Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-09-28
ESPECIAL rrLzeRAx TO THE prsrAroH.i


Porter, the Superintendent of the Census,
sailed on the Umbria this afternoon for
Liverpool. Only a few of his intimate
friends knew of his presence in this city or
of his intended departure. He did not
register at the Fifth Avenue Hotel, where
he stopped last night, and he remained in
his room until it was time to leave
to catch the steamer. Mr.. Porter was
looking pretty we'll used up. He has been
ill for a couple of weeks and is taking a sea
voyage upon the advice of his physician.
81 am not trying to run away from the
census" he said. my physician in Wash
ington said the only route back to the
census Office for me was by the way OF a
sea voyage, and am following his instruc-
tion. 1 hope to return in three weeks fully
restored to health.
ANNUAL REPORT COMPLETED.
Asked about the census, Mr.. Porter said:
81 have not read a newspaper for three
weeks, and everything except few impera-
tive matters has been kept from me. For
tunately my annual report was nearly fin
ished before was taken ill, and was able
to send it to the Secretary of the Interior
yesterday. He will probably make it pub
lie within few days.
"My report shows that the work of the
Census Office is in excellent shape, and is
further advanced than any preceding CEN
sus for man years at this time. Two or
three volumes are all ready to be sent to
the Public Printer, and will he in shape for
distribution within few weeks. They are
in the line of special work, such as mines
and mining, wealth, debt and taxation, etc.
1t is unprecedented in the history of the
Census Office to have any of the volumes
prepared as early as this"
SETTLING THE ACCOUNTS.
"The Census Office at present is engaged
in the effort TO get the accounts of the
enumerators settled. 1t is tremendous
| job. We have 1,700 clerks at work on it.
1t is important to have these accounts dis
posed of as speedily as possible for until
they are paid each set of returns must be
kent separate and intact and we cannot
make up our classification.
"If the human race were all engaged in
| one line of business the classification would
be very simple matter. but as it is, we are
compelled to make many separate schedules
There are 10000, 600 sheets of the enumera-
| tors to be gone over and checked. Much
delay has been caused by stupidity or care
lessness on the part OF the enumerators in
preparing their reports. Had each report
been made out correctly probably all of the
enumerators would have received their pay
before this. We have checked up and paid
10000 of these accounts and think they
will all be disposed OF before the 1st of
| November"
AN ANSWER TO CRITICS.
1.-THE total population of the United
States, as shown by the eleventh census, is
trifle over "a, 900, 600. 1 am aware that this
does not meet the expectations of some peo-
| pie, and they have seen fit to criticise the
Census Office in consequence. Now, as
matter of fact GA, 100000 is little in excess
| of the estimates OF the population made in
advance bylcareful statisticians. The late
| Congressman Cox, when he introduced his
| bill making an appropriation for
| the taking of the eleventh census
said that after a careful study of
the question he thought the population
of the county in 1890 would be between g.
600, 900 and "a, 900, 600. At the rate of 10
cents per head he nsked for an appropria
| tion of Sc. 400 600 to be on the safe side.
| That the actual count of the inhabitants OF
the United States exceeds the highest esti-
mates made in advance. is pretty strong
proof that it is very nearly right. As
rule patriotic citizens do not underestimate
the popolution of their country.
THE INCREASE IN WEALTH.
"The wealth of the country has increased
sec, 000, ,000, 900, as against $40, 900, OOO, 900
ten years ago.
"Now as to the general criticisms that
have been passed upon the Census Office"
NE- i IL
the whole, that they have been justified by
the facts. No census probably will ever es-
cape criticism. 1t is SO easy to find fault,
and human nature seems to be constructed
that way. Of course, such gigantic work
as the compilation of the census OF our great
country can hardly be expected to be alto
gether free from flaws.
"But insist that the eleventh census of
the United States will compare favorably
with any previous census of our country
AS a matter of fact, we have learned by re-
ferrlng to the records of the census, that
there were more complaints sent in against
the tenth census than have been made
against the present one. There were 64 ap-
plications for a recount by different cities
ten years ago. That is little more than
we have received this year.
THE RIVAL WESTERN CITIES.
''Ten years ago there was almost the same
trouble with st. Paul and Minneapolis.
St. Louis demanded recount, and Phila-
delphia was especially vociierous for it.
Indignation meetings were held in South
Carolina and other places South, protesting
against the census and demanding a recount.
But when all these cases came to be investi-
gsted it was found that there was great
deal more smoke than fire in the complaints.
Probably an examination of the records
would reveal a similar state of affairs at
every national census since the foundation
of the country"
''Less than ga applications for recount
have been made this year, and only four
have been granted. st. Paul and Mime.
apolis are exceptions. ordered the recount
there myself as was satisfied, from an ex-
animation OF the returns, that frauds had
been committed, and the recount pro we'd
such to be the case. Helena, Mont, and
Portland, Ore, were given q recount, as it
became apparent that the enumerators
selected for the work in both places were
utterly incompetent. Two small towns
under 10000 inhabitants have been given q
remuneration for similar reasons, but that
is all.
THE SOUTH SATISFIED.
can interesting point in this connection,
and one, I think, which proves the absolute
non.partisan character Of the eleventh CEN
sus, is that almost no complaints at all have
been received from the South, only
few of minor character. Nashville,
l believe, was dissatisfied with our
count and took police census of
her own, which resulted In showing 5000