An Electric Tabulating System

Although our population is constantly increasing, and although at each census more complicated combinations and greater detail are required in the various compilations, still, up to the present time, substantially the original method of compilation has been employed; that of making tally-marks in small squares and then adding and counting such tally-marks.

尽管我国人口不断增长，尽管每次普查都要求各种汇编做出更复杂的组合、更多的细节，直到今天，所用的基本上仍是最初的汇编方法：在小方格里画计数记号，然后把这些记号加起来、数一遍。

While engaged in work upon the tenth census, the writer's attention was called to the methods employed in the tabulation of population statistics and the enormous expense involved. These methods were at the time described as "barbarous," and the suggestion was made that some machine ought to be devised for the purpose of facilitating such tabulations. This led the writer to a thorough study of the details of the methods used, which were no doubt the most approved ever employed in compiling a census. After a careful consideration of the many problems involved and considerable experimenting on quite a large scale, the method which forms the subject of this paper is confidently offered as a means for facilitating this work.

笔者在参与第十次人口普查的工作时，注意到人口统计制表所用的方法及其巨大的开支。这些方法当时被称为“野蛮的”，有人提议应当设计某种机器来简化这类制表工作。这促使笔者彻底研究了所用方法的种种细节；这些方法无疑是历来编制人口普查时最受认可的方法。在仔细考虑了涉及的诸多问题，并做了规模相当大的实验之后，笔者满怀信心地提出本文所述的方法，作为简化这项工作的一种手段。

A census is often spoken of as a photograph of the social and economic conditions of a people. The analogy can be made, not only with reference to the results obtained, but also to the methods of obtaining these results. Thus the enumeration of a census corresponds with the exposure of the plate in photography, while the compilation of a census corresponds with the development of the photographic plate. Unless the photographic plate is properly exposed it is impossible to obtain a good picture, so likewise, in case of a census, a good result is impossible unless the enumeration is made properly and with sufficient detail. As the first flow of the developer brings out the prominent points of our photographic picture, so in the case of a census the first tabulations will show the main features of our population. As the development is continued, a multitude of detail appears in every part, while at the same time the prominent features are strengthened, and sharpened in definition, giving finally a picture full of life and vigor. Such would be the result of a properly compiled and digested census from a thorough enumeration. If this country is to expend $3,000,000 on the exposure of the plate, ought not the picture be properly developed?

人们常说，人口普查是一个民族社会与经济状况的一张照片。这个类比不仅适用于所得的结果，也适用于获得结果的方法。人口普查的调查登记相当于摄影中的底片曝光，而普查的汇编则相当于底片的显影。底片若曝光不当，就不可能得到好照片；同样，普查若登记得不得当、不够详细，也不可能得到好结果。显影液最初流过时，显出照片上突出的部分；同样，普查最初的几份统计表会显示人口的主要特征。随着显影继续，每一部分都浮现出大量细节，同时突出的特征也更加鲜明，轮廓更加清晰，最后得到一幅充满生气与活力的画面。一次登记周密的普查，经过妥善的汇编和整理，结果也会如此。如果这个国家要为底片的曝光花费 300 万美元，难道不应该把这张照片好好显影出来吗？

Heretofore in census and similar compilations essentially one of two methods has been followed. Either the records have been preserved in their proper relations, and the information drawn off by tallying first one grouping of facts and then the next, or the records have been written upon cards or slips, which are first sorted and counted according to one grouping of facts and then according to the next.

迄今为止，在人口普查和类似的汇编中，基本上采用的是两种方法之一：要么保持记录原有的相互关系，依次按一组又一组事实画记计数，从中摘取信息；要么把记录写在卡片或纸条上，先按一组事实分类计数，再按下一组事实分类计数。

To form some idea of the questions involved in the first plan, let us assume that the record relating to each person at the next census be written in a line across a strip of paper, and that such lines are exactly one-half inch apart, it would then take a strip of paper over 500 miles long to contain such records. These must be gone over, again and again, until all the desired combinations have been obtained. This is practically the method followed in compiling the tenth census. On the other hand, if written cards are to be used the prospect is hardly more encouraging. One hundred comparatively thin cards will form a stack over an inch high. In the next census, therefore, if such cards are to be used it will require a stack over ten miles high. Imagine for a moment the trouble and confusion which would be caused by a few such cards becoming misplaced. This method of individual cards was employed in the census of Massachusetts for 1885. The 2,000,000 cards there used weighed about 14 tons. Were the same cards to be used in the next United States census it would require about 450 tons of such cards.

要对第一种办法涉及的问题有些概念，不妨假设下一次普查中每个人的记录都写成一行，横贯一条纸带，行距恰好半英寸，那么容纳这些记录需要一条长五百多英里的纸带。这些记录必须一遍又一遍地查阅，直到得出所需的全部组合。第十次普查的汇编实际上就是这样做的。另一方面，如果用手写卡片，前景也好不了多少。一百张比较薄的卡片叠起来高一英寸多。因此，下一次普查如果用这样的卡片，就需要一摞十多英里高的卡片。试想，只要有几张这样的卡片放错了位置，会造成多大的麻烦和混乱。1885 年马萨诸塞州的人口普查就采用了这种单张卡片的方法，所用的两百万张卡片重约 14 吨。如果下一次美国人口普查也用同样的卡片，就需要约 450 吨。

In place of these methods it is suggested that the work be done so far as possible by mechanical means. In order to accomplish this the records must be put in such shape that a machine could read them. This is most readily done by punching holes in cards or strips of paper, which perforations can then be used to control circuits through electro-magnets operating counters, or sorting mechanism, or both combined.

本文建议取代这些方法，尽可能用机械手段来完成这项工作。为此，记录必须做成机器能够读取的形式。最简便的办法是在卡片或纸带上打孔，然后用这些孔来控制经过电磁铁的电路，由电磁铁带动计数器或分拣机构，或两者兼而有之。

If printed cards are used, the punching may be done with ordinary ticket-punches; more satisfactory results, however, can be obtained with punches designed especially for this work, as will be presently described.

如果使用印好的卡片，可以用普通的车票打孔钳打孔；不过，用专为这项工作设计的打孔器效果更好，下文即将说明。

As the combination of holes used for designating the enumerator's district are the same for all the cards of that district, a special machine is arranged for punching these holes. This machine is provided with a number of interchangeable punches, which are placed according to the combination it is desired to punch. Five or six cards are then placed in the punch against suitable stops, and by means of a lever the corresponding holes are punched through these cards at one operation.

由于表示调查区的孔位组合对该区所有卡片都相同，就专门安排一台机器来打这些孔。这台机器装有若干可互换的冲头，按所要打的组合摆放。然后把五六张卡片放进打孔机，靠在合适的挡块上，扳动一根杠杆，一次就把相应的孔打穿这些卡片。

The individual records are now transcribed to the corresponding cards by punching according to a pre-arranged scheme as described above. For this purpose what may be known as a keyboard-punch is arranged, in which the card is held fixed in a frame, while the punch is moved over the card in any direction by means of a projecting lever provided with a suitable knob or handle. Below the knob is a keyboard provided with holes lettered and numbered according to the diagram of the card, and so arranged that when a pin projecting below the knob is over any hole, the punch is over the corresponding space of the card. If the pin is depressed into any hole of the keyboard, the punch is operated and the corresponding space of the card is punched. With such a keyboard-punch it is, of course, apparent that a perfectly blank card may be used, one corner, however, being cut off to properly locate the card in subsequent operations.

然后，按照上文所说的预先拟定的方案，以打孔的方式把各人的记录转录到相应的卡片上。为此安排了一种可以称为键盘打孔机的装置：卡片固定在一个框架里，冲头则借助一根伸出的、带有合适的旋钮或手柄的杠杆，在卡片上方朝任何方向移动。旋钮下方有一块键盘，键盘上的孔按卡片的图样标有字母和数字，安排得使旋钮下伸出的一根销子位于某个孔上方时，冲头恰好位于卡片上相应的格子上方。把销子按进键盘的任何一个孔，冲头就会动作，在卡片上相应的格子打孔。有了这样的键盘打孔机，显然可以使用完全空白的卡片，只需切去一角，以便在后续操作中把卡片放正。

To read such a punched record card, it is only necessary to place it over a printed form, preferably of a different color, when the complete record shows directly through the perforations.

要读取这样一张打了孔的记录卡，只需把它放在一张印好的表格上（表格最好用另一种颜色），完整的记录便直接透过孔显现出来。

With a little practice great expertness is secured in making such transcriptions, and a record can thus be transcribed much more readily than by writing, even if considerable provision is made for facilitating the writing by the use of abbreviations.

稍加练习，就能非常熟练地做这种转录；这样转录一份记录，比手写快得多，即使手写时大量使用缩写来提高速度也是如此。

For the purpose of sorting the cards according to any group of statistical items or combinations of two or more of such items, the sorting-box, shown in Fig. 6, is used. This consists of a box suitably divided into compartments, each one of which is closed by a lid. Each lid, L, as shown in Fig. 7, is held closed against the tension of the spring, S, by the catch, a, in the armature, A. If a circuit is closed through the magnet, E, the armature, A, is attracted, thus releasing the lid, L, which is opened by the springs, and remains open until again closed by hand.

为了按任何一组统计项目，或两个及以上项目的组合，对卡片进行分类，使用图 6 所示的分类箱。它是一个适当分隔成若干格的箱子，每一格都有一个盖子。如图 7 所示，每个盖子 L 都由衔铁 A 上的卡扣 a 扣住，抵住弹簧 S 的拉力而保持关闭。如果电路经过电磁铁 E 闭合，衔铁 A 被吸引，便放开盖子 L，盖子被弹簧弹开，并一直开着，直到再用手合上。

By a suitable arrangement of relays any possible combination of the data recorded on the cards may be counted. When it is desired to count more complicated combinations, however, special relays with multiple contact points are employed.

适当地安排继电器，就可以计数卡片上所记资料的任何可能的组合。不过，要计数更复杂的组合时，就要用带有多个触点的特制继电器。

If it is desired to assort or distribute the cards according to any desired item or combination of items recorded on the card, it is only necessary to connect the magnets of the sorting-box in exactly the same manner as has been described for the counters. When a card is then placed in the press, one of the lids of the sorting-box, according to the data recorded on the card, will open. The card is deposited in the open compartment of the sorting-box and the lid closed with the right hand, while at the same time the next card is placed in position in the press with the left hand.

如果想按卡片上所记的任何项目或项目组合，对卡片进行分类或分发，只需把分类箱的电磁铁按与上述计数器完全相同的方式连接起来。这样，当一张卡片放进压机时，分类箱的某一个盖子会按卡片上所记的资料打开。用右手把卡片放进打开的那一格并合上盖子，同时用左手把下一张卡片放进压机就位。

It is, of course, apparent that any number of items or combinations of items can be counted. The number of such items or combinations, which can be counted at any one time, being limited only by the number of counters, while at the same time the cards are sorted according to any desired set of statistical facts.

显然，任何数目的项目或项目组合都可以计数。一次能够计数的项目或组合的数目，只受计数器数目的限制；与此同时，卡片还可以按任何想要的一组统计事实分类。

In a census the cards as they come from the punching machines would, of course, be arranged according to enumeration districts. Each district could then be run through the press, and such facts as it is desired to know in relation to this unit of area could be counted on the counters, while the cards are at the same time assorted according to some other set of facts, arranging them in convenient form for further tabulations. In this manner, by the arrangement of a judicious "scheme," it will be found that a most elaborate compilation may be effected with but a few handlings of the cards.

在人口普查中，从打孔机出来的卡片当然会按调查区排列。于是，每个调查区的卡片都可以通过压机，与这个单位面积有关的、想要知道的事实可以在计数器上计数，同时卡片又按另一组事实分类，排成便于进一步制表的形式。这样，只要安排一个周到的“方案”，就会发现，只需经手卡片寥寥数次，就能完成极其详尽的汇编。

Two of the most important elements, in almost all statistical compilations, are "time" and "accuracy." The rapidity with which results could be obtained with the present method, in a census, for example, would be dependent upon: 1st, the rate at which a clerk could punch the record-cards, and, 2d, the number of clerks employed upon this part of the work. The first can readily be determined by experiment, when the second becomes merely a simple arithmetical computation. The work of counting or tabulating on the machines can be so arranged that, within a few hours after the last card is punched, the first set of tables, including condensed grouping of all the leading statistical facts, would be complete. The rapidity with which subsequent tables could be published would depend merely upon the number of machines employed.

在几乎所有统计汇编中，最重要的两个要素是“时间”和“准确”。以人口普查为例，用本方法得出结果的速度取决于：第一，一名职员打孔记录卡的速度；第二，从事这部分工作的职员人数。前者很容易通过实验确定，确定之后，后者就只是一道简单的算术了。机器上的计数或制表工作可以安排得在最后一张卡片打完孔之后几个小时之内，就完成第一套统计表，包括所有主要统计事实的概括分组。此后各套统计表发表的速度，只取决于所用机器的数目。

In regard to accuracy, it is apparent that the processes of counting and sorting, being purely mechanical, can be arranged, with such checks, that an error is practically impossible. The one possible source of error is in the punching of the cards. If proper precautions are here taken, a census practically free from errors of compilation could be obtained. Even in this respect the present method would have manifest advantages. A card wrongly punched could involve an error of only a single unit, while by all previous methods single errors involving an error in the result of tens, of hundreds, of thousands, or even more, are possible.

至于准确，显然，计数和分类的过程纯粹是机械的，可以安排适当的核对，使出错几乎不可能。唯一可能的错误来源是卡片的打孔。如果在这里采取适当的预防措施，就可以得到一次在汇编上几乎没有错误的人口普查。即使在这方面，本方法也有明显的优点：一张打错的卡片只会造成一个单位的误差，而用以往的各种方法，一处错误就可能使结果出现几十、几百、几千甚至更多的误差。

It is firmly believed that in regard to cost, time and accuracy, this method would possess very great advantages in doing the work that has heretofore been done, but this is believed to be insignificant in comparison with the fact that a thorough compilation would be possible, within reasonable limits of cost, while such compilation is practically impossible, by the ordinary methods, on account of the enormous expense involved.

笔者坚信，就费用、时间和准确而言，用本方法来完成以往所做的工作会有很大的优势；但笔者认为，与下面这个事实相比，这一点微不足道：用本方法，可以在合理的费用范围内做到全面的汇编，而用通常的方法，由于开支巨大，这样的汇编实际上是不可能的。