The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1890-07-11
GRAVE YARDS SIGHTED
a Discourteous Letter to Super
visor Speer--That Centieman's
Able Answered. Butte Esti-
mate OF Helena's Population,


sus Supervisor Speer is piling up n vol
ume of correspondence as large in amount
ms Il is unreasonable In its demands ana
untruthful in its misrepresentation. IL
seems that the enumerators OF Helena
neglected to enumerate the cemetery, an
oversight for which they are justly TO he
censured. But Helena's kick because
they would not enumcrate the Ogden ex-
cursionists who have been In the city can
hardly be justified. Ii is reasonable per-
haps 10 enumerate tho bodies in the GEM
ctery, for most OF them once walked Hell
ena's streets. But the. demand for the
enumeration OF the Ogden cxcursionists
connot he maintained, and in this matter
the public will stand by Mr.. Speer.,
The letter last written by Helena To
Mr.. Speer is interesting from one point
in that IL shows some light on helcna's
actual population matter that has been
shroudcd in doubt. Ii Is understood that
the entire population of the alleged capi-
tai city has signed the letter. IL Is there
fore a simple matter To compute Helcna's
population. The signatures are all gem
uine and a careful count shows that there
are 81 citizens in Helena who can write
their own names. Estimating five inlab-
itants To each citizen, a very liberal csti-
mate. the total population of Helena is
thus seen To be 30.
10 SAY tue least tic W. Nfti'h 's
Helena 10 Mr.. Spcer is disrespectful and
discourteous. IL accuses him OF the crime
of falsification-a charge that nobody
ever before made against "A Butte man
and lived. But Mr.. Speer. instead Of
looming the war paint, wrote a very co,r-
teous and temperate letter 10 the no in
habiiants Of the alleged capital city, who
are enragcd because the census depart
ment appointed "a supervisor from Mon
tana instead Of from Helena. II is but
fair thai both letters may he made public.
Below is the letter written by Helena:
HELENA. Montana, July ., 1850.
W. ~. Specr, Es4, iihdi,, Monidgd. 49,,
which he states that There is no reason why
sufi Client time should not bc allowed entiilcrit-
tors 20 make II complete and satisfactory cnui,l-
Grafton Of the people NJ Helena" We also learn
from the same source that you have made The
following answer 10 this telegram;
The dispatch q persons 10 senators SANDERS
and Power from Helena IL absolutely false, with
out the slightest foundation for any such stale
lnentS. Enumcrators were granted all the time
asked or required and were required "a 90 over
their districts again, also Ia take all the names
presented hy the citizens committee aud II not
ON their schedules 10 place them there nlon
being satisfied thai such persons We're entitled
To be enumerated. I cannot comprtr with news
papers aud real estate boomers ~ liking poluli-
ions"
N this was your answer 10 the above telegram
ne, the undersigned, from our own knowledge az
the ease. desire Ia state that your answer Is
absolutely false. without the slightest iounda.
ton forany such Statements, We are prepared
to state. from our knowledge ~ the facts, that
there arr thousands of ouT people not YET taken
by the enumerators. thai sufficient time has not
been granted Ia complete thcir Isis: That the
census papers were ordered returned before W.
had finished with them nr the citizens commit
tee had 81 expressed themselves, You are not
competing wiih "~n"wsrapcrs and real estate
boomers IN this matter, hat with citizens uf
Helena who desire simply fair play.
We, therefore, beg Ia request that you VIII ~.
turn tHt CENSUS lLllhsTN tn our CIV unU WlAr MS
from the sih 10 the liil of July Ia complete
same properly and fully. VERY respectfully Yours,
X ". Zach, III WALLACE. T. NJ. Thornbursh,
u. W. knight, W. T.. Cox. i. klriusclmidt, ~.
Garter. John 4. Watson, Herman Cans, u. NJ.
Parchcn, u. W. latvm, George T.. Bow, ~, y.
FISK, n. ". Fisk, !. II. sanford, VIM. ". Gutli-
rie, -. H.: Weston, David Marks. {. h., Green
s,ns. s !. + ! 1 Enssi i; II +. fTTa'h TaIiscr T. Join, n; ~ II,
ia Grsenweod, NJ; 7, brown, " MIG 50,
grove, &. 4. Broadwatcr, T.. r., Fuller, u. ;.
Richards, .. G. Richards, l. 4. Walker, q. h.
.ole, Thomas CRUISE. ". = sweeney, ". T..
). L. komnt1, Samuel Schwah, T.. /, Zimmrr-
man.
In reply to this joint production Of all
IA genius and ability in Helena. Mr.Specr
sent this firm yet courteous letter:
onice of Supervisor of Census for the District
OF Montana, Butte. Montana, July .. " McSsf>,
David A. Cory, A. scligmnn and others, Hell
tnl. hNllIllh lflliila lsll lHttllkllHA
communicative ~ July the ID NJ hand aud noted.
The surprising character of tins document alone
makes u difficult Z" answer. u may Therefore
be Well IN the trS place Ia state that M one of
standing ] could imagine, sign this d%ocumeni. IL he
knew the Facts. II II quite reasonable Ia suppose
thst The persons signing thus statement have rr-
gard fur truth, that they would mi knowingly or
Intentionally make the mis>tdtrmrnts II contains,
which are soNery %allslrni I" one ts'ssrss'd ~
the fasts that I have In this rtsr. II II also quite
reasonable ~ suppose that persons who have the
good understanding ~ most of those whose
names ARE appended IL This document would nut
know iugly aud Noluni ,rill parade themselves ~
In this cas. ~ lacking that essential. ~ AFTER "A
careful examination Of the names atiarlird Ia
his communication. ] am forced Ia The cnnclus.
ion Thai inust al The persons signing The Samrdti
not nilll appreciate what thrN were signing, ~
Is Ia this class that I make answer.
In this communicated Nnu say you are pre-
that there are thousands ~ yuur people nat yct
taken 10y the cnum"'aioTs. Now, | clInpi he
fieyc The gentlemen signing this document are
prepared Ia make any such >tairmcnt. Mast of
them have not had the time Ia dcNutr Ia the sub
Jest. 10 ascertain this iart, Il itt II hr, They
have lii The data L. arrive AZ THIS conclusion.
Certain data which | conceive are absolutely
necessary TO the determination IT this paint, vi
lisi 81 Those collected by the cnum.ralofs, u
you OF any 81 you have this information. | should
Ice pleased Ia KNOW from whom you obtained the
same, AS the returns 81 the enuiicIators are sup.
posed. Ia all eases Ia br confidential II N1u have
This data, which ynu must haze obtained surr,J-
uii0usly (which I do MT hcliVNcl. | do nnt he
hcve that one OF yonr hulnlcr has Interviewed
thoilsinds aild compared them with thu results
OF TIE enumeration, ~ thai You are prepared
70 SAY there ~ a general balance ~ thousands
who have been missed by the much abused
enumeration. Bui on the sup1nsitiUu that
you do not have The returns of the enumcratoIs.
do not believe there j. one oi yoII humber who
has Interviewed On. Thousand. 10 SAY nothing of
thousands, upon the suhi.st of enumeration.
fhe substantial accuracy uf the census uf a
place where thousands are Ia hr considered, Is
not determined by personal interview, but hy
comparison OF the votes east OF registered aud
the number of children OF ssllonlo ~ under school
age, with The number Of persons pnfIiorting To
have been enumerated. THIS latter number you
do pot possess. This IL hut onc of the many
ways of arriving At thu substantial ar,ttarI ~
the census. Third by this rule, your statement
would make Helena AN anomaly Indeed. That
there are many persons. particularly mgn Who