The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1890-09-27
LET THE POLICE COUNT
Jersey City's Census Is an
Impudent Republican
Fake Queer Fig
lreS.

The apparent discrepancy between the
census figures of 1890 and the estimate of
the Hudson County Board of Health and
Vital Statistics is occasioning much COM
ment in this city, the outgrowth of
which may yet be special census taken
by the police. The Board of Health
bases its calculation upon The death rate
since 1885, when the State census showed
an increase in population of 32,851 souls
during the five preceding years. in COM
parison with that since 1885, where the
United States enumeratorS report a gain
in population of but 10,474. 1t is argued
that the smallness of tne-e hgures, when
a monthly death rate of S64 is considered,
would work an irreparable injury to the
city.
The census figures of 1880 were 100, ,662;
of 1885 (State), 153,513; of 1890, 163, 9o7.
The average increase per year during the
five years from 1880 to 1885 has been fig
ured at S. $40. At this rate alone in teu
years the figures should have reached
lS6,364, the amount estimated by the
Board of Health.
In a conversation with Chief of Police
Murphy lasG night as to the prospects and
advisabillty OF special census taken by
the police, the chief mad this to say
.My belief is that the State census re-
turns We're padded. | an, however, dis
appointed in finding that jersey City has
increased, according to the two govern
ment censuses, but Al, 900 in ten years. /
had calculated we would find our popula-
tion to be somewhere between 170, 900 and
175 600. But while it may be possible
omissions were made during the taking
of the last census, thatisn't the argument
against iu. The enumerators were paid
SO much per name. They would not be
apt to kno wingly skip any families. From
personal enquiries, however, have found
few instances where enumerators were
told to call again, as the head of family
was out, who never returned 10 procure
the desired information.
Il don't believe it would pay to retake
the census. The figures wouldn't show a
difference of 5000 at the farthest. If it is
10 be done, however, II policemen are
furnished with necessary blanks, with
out having to go into all the details called
for by the government in Il regular cen
sus, il could be done in for or five days.
For this reason:-There is no class of peo-
pie with the facilities for reaching every
family, including the foaters, possessed
by the police. The city is divided into
posts, and these are covered by men who
know about everybody on them. They
could reach the floating population bet
ter than the census enumerators, because
they know precisely who to go to for in;
formation.
1T would seem possible" continued
the Chief, after q pause, that the Health
Board is overlooking the grip epidemic
last winter. Everyone comedies that last
winter and spring were the most un-
healty ones we have ever experienced in
this CITY,"
DIR. GoRDoN's VIEWS.
DR.. Gordon. president of the Health
Board. was interviewed by JERSEY CITY
NEWS reporter this morning. He is de-
eidedly of the opinion that another enum-
Grafton of the Inhabitants should he
made.
whether the figures of the State CEN
sus of 1885 were padded or not. they show
merely Il corresponding increase with
that of the years between 1875 and 1880,
and SO on back as far as 1870 My own
opinion is that information, during the
recent census enumeration, was CLEANED
largely from servant girls and domestics
who did not fully understand the import
of the questions asked. Jersey city has
large floating population. Thousands of
men and women live here and toll else
where. A census in this city should be
taken in the evening.
You see the position the recent census
figures places the Health Board in. The
death rate was fixed and published before
the census was taken, based upon pppu-
lation of over 100000 We can't drop
down now to basis of 10000 population
for the remaining few months. The least
we can do is to wait until the first of the
year before adopting the figures of the re-
cent census. BY all means another emu
meration should be made"