New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-02-15
THE CITY CENSUS.
orrIc1AL REroRr-MAYoR nAIA ANswERnp
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, I
CENSUS OFFICE, WASHINGTON, Feb. a. lSl.)
SR: have the honor TO submit herewith
tAsular statement exhibiting the results of the reSnumer
alton of the City and County Of NewYork at the ninth
census Of the United States, in pursuance Of Execu
tive order dat Oct o. 1870. The accompany table
presents the population Of the city and County by cleo
ton districts. according TO the latest arrange
ment thereof, while the totals Of Wards are
exhibited. at the close Of the statement in
comparison with the Ward totals Of the first
enumeration. II will be that the increase by re-
enumeration has been 16767 upon former total OF
2s5 The positive gain is p in excess of the gain lay
Remuneration in Philadelphia ue7i9 but the percent
sge gain smaller, being less than two per cent as
against and half per cent and more IN Phlladei
pha when the difference in the conditions OF great
city in Summer and in considered this result
cannot but be accepted signal Vndlcaton OF the
census originally taken. SO slight rate OF IN
crease IN a census begun in December over one
begun in June, proves that the Marshal ana
his assistants overcame to remarkable de-
gree the difficulties OF a Summer enumeration. Had
they not taken pains with their work than the
Government paid for had right to expect the re-
cult Of the first count of the population would have
fallen considerably short OF 100000. From a careful
study the work all the stages OF its progress fuy
believe that but for the efforts Of the Marshal OF New
York and OF It's assistants, above and beyond ther
simple duty under the law, $1,000 names that ap
peared upon the returns first made 20 the CehAuS
Office would have been omitted. IL was by IT,
peatedly going back over their ground even
To the extent Of calling four, six, or ten tunes,
necessary, az a single house; by corresponding
with ahsentees and in the last resort by LOOKING
MP business partners, family relatives, family PnS
siciaus and al the worst family tradoSmen that inc
assistant marshals Of New-HOrk approached so nearly
IN te true population iu spite Of the difficulties tha'
beset the enumeration Of city whose business men steep
in three States and in We judicial Districts; an enumeI-
alton moreover taken at the worst season Of the year.
and under law sngularly defective and vicious
TIE HISTORY OF TIE EXPERIMENTATION.
In thus reporting the completion Of the work. 1t has
seemed desirable to review briefly the history OF TINS re-
enumeration. The census of Nev-Hork began by ia"
upon the lst Of june On the 18th Of September before
the result had been officially announced, or could even
be ANTICIPATED al the Marshals Office with any degree Of
assurance the Mayor Of the city, in communication to
the Common Council in connection with many
erroneous Of detail preferred against the
census then in progress sweeping charge of Partially
and inefectiyeness and subsequently, On the 2'th OF
October in a most extraordinary circular letter this
officer charged upon the authorities OF the census AT
Washington and in New-YOrk, criminal conspiracy 10
keep the population Of the city below lOOO.Oo and TO
70 make NewYOrk d" the second or third city OF the
Union.
In his letter Of the 18th Of September above referred
% the Navor claimed 10 be in possession Of large body
of authentic information to the alleged omissions OF
the census On the lith OF that MONTH the MrShM OF
the District addressed courteous communication 70 TIC
Mayor asking 10 be furnished with the memoranda OF
minutes from the same by which he might be enabled 90
correct the enumeration, If really defective, aud
10 bring delinquent assistants 10 account. To this
request no reply returned and the Mayor OF the
city has patriotic ohceror good sitln slNch
IND Marshal of the District the advantage OF the tOrna
tion which he claimed TO possess, to enable
this great national work to be the better
accomplished. On the LIST OF December, however
in letter addressed 10 the Department OF ihe interior
asking the assistant marsas ~ the rec Enumeration
be accompanied by members "a The municipal PoEe
force the Mayor OF New-YOrk did proceed to make
specifications IN regard TO the alleged e
first enumeration In the closing paragraph OF tnh et
ter says: beg 20 ncose two memoranda selected
from many i'm possession Of the Local Census Commit
tee in order exhibit 10 you the kind Oh complaint
that In furnishing the Marshal Of the District with
copy this letter the memoranda referred 10 were WIN
Va RS;e abi Sna 5ne Marshal was Oo'u O''' 'D
or he Two memoranda, one was merely sweeping
charge that the Assistant Marshal OF certain sudiyS
wa mo suecifcation there vas DO charge The second
ana last Of tie memoranda accompanying the letter 0
the Mayor alleged, its entire substance that TWO
tenemcnt-hOuseS named, on Eldridge-st NOS l24 ana
lac, had not been visited by the Assistant Marshal
Reference 10 At o ~ tbCse 'bo,sCs
u families with total OF "A persons and at Tie other 10
families, with total OF % lersoIls, hau IN S h e
Grated making total or lOi persons actually Oh tne ols
from these two houses. To such a lame ana mpOtehl
conclusion did the attempt substantae the charges
against the census come. my lhouIDliI Va ~, 81.
sank molchil and that was blown away al the nst
MeanWhilc two facts are notorious. One that the
Police of the city did, in pursuance Of proclaimed III
and did complete the enumeration OF the Tenth ward
not also another Ward but the results were so nv
favorable to the purpose OF dlspr0ying the feueial
census that they never published ana hie 20 TINS
day impossible for the most enterPrlsing new
Cathercr the figures Another notorious fact IN
this connection is that advertised session OF JOINT
Committee OF the Boards Of Aldermen aid OF As
sstutA lderncn held IN the Chamber OF the Board
Of Aldermen. at O'Clock D. m OF the l1th OF october
for the purpose of receiving complaints as TO the lnco
pletcncss of the but that not single person a
peaTcd to make good the Anonymous accusations WIN
which for partisan purposes or 20 advertise boarding
house, the had been overwhelmed; ana that the
Committee, after waiting hour, adjourned without
recording a single complaint.
TIE REDIsTRiCTISG OF TIE CITY.
DO not deem it desirable to 90 into the question: at
this time Of the singular in which the City Of
KewYoIk was redisTcted for election purposes after
the census had been begun is it necessary 10
nen any length upon the facts which have been here
presented The attack thus wantOny made officers
Of the United States Government in the discharge OF
their duties has been sufficiently repealed by the re-
OF the last taken so thoroughly 40 carefully
30 guarGedy every point " defy alike malicious
criticism anonymous accusation, or saborned testimony
have the honor to be, Sir very respectfully your ODE
dent servant, FRANCIS A WALKER, superintendent.
Hon c. DelanO. secretary Of the Interior.
STATEMENT By DISTRICTS.
FIRsT WAND. SEVENTH WARD
The AsSiShIRt The
Dit Modal Count Dist M4rshaL Count
IaeV l. W.