Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-06-16
POPULATION OF THE CAPITAL,
Beginning the Work % Taxing the
Police CemsuS-The Last EnUneratiOn.

As published In yesterdays star, the police
census-takers started out yesterday morning with
their books TO take the census Of the District In
obedience to an order OF the Commissioners made
some days ago The task Is not . pleasant one,
although the ofilcers detailed for the duty have
their nights at home and they also have holiday
on the sundays during the time employed IN
gathering the facts In endeavoFing to secure the
desired information policemen frequently have
some strange experiences. One Of the most df1-
women, who are unwilling to speak candidly.
amusing conversations follow and the answer IL
avoided By grouping the family, forgetting the
names ana giving misleading ages.
nsrRucrroNa
On the ny-leaf Of the ofcers book are printed the
instructions TO the oncers, which are - follows:
ITO obtain accurately the number OF Inhabitants
OF the District Of Columbia on the 18th day Of
1sSselassed as proposed-tnere must be
taking the census To insure that END the follow.
Ing inst uctions are given:
INTO enumeration districts containing a reason.
able number OF squares each.
p4S S s1se .ss Ss e District win tally
ranged for that purpose, and not duplicate such
tally In different columns
dumb bD6 aaa Indians Rrsonsr deaf and
ana schools. should be enumerated as others, and
at the same time an explanation be given under
Private schools are such a. are supported By
Tuition paid oy the pupils. but do not include asy-
"5. Those persons who habitually s,eep IN the
district; those whose regular business "a in the
Dlstrlct though they may sleep outside or be alb
s sen tenporariy, and those whose abodes are in
int District Though without business) and absent
temporarily Temp are 70 be considered permanent rest
Gents ana wiz be entered in the proper line and
~. Those whose regular business is elsewhere.
and who are only so1ourners in the District should
De entered under remarks.
Inc omcers are instructed against taking
names OF persons at their places OF business when
their names would be taken by another ofacer ct
"s. The ofiicer should be careful to visit every
evening oNn hotel clearinghouse. business place,
shop. warehouse, factory. stable, cabin hut, tent
rWer-oOat canal-boat, barge and all other places,
puouc or private, OF business or abode Of families
or persons.
80 The information sought about persons should
oe obtained from persons themselves, Qf reliable),
accessible. In case OF families, from the head OF
liable.
I'm interrogating parties to obtain information
desired, great courtesy and consideration must be
SHOWN Dy the officers. and an onicer should never
hesitate to ask Instructions from his lieutenant
When ne Is In doubt"
THE LAST CENSUS
Three years ago, when Maj. Dye was chief OF
police, the census OF the District was ordered by
the Commissioners to be made BY the police
who used much tact, patience and great care
IN gathering original facts, collating and
revising the work. Whenever q book Indicated
q mistake the beat 10 which 1t correspondent was
again gone over, and the mistakes were recuned.
SO mat the totals given were near correct as 1t
was possible TO get them, and II not exactly
a above the true figures: The books showed q
IOlai population OF 34o9 against total OF IT,
"a In 1850, an Increase OF 20 $50 in fve years In
1880 there were 11S,OO6 whites and SO els colored
against 1921 whites, and 81 ,lSS colored In 1855
Inc following table shows the total number OF
males In the Inherent precincts In 1885: