Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1860-07-20

"The Mistakes Of the Census-Takers"
Tohe Editors Of the Daily Pres

ICoMMuNfCArBpsl
"The Mistakes of the Census-Takers"
Tohe Editors of the Daily Press'
In an article of the Pass this morning.
"The Mistakes Of the Census-Takers" ! am
astonished to find that the returns in the
Marshaps Office seem to indicate only 100000
inhabitants in city and county, when in the
best Judgment of our best statisticans, this
city alone contains that number, certainly,
and over and TO prove how gross an error
there is, and how near the truth the PRESS
appears TO be, when it says that about "one-
fifth Of the real number has not been esti-
mated, let me refer you to facts.
The census of 1850 gives Cincinnati $4,000.
In that and the preceding year the cholera
visited this region; many citizens left the
place TO escape its ravages, and considerable
of its population had left, temporarily, for
California. So thoroughly convinced were
our business men that the actual population
was much greater than the figures warranted,
that, in 1852, MIR. Chas. Cist was induced to
go over the same ground, for the purpose of
correcting the mistakes of the census
takers" He employed two or three "conlpe-
tent men, and had much longer time allowed
him than "six weeks" The city proper then
was divided into eight twards-Liberty-stree
being the northern boundary line--and every
| part street, alley and tenement was thor
oughly and effectually canvassed, and the
result was, as you stated, $4,000 inhabitants.
| Now, to show that there has most assuredly
been gross lack of efficiency in the recent
canvass: Our city has been growing daily
| since 1862 her limits have extended widely,
| now numbering seventeen wards-the addi-
| tional wards covering aboutas much territory
as they did them i'm 1882 The Twelfth Ward,
which is north of Liberty-street, has a
larger population than any other ward, and this
was added since the year 1852; and, lastly,
lsl- II
three miles along the river, with its busy,
bustling population, swells still greater the
tide. The limits of the city, extending north
of Brighton-taking in the population oi
Vine-street Hill, Mount Auburn, Walnut
Hills &C., and running up TO Pendleton on
the river. In 1852 there were few isolated
dwellings below Freeman-street; they might
then be counted by tens, but now by thou
sands. A large amount of building for the
past year has been in Progressively ten
antable house is occupied, occasionally one
or, perhaps, more labelled, 'for rent II
the country, and in the small towns and vii
lagos, every dwelling is occupied by ont
family only; but in Cincinnati, the demand
for small houses has been, since 1852, 80 grea
that large houses have been built, for tene
ment purposes, and every chamber rented Il
single families, from the cellar to the attic
and, in the large buildings, appropriated fo
| puoihOoo purposes 'sNH -
insurance agencies, &c. on Third, Fourth
Main, Walnut-streets, &C., many of theei
rooms have families dwelling in them.
Now, Mr.. PRESS, if the number of inhabit
ants from 1850 (ll5,000) increased, in tw
years (ls52) to l64, 0--49-000-what, suppos
you, would be the result of population, in tn
same ratio, up to July, 1860 when it
evident, to all observing minds, that Cincin
natl has not been declining or retrogading
hnt constantly tending onward and upWarl
to aregular increase? At that rate nearly $50,
600 would be the increase, and yet the lat
: returns make up only 18,0002 have, also
learned of several families who were no
called on, and many in several tenemen
houses were entirely overlooked. 1t ha
been suggested that the Council, at a prope
time, will authorize remuneration TO cor
rect the mistakes of the census-takers.
THE MAN ABOUT TOWN.