The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1876-07-07
the CENSUS TAKER.
MIaLrt,crloi Inc peonIo.


in the Evening Mail with regard to
myself in connection with the census
nfthe city. At first supposed that
the object Of those publications was
to make false impression upon the
minds Of the people with regard to the
true population OF the city, aud rs
was not responsible for any ialsehoods
that might be perpetrated through the
columns of the newspapers, | decided
to keep silent; but ~ the matter has
become 50 personal, and reflection
after reflection thrust AT me, can no
longer desst from speaking.
How can J. when ! am challenged
by the Evening Mail to arise aud eX-
plain? This article may not be congo
NAL to the feelings OF some parties,
and may have tendency 10 wrlthe |
some, but they must understand that |
the responsibility rests upon them for
the statements, which they have |
made, ana which in every case is 50
palpnbly false and which has called !
forth this letter. Inquiries have been !
made as to who the C,iSUS Idker was
aud what of him, and inslnuations
thrown out, that he was incompetent
to do the work, and il competent, that
he was an iudolent and sluggish crea-
ture, that would not do it, which in
situations not only reflect upon me,
but upon the worthy Council that Sc
lected me. | shall in the first place
answer the inquiries that have been
made, and then briefly state the man
uer in which the census was
taken, aud then dispose Of the
assertions that have been made by III
dividuals, and odHOrS SO.cdHcd,
Well, to the inquiries made | would
state, that Lam citizen Of the city OF
| Dallas, and while comparatively n
stranger to the population Of the city,
was sufficiently known to the Council,
! to be selected rs II competent, and
suitable person to do the work assign
ed me, and moreover, that selection
was made without my solicitation,
without my knowledge, or consent,
and not until the day after the Coun-
oil had elected me, did ! know that
there was the most remote idea Of
having the census taken, but when
notified of the fact by some member Of
the council was duly qualified. en-
tered upon the duties OF the oIllce and
with perseverance, and care, went
from house to house, taking the Stats
tics OF each family, until had visited
every private residence, ana taken the
statistics OF every private
family, within the corporate limits OF
the city, except in very few cases,
where families We're absent and i'll
those cases the statistics were secured
IRON their ueighbors, and thenl pro-
cceded to 80 through the business
part Of the city, taking the statistics
with all possible care, TIL the work
was completed, and who ever asserts
or may have asserted that 'l' failed
l thoroughly to canvass the city, states
that which is positively false, which
! assersion am prepored to sustain by
] the statistics.
, with regard to individuals, whose
names have appeared III the newspa-
pcrs, and who have stirred up this ques.
ton so unnecessarily, and so unCallcd
for, each of their houses were visited
= and the statistics OF each family given
Y 10y some member Of the family, except
'- that of Mr.. NJ. Gulllolt, and | would
[ state for his satisfaction, that
I although SO obscure rs she intlmates
| visited her house, and the family be
ing absent, the statistics of the family
! were given by gentleman working
/ on the premises, and afterward | met
, Mr.. GullOt on the side walk Of Main
street, in the presence of other gentle.
men, and asked him in regard to the
statistics of his family, which found
upon referring to the books, to be cor
! rect What the object of those indi.
i viduaIs were | do not know, unless il
was to deceive the public with regard
to the true population OF the city.
They loose no money 10y it, and | can
not conceive that IL Is of any interest
p to them in any way. | dare say they
;, Will not manifest the same interest in
:, having the taxes Of the city properly
/. assessed and collected. Rut upon the
= other hand, each individual that failed
: to take was Il pCcuniary loss to myself
Y rs the pay that was TO receive was so
much per head. 1t may be that there
is a fraudulent disposition ON the part
of those concerning themselves in the
$ matter, and that they are unwilling
T. for the Council to comply with Their
contract, but | can hardly conceive
that they would be induced to act
through such motives. might have
acted rccreant to the trust imposed III
me and have run up the population to
!. twenty thousand (2O,OOO). and have
called .on the city authorities for three
hundred dollars (S3OO,OOl for the
services rendered, and doubtless
the papers would have handled
such reports abroad with glad
ness, but because have eudeavor-
ed to do the work correctly and make
AN honest report, am abused and de-
creed rs incompetent, unworthy aud
unfit for such II trust. God pity such
"A corrupt people.
| quote from he Evening Mail OF
July lst, the following: "Wholc
ncighhorhoods and streets have been
entirely omitted, and that, too, in the
most popular districts of the city," To
+, the above quotation have simply to
, say it is an unmitiSated lie. Again he
says: "The s0-called report is m nj.
testify SO incorrect that no attention
should be paid to it by our authorities,
, who, if they should desire census
taker OF the city, should secure the ser.
vices ia competent man, and see
that he thoroughly performed his du-
ty" Is 1t possible that the worthy,
generous and Intelligent Council, Sc
lected 10y the voters of the city of Dal-
las, are so incompetent to transact the
business entrusted to them that they
are required to call upon the petty edi-
tor OF little evening newspaper to adj