The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1900-06-01
TAKING THE CENSUS.
Enumerators Began Their
Work This Morn
ing.

The census enumerators under Super
visor John H. Weastell. began their work
this morning in the First District of New
Jersey, which comprises all the cities and
townships in Hudson county All the
men were armed with portfolios contain-
ing the various schedules which will be
called into use at different times in the
course of the two weeks allowed for the
collection of material.
The badge furnished bearing the words,
United States Census, 19OO" is worn by
each, and all are carrying their commits
sions which will only be pressed into use
in case the persons to be enumerated dis
pute the authority of the agents of Uncle
Sam. The badges are not worn in con-
spicuous places, but in convenient place
on the vest where the wearer can display
| it without difficulty.
Each began on block A of his particular
district The work on this block will be
entirely completed before the work is TAX
en- up on block B. The men were carefully
| instructed to keep working to the right
| until the entire block had been thorough
| ly canvassed.
Every house, vacant lot, factory, barn,
| or building of any description has to be
recorded in the small field book THIS is
| to obtain correct list of every building
| and piece of property in the country. This
| field book is a handy one for the men, In
case residents are absent a note is to be
| taken and this serves the enumerator as a
memorandum for future visits where in
| formation canot be secured on the Irst
visit
Supervisor Weastell hopes to have his
| work cleared UP in the time allotted to
the men, and with comparatively little
difficulty He feels that his men have re-
ceived all the necessary advice pertain
ing to the complicating details connected
with the securing of all data, he having
instructed them at divers times and even
giving some men personal instructions.
But the collection of data is not by any
means the most difficult task connected
with the census work. The Supervisor of
each district with his assistants, is forced
to go over each and every schedule Sub
mitted by the men, and prevent omissions
and serious errors. The authorities at
Washington are very particular, and these
incorrect schedules would surely be re-
turned for correction. The pay of the men
will be held up until the lists are verified
and passed on by both the Supervisor and
Director Merriman.
The strictest care has been taken to in
struct the men as to their attitude when
securing the desired information. At all
| times the men are expected to be polite
and avoid an intrusive appearance. If the
questions submitted are not answered the
| refusal must be reported. Those refusing
| to comply with the special act, passed in
| March, are amenable to a heavy fine or
| Imprisonment The enumerators' rights
must be respected.
Returns of the number of persons EMU
| merated are to be made each evening to
| the Supervisor and the department at
| Washington, along with the length of
time each man is employed each day.
Cards are furnished for this purpose, and
are sent through the mali free. A list is
to be prepared at the conclusion of the
work giving the totals, and it will be to
his lists correspond.
| The special agents are on deck. They
| have been through their various districts
| to see that the men were working. No
difficulty is experienced in finding them,
! as all will be working on block A, to start
with and so on, until the work is COM
pleted.
| The pay of the men will be sent on Just
as soon as the lists are looked over and
approved Of This will entail wait of
about month. The 5000 clerks at Wash
| ington will then begin to realize what
really is.