Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1880-08-05
A Census Enumerator's Troubles.

also be enjoyed by the general public:
Wna. b. DtS6rooo, Supervisor of Census:
My DEAR SIR:-My work is done and |
herewith return my schedule. Previous to re-
ceiving yourcommunication relative to making
schedules correspond with returns on postals,
had investigated that matter, and found that
while schedules No. 1, 2 and are all right,
schedule No. s., of deaths, contained one less
than | have returned on postals. This mistake
must have happened In the hurry of reckon
ing up some days work (and this was always
done in hurry,) but just what day I cannot
say. My efforts to make schedules and postals
correspond in this particular are fruitless.
The postals are beyond my reach. have
tried in vain to hunt up another death, and it
is too late to kill man; for deaths occurring
after May 3lst do not count. So must leave
it as it is trusting to charity at headquarters
to consider this as an accident and not as a
highhanded attempt to defraud the govern
ment of five cents.
General Walker said so much about neat.
ness of schedules in his instructions to us that
feel that an apology is due for the tattered
and begrimmed appearance of my returns.
You know, however, that when such cum
brous lot of papers are carried for a month
into cornfelds, hayfields, and potato lots into
Kitchens barns, and workshops; frequently
coming into contact with grease, hoe handles
and infant fingers; and sometimes enclosing a
caterpillar; half dozen flies, or slice of bread
and moiasses, it is impossible to keep them IN
a state of spotless purity and perfect continui-
ty.
In regard to Schedule No. /, l would say
that it is correct and as perfect as possible
Where blanks are left it is where nothing
could be acertained or conjectured to fill the
place. '...5 ..a ....
Schedule No. Q, has been filled with great
care and considerable outlay Of time. On
this schedule | have expended something over
So, for the sake of obtaining greater accuracy
than was otherwise possible. But considering
the habits OF farmers in this part of tho coun-
try and the plan on which this census is taken
of course, no one doubts that the farming sta
tistics will be stupendous fizzle.
La filling Schedule No. 3 and special sched-
ules. | have taken the precaution to hand each
manufacturer a list of questions at least two
weeks before he was called upon to give an
swers the figures therefore, are the result of
his careful thought and calculation, which is
as much as we can get from him If there are
discrepancies they can be left or corrected at
head quarters as we'll as by myself. The cider
mills on this schedule were taken down before
| received instructions to leave them out
Schedule No. 5 has been filled with partic-
ular caution, and is all right with the excep-
ton of the deficiency of one death, before
mentioned. The other schedules are as COM
plete and perfect as they can possibly be
made. hope the whole work will be salts
factory.
AS to comparison, l must say 1 cannot see
why the odds should be so overwhelmingly
against the county enumerators. They have
one advantage over city enumerators. In
scoring the population they are not obliged to
ask SO many questions as they are better &C
quainted with the people, but in other respects
they are decidedly at a disadvantage. Take
for instance the wisely(?) ordered correction
Of returns The man who resides at the coun-
tv seat receives the same amount per day as
the man who spends two hours and half the
pay, in travelling to and from the court house
This may be just. | don't know. Any man
who has been engaged in taking census would
naturally come to the conclusion that he didn't
know much anyway. When my book of in
structions arrived, took it up with the pur-
pose OF understanding it and in perfect conf
dence that victory was mine. | laid it down
with satisfaction and tho belief that | could
complete my work without asking any ques-
lions, on the principle that when &C. anything
less than does not equal &C. / concluded that
II tor the purposes OF the census any tract of
land that employed as much as the labor of
an ablebodied man during the year was "a
farm" tract of land which did not fl these
conditions was not "a farm" for the purpose
in view. But 10 received rulings and rul-
ings, and one of these informed me that any
tract OF land over three acres in extent, if cul-
tivated at all was "a farm" Taking this in
connection with other rulings, came to the
conclusion that in this census, when &C., al
most anything besides may equal q, while 6
itself may equal nothing at all or almost any
thing under the canopy of heaven. This was
unfortunate fN we were obliged to express
the age of children under year in twelfths of
year, and when child was said to be six
months old, and one would naturally suppose
that it should be expressed as 6-12, did not
know but that for the purpose of the census,
it ought to be 5, 00O0-12
To return to pay why is the country emu
merator allowed nothing for horse hire 1t
is idle to say that we county enumerators usu-
ally own horses that may as well be used in
this way as not at all for on the same princi-
pie it might be said that, as the country emu
merator himself (unless interfered with by the
operation of certain natural laws) must be in
existence during the month of June, 1880. he
might as we'll be employed in taking the Gen.
sus as not at all, and therefore pay him nothing
Both courses are equally just ION ordinary
principle). The only difference is that the
country enumerator is fool enough to enter
into the arrangement before he understands all
the conditions and the horse isn't: but the
horse has to suffer for his masters idiocy. My
horse was in the harness for nineteen days,
and during that time he could have been let
for far greater average per day than man and
horse earned together. 1t was a question
which was working for nothing. The answer
is not material for it would cause either horse
tn looo oil fDr 4 l1n
pardonable pride that both feel at being in
government employ.
| think you made an excellent point in the
circular letter which encouraged US to do our
best with the hope that all would be made
right at the final Judgment" Final judg-
ment is good. That is probably the only tri-
bunal at which justice will ever be rendered
to the enumerators of census
But here the wall must cease, that we may
applaud congress-for its munificence in allow
ing !enumerators 81 per thousand for copying
names. I feel that we are doing great wrong
in accepting this sum; for we ought to regard
the benefit to our penmanshp ia quality and
rapidity, which will be a great advantage to
us in taking the next census.
For my two days vacation in New Haven
at the expense of the government, am truly
grateful, and will not complain that was not
permitted to select the time and place. One
would scarcely think that cur weary congress
men, while engaged in arranging election laws,
rules of order and other matters of such mighty
Importance our great nation to could stoop to
consider the pleasure Of the lazy and opulent
enumerators of the tenth census But such is
our inability to appreciate the good qualities
of men.
Permit me to say, sir, that while this letter
is addressed to you the complaints are not.
My only regret in completing my work is that
it terminates my relations with you, which
have been to me of the pleasantest nature.
Believe me sir, with high regards, -
Very truly yours,