Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 1.djvu/268

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THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SOCIOLOGY.

clearness of presentation—everything connected with the tenth census—marked it as an epoch-making investigation. Its faults were the faults of any such great undertaking, but they were less than the faults of any previous census; and when it is understood that no other government embodies in its decennial account inquiries outside of the ordinary inquiries relating to population, the vast undertaking superintended by General Walker is more readily comprehended. This great work was conducted on the broad basis laid down by him, and the results secured for him the admiration of statisticians in every part of the world. It paved the way for the eleventh census, the centennial of that of 1790, which census (that of 1890) was conducted under a law practically a reënactment of that providing for the tenth census. The schedules of the eleventh census were substantially like those of the tenth, only enlarged, amended, and improved as experience under the tenth census indicated the necessity for changes. The results of the eleventh census are contained in twenty-five volumes, their nature being fully indicated by their titles. These twenty-five volumes cover the fifteen reports authorized by law. They comprehend reports on population; manufactures, agriculture, and irrigation; wealth, debt, and taxation; farms, homes, and mortgages; mineral resources; transportation; insurance; vital statistics; crime, pauperism, and benevolence; fish and fisheries; educational and church statistics; social statistics; Alaska, and the Indians. The chief subject covered in this vast collection of facts not comprehended in the tenth census is the report on farms, homes, and mortgages. Under this census the total number of living veteran soldiers, sailors, and marines and the widows of deceased soldiers, sailors, and marines was ascertained, the result being given in the report on population. In addition to these reports, the eleventh census, as did the ninth and tenth, covers a compendium and a statistical atlas. The Superintendent is directed by law also to prepare and publish an abstract, not exceeding 300 pages, of the most salient features of the whole census.

The liberality of the Federal Government in furnishing infor-