The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-07-01
Captain Peasants for their active and skiIl

captain peasants iOr their active ana sklli-
ful organization Of their force for the can
vas: aud last, but not least, TO the men OF
the force for their cheerful, faithful and rapid
work. Without their assistance the task un-
dertaken 10y the Chamber musi, at best,
have been most imperfectly performed, and
II Is another evidence OF the cor
rectness OF the statement I'm our presidents \
recent report, that we have city govern
ment OF which we may wen he proud, ana
OF none OF its departments more SO tnan OF
our police, who have always, as In the pres
ent instance, shown themselves equal 20
erery emergency where the Interest OF The
city was involved. An estimate OF the cost
Of this work is hereto attached, which IL Il
hoped will meet with the approval of the
Board il remains to he seen what action
the Census Department Will take in view OF
the proofs laid before them.
Upon motion Of Mr.. ;. W. Trayers, the
report was received, and the bills ordered
to be paid, aud the thanks of the Board
rendered to Mr.. Whitty and his committee
for their energetic action in this important
matter.
On the 27th instant, Superintendent
Porter sent the following letter to Mr.. Dun
Top, secretary Of the Chamber, in reply TO a
complaint about the census irregularti s.
Sir.-J have the honor to acknowledge the
receipt of your letter Of June 26th. and TO
state in reply that notwithstanding the fact
that concessions have already Deen grabted
To Richmond, such as have not been granted
TO any other city In the country, ! am willing
10 go stll furthor i'm my efforts TO obtain
complete and accurate enumeration OF that
city The supervisor has, as you are aware,
been authorized 10 employ q special clerk.
making his headquarters In Richmond, and
the schedules have been retained in his
hands when they ought TO have been IN
Washington, In order that any alleged omis-
sions might be inves igated ana the neces-
sary additions and corrections made. lhht
l.srf hoo n "A O.
cordance with the instructions OF this Office,
given on the fair assumption thai there
were no reasons why IL should take longer TO
enumerate the city Of Richmond than other
cities OF the same or larger size has at the
earnest solicitation Of Judge Waddill been
recommended, and the supervisor has been
directed to retain the Richmond schedules I'm
his hands until Wednesday, July2d, TO give
further opportunity for the Iectihcation OF
pOss BILE omissions. He has also been au-
thorized to employ whatever additional cleri-
cal assistance he may deem necessary III
view OF the fact that no names can be adueu
TO the schedules without previous veritfca-
tiOn at the residences OF the persons alleged
TO have been omitted. Taking the country
fully 9Op per cent. OF persons al
legged to have been overlooked by the emu
meratOrs prove on investigation to have been
duly enumerated, and itwlil probably De tne
same i'm your city. II the newspapers Willln-
Vite persons who believe themselves to have
been omitted To send in their names TO the
be Investigated as promptly as possible.
While il is not for this Office 10 suggest the
adoption Of any plan that would Impose upon
a class Of Government servants duties lhal
do not properly belong TO them. | may say
that in at least one large city the postmaster
has instructed the letter-carriers ID inquire
M the various houses in their districts
whether there were persons Resident tDereln
who were aware OF not having been emu
merafed.
will only add that If there is anything like
the amount OF public interest taken In this
matter that would appear from the news
papers and from your communication or June
18th, there ought to be no difficulty in oo-
tainlng that complete and accurate enumera-
tiOn which is desired by this office equally
with the honorable chamber, IN whose behali
you write.
In reply Mr.. Dunlop sent the following to
superintendent Porter yesterday:
Dear Sir-I beg leave to acknowledge your
favor OF the 27th inst, which has had the
careful consideration OF the Committee on
Information and statistics. They very fully
appreciate the concessions you nave already
granted I'm order 10 obtain the complete
enumeration Of the population here. 1t is
very true, as yOu state, that there exists no
reason why it should take longer to do work
ofthis character in the city Of Richmond
than in other cities Of same or larger size,
but the fact that 1t has done 50
seems to Indicate strongly either that
the work here was badly systefnatiZed,
or very imperfectly performed. As an eX
cuse for the alleged omission OF over 1,sOO
names In Jackson Ward, 1t Is stated by the
census authorities. that some of the enuIne-
Iators i'm that ward have not yet completed
their work assigned to them, SO that IL APP
pears that a further delay Is necessary fJr
the department 10 get the returns as Orglnal-
" enumerated. In two DAYS over O,OOO
omissions have been reported from the city
at large, and under these circumstances the
Chamber does not see how, with due regard
TO correctness and the Importance OF cen
sus report. thorough Investigation can
be dispensed with, and II neces-
sary a new census ordered We thank you
for your kind suggestions in regard TO the
assistance which may be obtained from the
POstonice, but the Chamber approaching
your desire To expedite the final report or the
population without regard 10 cost or labor,
undertook to secure Just this
through the police ana the col
ored graduates of the Normal School, and
have turned over the result of their labors 10
the census officers here. with the exception
OF Il few districts which Will be heard from