The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-09-29
PREPARING FOR THE CENSUS.
SUPERVISOR BLUM BUSY GATHER
ING INFORMATION.

Of the Census VIII Formulate
plan for the Conduct of the Emu
meratIOn-RuraI Counties win
Probably he Enumerated by Mill
tia Districts and the City by
Election Precincts-Enume
VIII Not BE Appointed for Several
Months Yet-Mnny Applications Al
ready on File, However.
Preparations for the taking of the
twelfth census have already begun. Mr..
Henry Blum, Jr., census supervisor for
the First congressional district. has been
engaged for several weeks in furnishing
information to the director of the census
which will enable him to make an intelli-
gent division Of the district into sub-dis-
tricts for the enumerators The division
of the district is not made by the super
visor. but originates with the director at
Washington.
Among the information called for and
supplied is the boundaries or division Of
each militia district in each county, the
registered vote of each district and other
information which will give light to the
director, including the school population ac-
cording to the latest school census. The
director has not depended upon the dis
trict supervisor for this information, but
has written TO the county officials. A let
let recently received by Mr. Blum from
the census director states that the off,
Gals of Bulloch. Screven and Emanuel
counties have failed to respond to his re-
quests for Information as to the bounda-
rfes of the militia districts of those coun-
ties, and requests that ne obtain this in
formation. Mr.. Blum will endeavor to do
so. lie will call upon Supt Ashmore in
a day or two for the latest school census
of Chatham county.
The division of the counties into enumer-
alton districts will also be made by the
director, though the supervisors will doubt
less be called upon to submit recommenda-
lions.
The enumeration in the rural counties
will doubtless be made by militia dis
tricts," said Mr.. Blum Il understand
that this pan was followed at the last
census. / do not know what lines will
be followed in The city enumeration. The
director has called for information as to
the division of the city by wards cleo
ton districts voting precincts and other
istered vote in each precinct There will
probably be fifteen 10 twenty enumerators
in the city"
When asked If he had received any APP
plicatiOns for enumerators places Mr..
Blum smiled and pointed to a large stock
of papers on his desk. As the appoint
ments of enumerators will not be made
for several months. Mr.. Blum has the pros
pect of a large number of soicitous
friends on his staff for some time to come.
THE appointments of enumerators will
hardly be made until March l." he said
"as the enumeration will not begin until
June ]. All preparations must be made
however, to begin work on that date. The
time allowed for enumera ton is two weeks
in the country districts and one week in
cities of 5000 inhabitants and upward. At
ter the enumeration is made the results
| will be compiled by nee before being for
warded to Washington, so l shall doubt
less be able to give you the population of
Savannah and of al the counties of the
First district some time during the month
of June"
The compensation allowed to enumer-
ators is fair but owing to the short time
allowed for the work the emouments will
not be large. In the rural districts the
! pay will be from 50 TO Sc per day, according
| 10 the character of the country to be
/ traVersed and the density of population
| In the city districts the compensa ton will
| be to cents per name according to the
! dersity of population. Each enumerator
| is expected 10 put in ten hours a day, and
| as the work will have to be completed in
! a limited time the opportunities for SOL
! dierinS on the government will not be
| great. The manufacturing and mechani-
cal statistics will be gathered by special
| agents appointed by the director of the
/ census.
Section of the act providing for the
| taking of the twelfth census, relating to
| Information to be gathered, states that the
| census shall be restricted 10 inquiries re-
latiug to the population the mortality, the
| products of agriculture and of manufac-
turing and mechanical establishments The
schedules relating TO population shall COM
| prehend for each inhabitant the name,
age. color sex, conjugal condition, place
of birth and place of birth of parents,
| whether alien or naturalized, number of
| years in United States occupation, months
unemployed, lteracy, school attendance,
and ownership of farms and houses The
director of the census Is allowed consid-
cradle latitude as to the manner and de-
ial of the information to be gathered.
As 1t is nine months yet before the cen
sus will be taken spectators as 10 the
probable population of the city need not
worry themselves into fever with Their
calculations for some time. If the popu-
lation of the city continues 10 increase dur
ing these nine months as it has during the
previous nine months Savannah will show
very creditable gain. The last census
gave Savannah a population of only 43.00)
Patriotic citizens will hardly be inclined 70
accept anything less than $500 for the
coming census as commensurate with the
city's growth and commercial importance.
SMITH BEYOND THE CITY,