Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-06-19
THE COUNT FINISHED
RlCHMONO'S FlFTY-ONE cENSU S.
TAKERS THROUGH WITH
THEIR WORK.
The City's Population, IL is Thought
Shown to BE About Eighty
Five Thousand.

Five Thousand.
The citizens Of Richmond have been
counted.
That is such Of them as have not been
accidentally overlooked by the ffty-one
enumerators appointed to perform that
task.
The census men have completed their Ia
bors. and all of their reports will be in
Washington in day or two If they are not
already.
just how many people we have Is not yet
known, and may perhaps never be WIN any
degree Of accuracy, as many legal resi-
dents have undoubtedly been skipped.
Especially must this have been the case
among colored people living on rear pre-
misses, and where several families reside IN
one house.
TUE TIME Up.
The time in which il was specified that
the census should be taken expired last
night. though in cases where it was neces-
sary II was arranged that few days addl-
t.onal should be allowed.
The six wards of the city were cut into
ffty-onr districts, and all Of the enumera-
tors commenced work on Monday. June
I'd, except in the second district of the
First precinct jefferson Ward. Here Mr..
W. 5. Travers was first appointed. but he
could not serve and Mr.. Il. '. Northern,
who was named to take hls place. was TWO
days late and would have been entitled 10
as much extra time. but he did not need II:
Some Of the statistic-gatherers finished
in seven DAYS, but upon an average the al
lotted period wes just enough. One OF the
Jackson Ward men only got through yes
torday. and did well then. As be had large
and troublesome territory. Altogether
col0red men were employed in this ward,
and as far as possible were selected with a
view 10 serving in localities with whlchi
they were familiar.
THE FIGURES.
While it is not known what the figures
of the enumeratOrs are. it is thought that
they will give the city about Sj,OO0-per-
haps n few more or few loss.
In dividing the city into districts the
Supervisor was governed by the figures OF
the Cleveland Harrison campaign. when
the registered vote Of Richmond was
1926. his, however, represents more
than the full voting strength. ~ many
whose names are still on the books are
dead or have moved.
Clay Ward. 1t is believed. Will show q
population of twenty thousand and Will
stand first in the order of increase IN num-
bers. Next will como Marshall and then
Jackson, Monroe, Jefferson. and Madison.
The limits of the latter are go circum-
scribed that there is not room for any very
great increase.
SOME INCIDENTS.
Many amusing incidents occurred under
the observation OF the statisticiaus.
One went TO the front door of house
Il n -, IL .Fa
nance said: I'VE don't want any pictures
to-day" Ho soon convinced her that he
was not picture-man.
In another instance an enumerGtor
rang the bell OF house where he had
called in former days collecting. when tho
lady greeted him with have not the
money to-day, but will pay YOU that next
week"
The census was taken at the city jail by
Sergeant Alexander TOmlinson. at the Sol
diers' Home By one of the inmates, and at
the penltentiary by special man. The
other institutions OF the city were visited
by the regular enumerators and special
schedules used.
KNEW HOW FAR TO GO.
One Of the most amusing incidents con-
nected with the census-taking III Rich
mond occurred in q residence on Park
avenue.
The lady Of the house was dressing when
the enumerator was announced. and sent
down word that he would have TO wait
After an interval OF several minutes
Irrle Sans authmetician became I'M
Ia lent, and ringing the bell again told the
servant To tell her mistress that ho was
compelled to see her. and could lose no
more time.
Receiving such a peremptory message
the lady decided to cit in the upper hall
and answer the questions as they were
hurled up from below by the enumerator.
Having sent q message down to that effect
she took seat on the settee and raising
hervoice told the questioner to begin.
The census-taker. instead OF putting a
ouprv said: Don't DO alarmed, madam /;
[ know exactly how far to 60"
InterrOgatories and answers were passed
backwards and forwards cor rather upward
and downward, the questioner and
questionee being hid from each others
view.
Somehow orother the census man had
taken the idea into his head that the
father of the lady was a widower. and per-
sisted in that view,
MADAM. how long has your father been
a vidower? 20 he asked" . tell you, slr,"
came the reply, my father Is not q
widower. My mother IS sitting beside me
at this moment"
"Oh!" he apologized, II beg a thou
sand pardons.'
Not at all" came from upstairs. My
mother is deaf and hasn't heard you, so 1t
makes no difference"
TWO ABsENT FAMILIES.
The following postal-card notes received
in the D,spGtch mail Yesterday explains how
many entire families may have been
missed:
SILVER sPRING. VA, June Il, 1900
To the Editor Of the Dispatch:
Iwant 20 SEQ Richmond hayo all her sisters,
cousins, and aunts counted in The consus, and II
this Ia done she will have larger population
than has been accorded her. Here are myself
and wife spending a short time IN tho country.
OF course many others ara out o; town for tne
summer II all such are not counted the cenSus
returns will not give 20 Richmond lho population
she is entitled 70 have counted. How will this be
remedied? believe there will Do 10000 people
not counted az all. Yours, L. l. BOILING.
CLOVER DgPOr, VA, June L., 1890.
I, with my family, lett Richmond on tie 10th
OF June aud the census enumeratOr had not
come 90 our house, No. ll5 south Pine. There are
five In our family, and we don't want 70 be left
out the enumeration. Would Ike 10 know how
70 get IN. u - 1AIks'
TEN YEARS AGO.
This timely suggestion is made by a
friend of this paper:
RICHMOND, June l6, 1880.
To the EdffoT of the Dispatch:
Permit me 10 call your attention 20 tho fact
that In l-s0 after the enumeratcrs had completed
their work 40 far AS domiciiary visits were coa-
cernod tneg were furnished forms by tho super
visor and required 10 copy en- these forms tho
names on their BOOKS and posi- ID I'm IN the most
public places throughout tho districts in order
tha, a. many persons IS possible might sec theni
and n nd out whe;her or not they had been taken.
II this IL done by tnc enumerators and the pa
pers will call the attention Of the citizsns 70 H.,
il may be the means Of bringing out many
whose names are not on tho books, and Gnaily
result In a moro complete census.
Very respectfully, L. C., 1850.
Taking the School Census.
The State law requires the Clerk of the
City School Board to take the census OF oil
scboOl-children between the ages OF five
and twenty one years every five years. Mr.:
c.. 2. Rady, Clerk OF the City School
Board, Will commence the work to-day.
Every family will be called on, and when
our people understand that it is for the
benefit Of our public schools 1t is hoped
that they will give the census-taker all the
information asked for cheerfully and
promptly. The amount of money appor-
toned 10 the city schools Tor the ensuing
five years is determined 10y this census.
Now with the Judge.
The argument in the case involving the