Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-09-18

compensation are fixed, the amount paid must
not exceed - per day of ten hours actual
feld-work east Of the Tooth meridian. and So
per equivalt mt day west of that meridian
1t follows from the provisions rected that.
instead of service protracted through
three, four or five months, as in lsoO-io, the
canvass is To last but four weeks, as a maxi
mum, in the country, and but two weeks IN
large cities: and that the aggregate amount
of compensation received by any enumeration
east Of the lO0th meridian cannot much eX-
coed 500.
1t follows also that enumcratOrs will work
where they personally know and are known
by, practically all the persons they are called
to enumerate.
Enumer.,tors under the act of 1879, there
fore, entering upon service for so short q
time, and working at short range, through
district extending in no direction far from
their places of residence, will not be obliged.
as was generally the case under the act of
1850. to fit themselves out extensively tor
travelling, to close up their business or make
arrdn gements for its being carried on by
others in their absence, or To remain away
much of the time, both day and night, from
their homes.
For little or none of the time will the
enumcrator have hotel expenses to meet, and
for much of the time no charges for horse
qulrements of the service inconsistent with
,hc enum' rator giving portion of every day
to his ordinary business.
The compensation received for the service
under the act OF 1879 will, therefore, be sub
ject to but slight deductions for travelling eX-
penses. or for consequential damages ON
account of neglect or even abandonment of
business. To great degree it will be net ;
a clear addition to the usual profits of busi-
ness or income from profession.
The advantage to the Government of such
close Limitation Of districts will be found in
the high degree of local knowledge secured.
The enumerao' knowing, as will presumably
be the case, every house and every family III
the town of which he is Il resident will be
placed almost beyond the danger OF omis-
sions. which are liable TO occur in the can
vass of larger districts. and will also be above
being imposed upon by false statements
which to a stranger might appear plausible
enough.
a remark as to the qualifications of an
enumeration. 1t would not merely be Il
wrong to the Government, but it would be
positive cruelty to the appontee himself
for u supervisor to confer a commission as
enumeration upon any person not of decided
clerical aptitude and of active habits, writ
ing freely. and good at figures" An emu
mtrater without these qualifications would
perform his work unsatisfactory, not to the
Government only, but to himself He would
earn - "A day with difficulty while another
was easily earning 81. and the results of the
more rapid would, according to the expert
ence of the Census Office, be less likely to
contain errors.
a previous experience of official duty will
be found of great service to the enumeration.
Tow nship assessors and other local officers
" Ter he IN ha a no .ru
tors. They are thoroughly acquainted with
the names. residences, occupations. personal
characteristics, and to n degree the history of
the inhabitants of their respective townships.
and would be almost beyond the reach of err
rOr. Postmasters at small Offices, the APP
pointees of the Post Office Department.
whose time is only partially occupied by
their duties might also properly have GER
tain preference for appointment as enumera-
tors, the consent of the Postmaster General
thereto being given. The replies of this class
Of officers to circulars of inquiry from the
Census Office show high degree of preci-
sion on the part of postmasters, even at the
smallest Offices in filling out forms, the re-
suit, doubttess, Of systematic periodical cor
respondenee with the Department at Wash
ington.
Country physicians, within the circuit of
their usual practice. would often be found ex-
cellent cnumerators. Their knowledge of vi
tai conditions. their appreciation Of the i'm
portancc of trustworthy statistics, together
with their knowledge of the history of families
would combine to make returns alike ofdeaths
and of the living population from officers of
this class especially valuable There would
also be the practical consideration that men
of this profession are, as rule, already
amounted" and their service u the capacity
Of enumerator would involve no expense
whatever for outfit
Schvolmasters nave largely been found in
England among the best qualified enuuiera-
tors. Accustomed to keep lists and make re-
ports, almost uniformly accurate in accounts.
trained in punctuality and precision and ac-
customod to enforce them upon others. the
teacher, within his school district would gen
orally do his work rapidly, neatly and accu-
ratciy. FRANCIS A. WALKER,
Superintendent Of Census,
Cm lge. Mass, Sept. 1879.
TO the Editor of the KenneJee Journal:
An old greenbacker from the wilds of Wind
sor, Maine, has been here in Cambridge the
past two weeks, visiting dartcr of his'n."
When the news reached here, giving the re-
suit of the election in the old Dirigo State, it
man. Last Wednesday, after making sever
al visits to the bar Of the Prospect House, he
started for home, and while surging round
into Magazine street he heeled over against
aprpvision store. After blinking through
the window a few moments he asked of the
proprietor, in thick manner, as il he had
rag around his tongue, ''S'price these terma-
tersT And before a voice could be raised to
warn him Of his deadly peril, he reached over
a pile of squashes, took large red pepper,
bit it in two and commenced eating it with
rabid haste. The proprietor stood quaking
and waiting for the old man to drop down
dead but h, didn't do anything of the kind
He ate the whole of that pepper, smacked his
mouth and pleasantly said, "Fust termater
| I've ct this (hic) year t'hed any flavor worth
worth er cuss." When questioned about
the greenbackers' defeat his red nose fairly
| glowed with rage and his conversation was
| 50 rambling and obscure that very little in
formation was obtained. Two hours later