The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-07-13
New York Not so Big as Renorted

New York Not so Big as Reported.
New Workers were very we'll satisfied
when Mr.. Murray, who has charge Of the
work of taking the census of their city, told
them that New York's population was about
$4,000 They were inclined to think,
however, that between 100000 and 400, 600
persons had been missed, because they had
been figuring all along upon a population of
about 100000. They made no protest,
however, for the reason perhaps that
they thought they might have been
little too sanguine and en-
thusiastic in making their estimates of
the city's growth since $780, A day or two
ago, however, they received the announce
ment from Supt. Porter's office in Wash
ington that the calculators there, who reach
results by means of electrical counting ma
chimes, could not figure out greater popu-
lation for the American metropolis than
100000.
This announcement was received, of
course, with howl of derision. 1t was at
once proclaimed that the superintendent of
the census had, for some reason best known
to himself. either deliberately fasified the
returns, or committed such gross errors as
to raise doubt about his fitness for his posi-
ton. The newspapers at once sent reporters
in hot haste to Mr.. Murray with instruc-
tions to find out from that official the mean
ing of the report from Washing
ton which cut down his figures
more than 100000. OF course, he could
give no explanation, but, being a New
Yorker and rather proud of his city, he
said he could not see how he could have
made such an extraordinary mistake He
suggested, however that perhaps the light
ming calculators at Washington were better
at figuring than the thick-headed fellows
he had selected to take the census, and that,
therefore, the result they reached was more
reliable. But he was not disposed to admit
that such was the case, and he expressed
desire to wait for further advices before
advancing deliberate opinion.
The reporters then hurried away to the
office Of the register of voters and to the
bureau of vital statistics At both these
places they found enough TO convince them
that New York has population of at least
100000. With such information the news
tell Supt. Porter that he is either
a blockhead or a very bad man, whose
object is to make New York appear much
smaller than she really is for political pur-
pose of some sort.
Gov. David b. Hill, in his speech at In
dianapolis on July l, said that the census
was being tempered with in order to give
the republicans political advantage. He
has now a splendid opportunity to show
that his statement was not without founda-
ton. The chief city of the state of which
he is the chief executive is made to appear
great deal smaller than she is reported to
be, and if ne is the sort of man he is
believed to be he will raise such racket
about the ears of Supt. Porter, the chief boss
of the census, that that official will be glad
to order the lightning calculators to revise
their conclusions from the returns, or, if
necessary, to have the census of the city
taken again. New Workers certainly are
not going TO admit that their city contains
only 100000 people. They will count the
names on the tombstones In their grave.
yards and take in their suburbs before they
will make an admission Of that kind.