The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-06-29
THE CITYS POPULATION.
A NET GAIN OF OVER $4,000 SINCE
THE LAST CENSUS.


A NET GAIN OF OVER $4,000 SINCE
THE LAST CENSUS.
supervisor Beckett Approximates the
Resident Population at 1924, With
out the Suburbs-An Increase of Al
Per Cent. in Ten Years-The Increase
Not as Great as Expected, But
Greater Than Most Cities Will Show.
The Country Reports Not Yet In.
a 3. 3 / Il.
That is Savannah's population according
to approximate figures furnished last night
by Supervisor of Census Beckett.
The result of the census will be disappoint-
ing to many who counted the city's popula-
ton up in the fifties and sixties. The net
increase, however, since the census of 1880
is II, sos, or very nearly Al per cent, which
is a greater increase than most cities
will show. If the thickly settled
suburbs, which are really part of the city,
but which are outside the corporate limits,
were counted the increase would be still
greater With the suburbs counted the pop
ulation would go very close to $1,000, if it
did not exceed il.
THE CITY's GROWTH IN TWENTY YEARS.
Savannah growth in twenty years is
this:
Population in 1870. go
Population in 1880. .-...............JJ, 10Y
Population approximately in 1890 Al, PA
Percentage of increase from 1870 to $780,. 8
Percentage of increase from 1880 to $780,. d
The gain in the last decade Is a remarka-
bic one. Forty-one per cent. is a very small
fraction over the increase, but it is exact
enough for all ordinary purposes.
What increase the county outside Of the
city and the other counties Of the Fifth dis
trict will show is not yet known,
as the enumerators' reports are
not all in. Chatham county's
total population in 1880 was Al, 023. In 1870
it was Al, 279. and in 1860 it was 1.043
The supervisor cannot yet give even an ap-
Proclamation of what the enumerators' re-
ports from the subdivisions of the county
outside of the city will show.
CLOSE APPROXIMATION.
Supervisor Beckett has taken deep in
terest in the work Of the census, and he has
been busy night and day since the count
began receiving reports and compiling the
statistics. 1t is impossible, he says, to make
such estimates are made at Washington.
No compilations have been made here except
of the total population.
1.-THE returns are not all in for the city
population, even and cannot state that ex-
actly," he said last night to a MORNING
NEWS reporter, "but 43, 2l4 is as near as
can come to It. That number when the
full returns are examined, may be increased
or diminished. but not to any great extent. I"
1t should be remembered, the supervisor
gays, that all that thickiy populated section
south of Anderson street and east OF East
Broad, which is really part of Savannah, is
not within the corporate limits, and therefore
is not included in the returns. If these out
lying hamlets were added, no doubt the
population would reach, if it did not exceed,
$1,000. The houses in that section are
mostly owned by colored people working in
the city, and in fairness ought to be taken
as part of Savannah, but, of course, the
corporate limits as established by the law
of Georgia is the guide to the census men.
They cannot add to or take from the geo
graphical boundaries as defined by the
statutes.
The estimate given is the result of adding
to the full returns of twenty enumeration
districts the total of the daily reports of
the other seven districts. These daily re-
ports, however, are not reliable, the super
visor says. In one instance he found the
actual number nearly 200 less than the
daily reports gave-hence: while the total
is approximately correct it cannot be &C
cepted as absolutely so.
THE UNcoUNTED PEOPLE.
Have you received many notifications Of
failure to enumerate. as a result of the
mayors proclamation
Yes; in all, as result of agitation of the
matter 46 have called, representing about
$50 people. Probably, in fact, quite 80 per
cent. of the names handed in found had
already been enumerated, but Of course,
was glad to pick out the few grains of wheat
from the bushel of chaff "
"What was the cause Of failure to enum-
crate those who were missedF'
There were various causes In a few
Instances the enumerator was at fault in
falling TO return when he found the parties
out and no one present able to give informa-
ton. In few cases l do not doubt that
indifference or laziness on the enumerator's
part caused the omission, but in most cases
the failure is fairly chargeable to absence
from the city of parties who were able to
give Intelligent answers to the interroga-
tories.n
NOT OVER 800 MISSED.
Supervisor Beckett says: ST am more
than ever satisfied that, while few emu
merators were somewhat derelict in their
duties, the work, generally, has been faith
tuhJ performed, anu II Cne census return
do not yield the desired results the enumer-
ators are certainly not in fault to an appre-
cable extent. hazard the assertion that
500 names have not been omitted and these
are balanced to some extent by outsiders
temporarily sojourning here. A family of
four Baltimoreans, who were here on June
Twisting relatives. are credited to the pop
ulation of Savannah"
The woes of the country census men are
depicted in letters received every day. One
man states in explanation of blanks in his
daily report card, Horse foundered to-day. y
Another said he has just used up his third
horse, and another that he is down with
fever. They all unite in assuring the super
visor that they would not do the work
again for double the compensation.