The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-12-13
Grenina Telearaph
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 1870.
THE err CENSUS.

THE CII CENSUS.
YEsrERDAY afternoon we published the re-
suit OF the second attempt made by Marshal
Gregory to ascertain the number of inhabi-
tants of this city. The first enumeration was
so unsatisfactory to the people that the Pre-
sident ordered the work to be done over, and
if our citizens not wholly discouraged
they will doubtless demand still another
oouat. The first enumeration gave a popu-
lation Of Coz, 159-an increase since 1860 of
9i,G30, or 1920 per cent. By the revised
census the population is placed at 673, 726-
an increase of 1861 as compared with the
returns of last June, and an increase since
1860 of 10S, 1877, or 1918 per cent.
With this we must be satisfied, as it is
Bcercely probable that another count would
be granted us even if it were demanded.
But it is almost as unsatisfactory as
tho first enumeration, and there can
be little doubt that it falls below the
truth. Take the case of the Eighth ward,
fos example. On November 10, an enumera-
tion of the inhabitants of this ward was
made by municipal authority, the number of
residents on June l as well as on the day of
the supplemental enumeration being sscer-
tanned. The three different attempts at get
ting at the population of this ward present
the following comparison:-
Population OF Eighth ward in 1860. .........27,I7e
Federal Census June S7o.................2O 2O,ss5
CRY Census, June l, 1870. $40
Apparent decrease. 599I
Federal Census, November, 1870. ............222s 2s5
Apparent decrease 5,4S5
While the revised Federal census of this
ward shows an increase of 1919 over the
count made in June last, it still falls 81 below
the number of inhabitants on June accord
ing TO the city census, and 546 below the
number of inhabitants on November 10 ac-
oording to the same authority. But, alto
gether, the result of the revised enumera-
iou is quite satisfactory, so far as the
Eighth ward is concerned. If the same rate
Of increase we're shown all over the city, our
aggregate population would foot up about
10000, which would be somewhere near the
truth. Instead, however, of Marshal Gre
gory's revised census showing uniform in
crease throughout the city, as compared with
the original enumeration made in June last
in twelve wards the revised figures actually
fall 3734 below those of June, there being an
aggregate increase in the remaining sixteen
wards Of 20,301, thus making the net in
crease in the city 16,567. The largest de-
crease is shown by the Ninth ward, in which
it reaches 756, and from that point it
dwindles down to loss of 13 in the Third
ward. The largest increase is shown by the
Eighteenth ward, to which the revised returns
give 1896 more inhabitants than it was
credited with by tho returns of June. While
it is extremely difficult to account for the
falling off of 1884 in twelve wards since June,
tho decrease of 672 in the Tenth ward
especially is quite unaccountable. This
ward is bounded by Arch, Seventh, and Vine
streets and the Schuylkill river, and no one
believes that its population at present is less
than it was in June last. But the whole sub
jeot has become tiresome and its discussion
unpro6table. Marshal Gregory has doubt
less done as we'll as he could to ascertain the
actual population of Philadelphia and we
must rest content. The imperfections of our
census system, however, should not escape
the attention of Congress, and before another
decade rolls around, it is to be hoped that its
giating defects will be rsmedied.