The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-07-27

sort OF wlnd-uD OF his work IN the San
Francisco district:
OFFICE OF SUPERVISOR OF CENSUS
FOR THE
FIRST DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA,
407 AND 400 MONTGOMERY ST.,
SAN FRANCISCO, July 25, 1890
To the Superin teHdeHt of Census WdShtng-
ton. u. C.-DEAR SIR: BY the mail of the ga
/ shipped to you the last OF the blanks and sup
plies left upon The close OF the Work. The ship
ment of The 1Gtn practically closed the sched-
ules. only numbers 81 and 1923 being LETT TO go
with the special schedules and supplemental
names, The copying and final examination oil
were sent, leaving only the process OF cleaning
up To follow. This then closes the work OF the
Census Bureau in this district, so far as the eeV-
enlh census Is concerned, for all OF which may
We be truly thankful.
The trials aud experiences In this district are
perhaps not different from those encountered In
other places, but they were trials and, at times,
of very severe nature Coming into office, as
did, when The active work had really begun, and
without any opportunity to famarize myself
with The laws, regulations and requirements,
made The work more difficult for me than II 9th
erwise would have been; but my predecessor
had arranged for office help which retained,
and thereby had the iull benefit of their hnowl-
edge in aid OF The work, which, under the cir
cumstanceS, was invaluable.
Perhaps no city in The Union has so large a
percentage OF floating population as San Fran
cisco. This very necessarily fosters ana sup
ports a large number Of boarding and lodging
houses ana small hotels. Many, and in fact
large percentage of these, keep no register OF
tie boar derS and dodgers. They come III late at
night and 60 out early 10 the morning, mas ln9
the enumeration of them very hard work This
condition of things makes it very easy for an I'M
scrupulOus enumeratOr 10 pad Il district; or Tor
all easy going and careless one to skip those
whom he could not get without trouble. IL Is
this condition OF things that led TO the ar
rest OF Reilly. OF Districts 116 and III. and
Fitzpatrick Of No. 123, for neglect OF duty, aud
OF Cusick, of No. 81, Tor padding.
To investigate this condition OF things is why
this office, on June 10th, asked for authority 10
put on ten men for ten days 10 look after the
wolk Of enumerators, ana had that request been
allowed the work here would have been closed
long since. Acting on The authority from the
department / employed TWO additional clerks,
G. b. Fowler and Z. +. Kinard, both sworn EMU
merators, 10 assist Chief Clerk j. L. Fields
who. by the way. Is the very best man Tor that
position who could have been selected In this
staIe-ln the investigation OF frauds, and the
complaint OF parties claiming and claimed 10
have be5n skipped. lie result OF this work has
been communicated 10 you by telegraph aud by
mail. The parties arrested are out on bail
and Will probably be tried III few days. The
supplemental list OF names omitted Is very
largely composed OF dodgers and rOOmers in
lodging houses, with fair sprlnkling OF faml-
lies who were out OF town. and whose houses
were closed when the enumerat called. These
have been yerihed so lar as possible There
may be few duplicates, owing 10 the fact that
"a districts were sent 10 Washington before the
list began.
Everything considered, feel that the work III
this district has been cOnseienIiOusly performed,
and While the figures do not reach that number
they are as nearly correct as can be obtained al
This season OF The year, which is the very worst
IN the whole twelve months.
While / am fearful that nothing can or Will be
done by the department., must make an earnest
and IL artfelt appeal In behalf OF many oil the
enumerators in this district. especially IN the
country portion thereof, where they were Obliged
10 travel With teams which they had TO hire AT an
expense of from 81 10 So per day. They certainly
ought TO have some recompense for money paid
out for such purpose either by direct repay
ment or by an increase OF per capita rates. and
the same applies 10 several outlying portions OF
this city, not already allowed by the depart
ment.
In order to settle beyond question COM
plants in districts where The population did not
reach the number expected, anu 10 avoid any
excuse Tor calling for accommodation OF he en-
tire city by parties who expected amueh larger
population, we, as have already Inform your
Office recanyassed several districts without the
knowledge of the original enumerators. and in
no case did We ind any material changes, thus
showing that the work was originally done well.
Regarding the office help, L cannot say too
much In praise of j. l.. Fields, the chief clerk.
lie has Deen indefal igable III his personal utter
est In the work, aud 10 his good judgment we
are Indebted for much OF the successful aud sat
isfaetoTy result OF our lab0rs.
VIII now give some reasons which. in my judg
ment, have mltigated against US III this matter Of
population. Probably The months OF May, June,
July and August are the very worst IN all The
year In Which 10 take the census In this Stale.
DuIing these months the population is constantly
changing from one point to another, In the woods
and mountains, at The seaside, and camping out,
fear OF stormy weather. In my judgment, fully
5000 10 5000 OF our White family population are
out OF San Francisco IN the month OF June, leav
ing houses entirely closed. The Alaskan aud
Arctic sealers. whalers and other fishermen who
make their homes here in The winter season num-
Der probably 1000. these have no families here,
ana under your instructions couid not be enum-
Grated. The various classes OF peddlers travel
ing specuIa 0rS and commercial travellers aud the
Ike reach the vicinity OF 1900 many OF whom,
having no families aud permanent homes,
have undoubtedly been lost TO us. Finally, the
Chin csc population is also IN nigga state,
aud from Information obtained l should judge
that from 5000 TO 5000 Of the winter population
is in the country IN the summer, and If taken at
all Is taken there.
San Francisco also loses a large portion OF
legitimate population by the location OF families
in suburban towns, from which fully 1000 people
come ana go daily, and do business here. These
would represent IN the vicinity OF 10000, Which
ought TO be here, but are in fact not here, and
are enumerated where they live. The above are
some OF the reasons why our population does
mol come up 10 the expectations OF some OF our
citizens.
have to thank the department at Washington
Tor their uniform Kindness 10 me and readiness
10 assist me through every complication. The
confidence thus repUsed In me has not been
abused lie readiness to lndorse our action has
done much to alay lie excitement produced by
disappointment. The press OF this city has
treated us most kindly, and has always done all
II could to set US right with the public-that Is,
alter we became better acquainted.
AS nave already informed you, the 0ince OF
Supervisor of the Census OF The First District OF
California is now located at 407 and 400 Mont
gOmery street, San francisco.
i most respectfully request that checks for the
euumeI ators and other employees of this district
Is daily besleged by parties making inquiries for
their money. am very respectfully, yours truly
w. ii. DAVIS,
supe rvlsor OF the Census. First District of Cali