New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-06-17
CENSUS ENUMERATORS DIFFICULTIES.

TiTF REPORTED POPULATION LIKELY TO FALL BELOW
THE ACTUAL NUMBER OF REsIDESrs-crTIZENs
Throwing OBSTACLES IN TIE WAY OF THE
CENsUs-rAKERs.
Some excitement has been created in the
public mind by the announcement that the census re-
turns for the city which being taken would ran
considerably below the actual number of inhabitants
II estimated the pleted returns will represent
the population at from four five hundred thousand
below the actual number OF residents Inquiry az the
Census Bureau confirms this statement and the fnt Is
attributed not to the enumerators or their supervisors
but partly the citizens themselves and partly TO the
season appointed by the Legislature for the taking
Of the census ia ordered By the act OF 1855 that the
census Of be taken In the month Of June This
rs NewYOrk CITY concerned represented to be
the worst month of the year for such purpose. AT the
beginning o. and during the month ~ June great NUM-
her OF families leave for the Summer season Ger
tain provisions are made the blanks drawn up ,or the
enumerators such contingencies but these pro-
visions are thought be entirely inadequate. Those
who leave the city at this time do rot think about the
census and leave Information behind them concern
ing their whereabouts the points which II IL desr
able to question them As all the returns must be in and
the report made 10 the Secretary of state by the lst OF
July there is not sufficient time opportunity allowed
the to seek ont the absent and obtain full
returns from them.
The enumerators complain that they experience more
from poorer of the community Many OF the
inquiries into what they consider their pr
yaie concerns families occupations etc. and treat those
who put the inquiries accordingly Several instances are
reported Of refusals the part OF intelligent citizens to
answer such inquiries AT all. The penalty enioned
such refusal H. fixed at fine OF 500 and meas
have been promptly taken 10 put the law into force
wherever other OF eciting the desired ini0rna
ton failed.
1t il complained also that the class of inquiries 10 be
made by the enumeratOrs Is unnecessarily extended
Injuries concerning deaths and marriages already
amply by the statistics OF the Board or Health
Inquiries into the mental. moral or physical condition OF
members families often from their very nature IN
slting and apt to be resented by those to whom ad-
dressed. Moreover. they As rule provided Tor III
other official departments and are quite unncccs
sary for the main purpose of the census.
There are about 5000 enuneratOrs employed IN tie
taking Of the OF these, 51J allotted 10
the City of New York, which IL at the rate ~ enne-
ratOr each election district Each city enunerator IA
paid g a day No enumeration has charge OF more than
one district The number OF inhabitants OF the several
districts Ia found to vary considerably. some or the
enumerators report that in consequence or May ana June
removals occasionally entire sections or
streets which almost uninhahted and In which the
people no left know little nothing OF those who
have gone. Allowing average Of 1000 persons for
each the J75 districts would fix the population or the
CITY OF New York at 10000 II is well known how
ever thar the actual figure II far higher than that
Nevertheless the returns thus far would seem 20 indicate
will when ompleted, show popua-
| ton of over "a million.