Page:U.S. Department of the Interior Annual Report 1880.djvu/61

Rh the census of South Carolina, with a report of the special agent sent to investigate the extraordinary gains of population in that State, will be found among the documents accompanying this report.

The Superintendent of Census anticipates being able to make a complete report of the operations of the census, so far as the enumeration of inhabitants is concerned, during the coming month of December. Out of nearly 31,500 enumeration districts formed for the purpose of this census, complete returns have been received from all but 7 small districts, in which unavoidable accidents, such as the loss of matter in the mails, deaths of enumerators, or the delinquency of individual officials, have thus far prevented the completion of the work, which, however, it is expected will be brought to a conclusion within the course of the next few days.

I am gratified to report that the expenditures of the census have been kept within the limits prescribed by the act of March 3, 1879; and it is believed that a sufficient amount remains out of the sums appropriated for this service to complete the compilation and tabulation of the numerous classes of statistics collected.

The exigencies of the service since the first of May have required a considerable clerical force to be maintained upon work at night.

It is the view of the Superintendent that the compilation and publication of the several classes of statistics should be pushed forward with the utmost expedition.

While the census will always remain of value for purposes of comparison with preceding periods, its first and greatest service is its immediate use not only for determining the distribution of political power, according to the provisions of the Constitution, but also for directing State and national legislation, and for guiding individual and social effort for the promotion of public interests, and for the amelioration of the condition of the criminal, afflicted, and dependent classes.

Every year and every month, therefore, which can be saved in the compilation and publication of the census statistics adds especially to their value.

The authority conferred by the eighteenth section for the appointment of special agents to collect the manufacturing statistics of cities and considerable towns has been made use of by this office to the extent of appointing such agents in 276 cities and towns, the total number of such agents appointed being 365. From 260 of these cities and towns full returns have been already received, and an examination of the schedules shows that the value of the manufacturing statistics of the present census has been vastly enhanced by the system thus adopted.

In the remaining sixteen, embracing the largest cities of the country, from which returns, on account of the great number of establishments to be canvassed, are not yet fully due, the work is, according to full and frequent advices received, progressing in the most satisfactory manner. All the returns within this department of the census will, it is believed,