Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-06-15
THE CENSUS TAKERS.
SOME or THE NOTABLE EXPERIENCES
OF RICHMOND ENuMeRAT ORS.
Dffscultics Encountered People omit
ted ; Questions that Bother, ana
VIVA. tho Grand Total VIII lie.


from the enumerators something about the
progress of census-takng in Richmond
The reticence Of the statistic-gatherers
n easily explained by the fact that the
United States law bearing on the SUBJECT
provides penalty of six months imprisoh-
ment and fine Of SJ0Jwhere any ehuineIs-
Tho ideas of tho name catherers as 70
what constituted Information were,Nery
yacua in many instances, one OF them heSi,
tafing for long time before no would
even tell what his nsneis.
THr QuEsrIoSER QUESTIONED.
Abont 10 o'clock Yesterday morning the
Dtspafol man having the census IN charge
was aroused from his third ana last natu-
tinal nap by the announcement mace IA
portentious manner: g have come totaAe
the census"
Hastily DOMINIC his clothes the scribe
went forth 20 the fray. He politely pns
firmly informed the census-man that ne
had O peculiar duty TO perform mar Vi
taking q census OF the census-gathtIera'
The assistant OF Uncle sam retired Wllh'u
himself and informed ms puerlSt III
fr,gid tone that he could tell nothing.
The fun commenced. the enuinerator
having the first innings:
In replv TO questions he was graVely m
formed by tho newspnper-mah tnat MS
thirteen-months boy was not n Chlhese'
Japanese, or Indian; bad never served ~
sny wsr was single. bad never been d.
yorccd. was not widow. and was the mo-
thcr OF no children: had never been maiu-
rallied. and converscd principally IN NolaI,
puk. Also that tho aforesaid boy couid
not read OF write. was not prisoner CON
vict. homeless child or pauper. and did not
own the house in which he resided.
BAD SPILL.
Coming back 10 tho occupation OF the
father the euumcrator remarked that no
had forgotten which letter was doubled n
journalist" and it had slipped his me,
ory whether 1t was spelt with two ;
or two rs"
II is not to be supposed that the .Nsp7iot
man submitted quietly TO beng MOIST Dv
his own petard " in the matter OF questions.
For every query put hun he pifleu tSo III
return. II was verltablc war OF WORDS
genuine case OF black gum CerSus hght
ming"
DAILY RETURNS.
The enumerator was firm IN his 'eterlni-
nation foreman like the best Champaign
mum. However. in the course OF ms re-
marks he disclosed tho TACT that Iepo'S
had 10 be made every night by poStai C@ru
10 the Census Department in NaSAlngtoh'
and 70 Vr. Il. A. Young, in Petersburg,
supervisor Of this district, GIVING ne num-
ber Of names taken during the day ana
time consumed therein.
lie further remarked that he had sundry
and serious doubts rs TO the accuracy OF
his reports. and tTustngly inquired IL no
was In dancer Of landing IN Albany IN
consequence thereof. HIS fears were al
layed IN "a manner similar 70 that III winch
Job of old was cOmforted.
He was finally disposed Of by being ~
formed that he had better go ana take IN
the two colored families who resided III
the rear portion OF the premises anu ~
which IN his research he had not inquired.
There is reliable information TO the ehect
that number of people are missed IN thiS
manner.
WIRE PRISONERS.
Question No. 24is Whether a prisoner,
convict. homeless child or pauper.'
Sergeant 1omlinson, of the police force,
enumerated the occupants OF the CITY Jall;
md from an outside source IL Is learned
that Of all those questioned not single
one refused TO Acknowledge the corn.
The Sergeant was met on the street, ana
IN response to query from the DtSpd'cl
man reached into his "outNde pocket
and showed the warning TO all enumerators
of 500 and SIX months.
LAST QUESTIONS.
In northern and western cities there has
been considerable difficulty IN obtaining
snswers TO the convict" chronic
disease." and mortgage" question. Such
has not been the case here. TINS can be
accounted for by the fact that the Gnu
merators are, generally speaking, wen ac-
uualnted in the districts canyasSed ny
them. In nearly every instance they AVOID
embarrassment by answering the qLestlons
themselves in the negative and then ASKING
their informant " If that isn't right! Z"
Inquiry of the United States Marshal,
Commissioner. and numerous canyassers
disclosed the fact that so far not single
person except one had failed to answer
promptly. This WAS an old colorcd woman
whoresponded promptly when the matter
was explained to her.
NOT FULL.
There is a freely expressed opinion on
The part of many that the census IS not by
nuv means complete one. Several emu
merators concurred in this, and one OF
them openlv stated that he was sure tho
count was short All the way from 5000 TO
5000. which would have the effect ot bring
inc the grand total for Richmond between
$4,000 aud $4,000, instead OF above the lat
ter figure.
A. an illustration he cited the fact that
In A certain house in Madison Ward three
families. in all fourteen souls, reside. The
pnumerator came around, took one family
Of six. never asked if there were any Of hers
living there, aud lett before he could be
called back. having neglected TO take eX-
RCtly 81 per cent. Oh the occupants III lhAI
particular house.
n is claimed that this is but one of many
hundred cases.
one of the most prolific sources OF Omis-
Bions is temporary absenteelsm. In nu-
merous instances the cnumeratOrs refused
point blank to list any person not actually
in the city at the time, even When assured
Of the fact that the party actually lived IN
the house.
TREATED.
The most appreciative recognition OF the
solicitude of "Unclo sam" az 10 the num-
Der of children was that of Mr.. Il. +. John
con. The canyasser Of his district was MIR.
j. L. Ebenhack Jefferson Ward WHOM
returning home found awaiting him very
seasonable remembrance Ia the shape OF
ice-cream aud cake, with the compliments
of Mr.. johnson.
PRECAUTIONARY
The efforts used 10 keep the returns Sc
crct are extraordinary. Every enumera-
tor is sent pamphlet of Instructions OF
forty-six pages in tine PRINT, which fully
explain their duties and cnjOlu the neces-
slty OF maintaining silence. They are spe-
cially cautioned not to show their blanks
70 any one, and to make out their nightly
returns IN n room by themselves These
directions have been followed 10 an extent
that is almost marvellous, especially by the
negroes, in comparison 10 whom dumb
clam is a laxative creature.
In addition there are several outlook
ers" Oh duty, whose business IT rs 10 see
that the work IS prosecuted without delay
aud that no one INDUCES In too much talk.
Besides this special warning was re-
ceived yesterday by the enumerators who
have not as yet completed their work.
NEARLY THROUGH.
Every enUmerator received written In
rtructiOns from Supervisor Young, Of Pc
tersburg, giving him the exact boundaries
az the district he was 10 canvass One OF
the largest divisions was the whole of the
Second precinct Of jackson Ward.
Canvassing was begun Monday, June
9th, and many districts have already been
finished. Noon yesterday was the time set
for completing the work, but arrange
nnents have been made 10 extend the limit
until tho end Of this month for all OF
those whose labors were too great TO be
concluded within the period appointed.
COMPENSATION.
Work done, the thoughts of the
enumerators have turned 70 their renu-
neration. Ii seems that the Government
has two-sided arrangement for paying
there bglRg two saaftauC a.