wide-spread sections. 



The inquiries of physicians are to furnish check on the faithfulness of the 

 answers given by others relative to causes. No names will be found on these 

 sheets, and only the geographic origin of the report will be learned from the 

 post-mark on the return envelope. 



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