Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-06-10
INCOMPLETE CENSUS.
The Enumerators at Fort Worth Are
Being Criticised.
The Chamber OF Commerce is Moving to Secure
Justice for this City--A Critical Matter.
A DepIorabIe Condition of Affairs.

Have You been approached by census emu
merator yeti
No. =.
Exactly. That is the situation with about
nine-tenths of the people of Fort Worth.
Notwithstanding more than half the time al
lotte'i By act of congress for the taking of the
census has elapsed, yet only an unimportant few
heads of all the vast population of Fort Worth
have been counted.
For several days the citizens have been grow
ing anxious about this matter Of the city 5 CEN
sus. They have observed a certain disposition
on the part Of the appointed enumerators 70
keep out of the way OF the people, instead OF
hunting them out, and the impression has waxed
strong that the citys interests in this direction
were being neglected. Some of the enumerator5
were called upon. One of them was found to be
nj work in his father office.
why are you not out taking the census of
the district allotted you?' inquired the visitor.
8 'Oh, there's no hurry. You see I only took
my appointment in order to make some extra
money. do not intend for it to interfere with
my regular business
''Well, don't you intend to cover your terri
tory at all?h
hours day after the Office closes I'm afraid I
won't be able to cover all the ground. won't
have time
The visitor continued his walk. The next
enumeration he encountered was engaged in
bank as clerk. The conversation between the
two was about the same as that reported.
Still further did the visitor go. He found one
young man, subject of her Britanic majesty
(who under the law could not serve anu
MIGRATORY, doing as well as he possibly could in
densely populated district which he
could only cover by strenuous efforts; he
found On aged gentleman doing his best in one
of the Populous uptown wards, but so hope
lessly behind with his work that he never can
catch up. He would have found 9Ssscoupie
more OF the gentlemen in certain state
were sick abed; he would have found a couple Of
the gentlemen who had already finished their
districts resting on their laurels, but unable to
help out their confreres, because the law does
not provide for such action.
And so with the entire force who are supposed
TO be collecting the census Of this city. There
being attended to with all possible dispatch.
But if you accost every man you meet on the
street during half hours stroll you will be
convinced that for practical business purposes
the census of this city is not being attended to-
couple of days ago the chamber OF COM
merce took cognizance of the situation, and Sec
district regarding the fact; and yesterday morn
ing the following reply was received:
OFFICE OF SUPERINTENDENT OF CENSUS,
THIRD DISTRICT OF Texas,
DENISoN, Z EX., June Z, 1880.
E. s. BIden. Esq, Secretary Chamber of Com
merce, Fort Worth, Tex:
DEAR SIR find yours of the 9Th inst, on
my return from your city. In reply beg to in
form you that / have authority to ap-
point or commission additional enumerators for
your city or extend the time beyond 18th inst,
Hon. r. P. Porter, superintendent of
census. Washington, d. c., on May
9TH to sub-divide The city of Fort Worth into
sub divisions sufficient for two weeks enumera-
ton. In accordance with this order l pro-
ceeded to your city with this object in view. As
the time was short aud was unacquainted with
The city, l called on and consulted with some of
your members, also some OF your leading citi-
zeDs, and by and with their advice got one of
you city assessors to give me the necessary in
formation in the premises. On my personal ex-
animation of 6th inst. find some OF these diyis-
ions to contain but little over 100 inhabitants,
while others possibly 2000. Each and every
enHmerator recommended by members of your
body were aPpoIrted-nineteen in all, more
than sufficient for city of 40. 900 inhabitants.
II this has been an unequal division. / regret it
very much, as am more anxious for correct re-
turns than any citizen of Fort Worth. Some of
the enumeratoIs selected, as before stated, are
notifying me that thew want more time for the
completion of their district, when the daily re-
ports to this Office show these enumerators are
devoting from three to five hours daily, when
ator shall devote not less than ten hours daily to
the discharge of his duties. lam of the opinion,
formed after careful personal examination,
that there is not a subdivision in Fort Worth
but what can be fully and correctly enumerated,
if the enumerators will but apply themselves
to their work with one al in view
Of correct and complete enumeration.
have the honor TO remain yours most respect
fully, Jom NEvINs,
Supervisor Of census Third district OF Texas. ,al
Secretary Biden and other members of th8 Z
ch amber OF commerce spoke freely and vigor-
ously regarding this letter yesterday when
Supervisor Nevins was in Fort Worth making |
for the appointments of the |
districts and the appointment of enumerators, |
say the members of the chamber, he did |
not confer with the people best calcu- |
lated to give him reliable and proper |
Information, and the present status 81
affairs is due to that fact Upon receipt of the
letter the following dispatch was sent:
FORT WORTH, TEX, June 9, ls9A2-15
COL Robert Porter. Supervisor Of CeEfds, 7
Washington, d. c.:
We beg to inform you that the enuuiarators |
appointed by Supervisor Eevins for taking the |
census of this city will not get over i
she names of our citizens, one enumerator STAT
ug that he would not, nor did he care. Another /
S not even citizen of the United Sta tes,sk
md men are managing the most populous dis n
riots where 1t will be physical impossibility |,
or them to get all OF the names, Therefore the 7
chamber of commerce respectfully requests that
'ou will suggest Immediately BY telegraph some
committee assist in the work to the end, that we
nay have just enumeration,
THOMAS ]. HURLEY,
Acting President Chamber of Commerce.
The situation is critical one, and ,9sFReniy.l
,e remedied by prompt and energetic action z
IN proper census OF the city rests. n great u
many matters of Interest to eery 'citizeasN
axpayer, voter, parents, and iusttoe stsl being
enied TO Fort Worth in this respect. Fs
This morning at 10 O'Clock mass meeting OF Is
he citizens is to be held at the chamber OF con4sf
lerce rooms to consider the matter and tsRg
UGH action as may be found advisable. fGd |
,ithin the limits OF the statute concerning the
lerators are all expected to be
resent. The citizens generally are urged
D come out in force. Only few days remain
a which Fort Worth can attempt to remedy the
asst neglect and place herself in proper light
mong other Texas cities before the world.
Let every taxpayer, voter and citizen be
resent.