New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-09-15
MAYOR HAIL md THE CENSUS.
A MEASUREMENT.
A MEASUREMENT.
To the Edttor OF The tribune.
SIR: | beg that Won will allow me to co

To the Edttor OF The Tribune.
SIR beg that you will allow me to correct
through your columns statement made by the mayor OF
NewYork in his recent TO the Common Council
OF the city Mayor Hall writes;
system certain Office evidences th9t the idfi
until eenaas began information regarding the item sp s'
tLt police can be relied upon Tor ~ Federal odca may
the police he further irusd with the furnishing OF reliable returns
about the item Of our city population
can only account for such statement by supposng
that Mayor Hall has taken the word of subordinate IN
the matter, and has failed 20 look over the cor
respondence TO which he refers. No necessary inquiry
was omitted from the blank schedules furnished 70
Assistant Marshals The inquiry 10 which May0r nan
aludes il not one provided for by the act ~ $50 or ny
either Of the acts additional to it, No provision OF ~"
exists for enumcatng cattle and horses not upon yGF"
and IN consequence, the vast numbers OF such animals
1t pt in towns and cities are wholly omitted nom ths
returns OF the census Hence We nave me npsi9 !"
NcYork City reported with less than 800 horses IN lO
At the Eighth Census, an EFFORT was maue 10 s.uPPy
ts palpable defect iOf the law, by calling upon Asss
ant Marshas Throughout the country 10 estimate me
number ~ these ahhhl', lu ttr l @ 100 Of ihe
SONS The results may pc i"unu upon PdSt ~, no
volume on agriculture. Believing, as did that one
man might possibly guess right hut that 6000 men must
certainly guess wrong, did not lnk IL drslrame ~
peat this attempt 10 supplement the Information hnOded
by the agricultural schedule but nave SOUGHT ~
by various methods material ehonEn 20 tliun , luis
CiOus stastiCan to estimate the number OF Snc aas
owned in tho United states. one Of these methods was
10 solicit information nom the hay9S VI Rrlic
the country. Ia many cities, all @ic allS
fore n matter OF record. In others, IL was be
cved that the roundsneu OF the police force could
without expense, undue trouble, IN me ordlHdty
course Of their daily duties far satisfy themselves ~
10 the number OF such animals within their Respective
beats enable them To make II least IN approximate
statement TO this request the Mayors OF many OF The
largest cities have most Ohiiugy replied Win lht H.
formation sought Among the gentlemen to whom my
office is indebted for courteous ana spirited com
pauCe. to are my thanks more justly due tnan
10 his Honor MAY Hall But submit that the tartr IN
the case neither out the statement contained IN his
Message. warrant the conclusion that the city police
might therefore, do the whole work Of the census more
advantageOusly than the 4" Federal" officials.
In conclusion allow 10 say That II Is exceedingly 10
be regretted that the discussion I'm regard the Census
of NeW-YOTk should have assumed such partisan as
pcct The enumeration of city peculiar in its con
duns, especially with reference to the matter OF hab
itaOn, is difficult at tie best and the law under
which We acting is clumsy, antiquaed ana bar
harOus. that candid criticism Of the results would De
wholesome and stimulating. But understanding Of
tlcks, Of party zeal personal spite, Ike many OF
those which have Appeared n the journals OF this city,
FEANcis A. WALKER, sup't of Census.
Sept 10, 1870.
MARSHAL sHARPE's PROPOSAL.
United States Marshal Sharpe has addressed
the following letter 20 Mayor Han:
UyIrip Srlrr. MNtsrf,'s OFFICE.
SOUTHERN DrsrEcT % NEw-l "tK.
81 CHANHRIs-.I., hEN-loRE, sept H. lo'HD
IN Hon 4 OssVy IftLL. 1GgOr oftr Cty 81 Aer- ron.
SIX Common Council dated sept u NV
pn have been preferred A. our oh'r h
respectfully
cause O. complaints thr Substance heu together wit. tie names
a3i-. the o. be transmitted 20 ne together win
any other information have uc subject n oar ha ttl
G f. rr,U.r. invest aJe wen founded that the enumeration
about Icing comItrd be corrected accornf Ner rer9F
ON. OfoRGF {. SHNtrE g. s. hsr'haL