China and the West

Benjamin Franklin : To Thomas Percival. West Wycomb, the Seat of Lord Le Despencer, Sept. 25, 1773.
Dear Sir…
In China I have somewhere read, an Account is yearly taken of the Numbers of People, and the Quantities of Provision produc'd in good time. To facilitate the Collecting this Account, and prevent the Necessity of entering Houses and spending time in asking and answering Questions, each is furnish'd with a little Board, to be hung without the Door during certain time each Year ; on which Board is marked certain Words, against which the Inhabitant is to mark Number or Quality, somewhat in this Manner ; (Men, 1 ; Women, 2 ; Children, 3 ; Rice or Wheat, 5 Quarters Flesh, &c. 1,000 Ibs.)
All under 16 are accounted Children, and all above Men and Women. Any other Particulars, which the Government desires information of, are occasionally mark's on the same Boards. Thus the Officers, appointed to collect the Accounts in each District, have only to pass before the Doors, and enter in their Book what they find mark'd on the Board, without giving the least Trouble to the Family. There is a Penalty on marking falsly ; and, as Neighbours must know nearly the Truth of each other's Account, they dare not expose themselves, by a false one, to each other's Accusation. Perhaps such a Regulation is scarce practicable with us…
Dave Wang : Then discussing the efficient management of the state government, Franklin noticed the efficiency of the Chinese imperial governmental statistics system. He hoped that the government of Pennsylvania could learn something from the system.