The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-08-14
THEY WANT The CENSUS,
The Proposition for an Emu
meration by the Munich
pality Is Popular.
DEARTH OF AUTHENTIC DATA.
Chief Deputy Assessor Herzer Says
City Officials Disagree as
to Population.

The agitation of the Manufacturers
and Producers Association of California
for municipal census to be taken every
ten years seems to have gained a good
many advocates during the brief time that
it has been before the public, as outlined
recently in THE CALL.
In commercial and professional circles
it has been widely discussed, finding favor
everywhere, but enjoying, perhaps, its
greatest popularity among the manufac-
turers and merchants. Above all Others
these people are interested in having reli-
able statistics relating to their respective
lines of business. They declare that the
Federal enumerations are totally unreli-
able four or five years after ompilation.
This must of necessity follow where there
is any growth at all.
1t would also follow that the greater the
expansion in a given time the wider the
discrepancy in the census figures. AS
these figures are not available for general
information until about five years after
compilation there is at all times a dearth
of authentic data relative to subjects on
which the men who are making the his
tory of to-day desire to be informed.
Other cities have pursued the plan pro-
posed for San Francisco with high
degree of success for a number of years
New Orleans takes its own census every
five years. St. Louis does the same, and
Chicago is preparing to do so.
Mr.. Dingle desires it understood that the
scheme does not contemplate an enumera-
tiou of the population as mere matter of
curiosity or local pride. He asserts, on
the contrary, that the matter Of popula-
ton is the smallest part of the proposition,
the commercial aspect of the question
being in his opinion of far greater i'm
portance. Of course, when reduced to
fundamental facts, everything in the way
of development depends upon the increase
in population, but Mr.. Dingle, when he
refers to the greater importance of CONNER
cial affairs, does so with the idea of showing
that the proposition has wider scope
than is contained in the popular concep-
ton of the word census"
George Baker, the well-known attorney
and local leader of the bimetallic move
ment, when asked his opinion of the mat
ter said:
1t is an excellent idea. lam heartily in favor
OF it. There is crying need for such data as
this census would give US. The Federal GEN.
sus is practically worthless. Especially is this
true of rapidly growing cities of the West /
think it would be better, though, If Congress
could be induced to pass a law making CEN
sus once in five instead of once in ten years.
This would give the thing standing, and an
authentic favor that municipal action would
hardly contain.
Benjamin Truman, the banker, said:
1t is just the thing that San Francisco needs.
Let us have it by all means The expense
could be divided somehow between depart
CARNATIONS that would benefit most by the
proposed statistics. 1t has been @ success
wherever tried, and it can be m ade to go here.
1 am sure OF it. Business men and others will
In faoS tv nf hQ 6na md fnp PC
speedy contamination.
Mr.. Dohrmann, president of the Mer-
chants Association, said:
This thing ought to have been started years
ago. Other cities have the census, and we GER
tainly ought to have it, There is lamentable
lack of authentic information relative to our
growth and present commercial status. Let
US have the census by all means. It's the best
thing that has been set on foot for San Fran
cisco for many day. The matter ought to
be comprehensive as possible, covering
every phase OF our development.
H. Herzer chief Deputy Assessor of San
Francisco, said:
There are absolutely no reliable figures in the
subjects with which such an enumeration
would deal. Take for example the matter of
population. Those who are supposed to know
do not agree by many thousands. The Post
master has one estimate, the Assessor another,
the Tax Collector another and the Health De-
partment another. AS l said, they do not
agree by many thousands. This holds good
with all other subjects that could come under
the puryiew of a census. We have no authentic
information. By the time the United States
census is available the figures are of no use,
except as matter OF showing our growth for a
past period. The idea ought to be popular
with all classes, and, in my opinion, it will go
through all right.
George P. Keeney, secretary of the
American Bimetallic League, said:
l have witnessed the result of municipal
enumerations in several Eastern cities, and
they have been highly beneficial wherever the
system is In vogue. do not see why the theory
should not go in San Francisco.
Captain w. l.. Merry said:
l am heartily in favor of the proposition. We
should have had such a census as the one pro-
posed years ago. The need OF it is obvious to
all thinking men. AS to the reasons, do not
see the necessity for wasting many words.
They must be apparent to all. Many Eastern
cities follow this method with good results.
w. T. Schenck, vice-president of the
Chamber of Commerce, said:
l am in favor of such census as the one
proposed. The Federal figures are unreliable
after three or four years. 1t follows, then, that
we have no reliable data at hand. All branches
of business would be benefited thereby. 1t is
an excellent thing and ought to go through.
L. H. Clement, secretary Chamber of
Commerce, said:
l think that the proposition will recommend
itself to all thinking people. 1t was started
here several years ago, but nothing ever came
of it; that is to say, 1t discussed by several
of the City organizations. / think it was in
1882 or thereabouts. l think speedy con-
summation of the project would be good thing
for the City.
George Luddington, the veteran real es-
tate man, representing Easton & Eldridge,
said:
have read an outline Of the scheme as pub
lished lately in THE CALL 1t is good thing.
/ believe that the people will take hold of the
thing and put il through. The several depart
ments of the City government that are in
actual need of authentic figures ought to give
it liberal support. All classes would be bene-
fitted.
iblAII mr. TIT nAnTLIuc