The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1900-06-05

coiIect. lHere OuBnt not 10 De u great
difference between his figures and those
OF the census enumerator that Is to fol-
low, with government authority to
make every inquiry. 1t Is not probable
that the good people of Alliance had
anything to conceal from the man who
has already made the inquiry.
1t is pertinent, in this connection, to
make few comparisons with reference
to the census of Canton. The COM
plete report of the school enumerators
is published today, and on the basis of
5 for / the population of Canton is 49,
105, the school enumeration being 1921.
On the basis of Az for 1 the population
Of Canton would be 41,494 But in Alli-
ance the special census that the school
enumerator took fell short of either of
the ratios quoted. Will the same thing
happen in Canton? That is the question
that all who are making estimates on
the population of the city-and it Is be-
ing much discussed just now-must ask
themselves. There are 4.01 times more
school children in Canton than in
Alliance. If we are to take the school
census for the basis in one place we
will have to do the same in another
How accurate the ratio is, is another
matter and whether cities will run
about the same is also open to con-
troversy. 1t is very apparent that wards
do not, as indicated by the increase in
some wards and the decrease in others
The application Of even a general rule
to such wards as the First ward of Can
ton is out of the question. The re-
turns have been carefully gone over,
yet there is decrease in the number
of children Of school age. There are
no empty houses in that ward and some
new ones have been erected since the
last enumeration and are occupied.
Why should there be q decrease? Does
it mean that the number of inhabitants
has decreased in that ward? Scarcely,
as there are more householders. Does
it mean that the man who bad couple
of children Of schoo. age has moved out
Of the ward and man who has no
children or whose children are below
or beyond the school age have moved
in? Probably, but the matter looks
that are quite populous as regards
children. The imputation that the ward
has become populated with bachelors
and maiden ladies will not be permit
ted. There is a discrepancy in the
rule. Therefore population figures bas-
ed upon school enumeration are un-
reliable. One may come very close on
the generally accepted ratios and
again may be thousands out of the
way. For instance, If the census taken
by the school enumerator at Alliance
is correct and Canton. on the school
enumeration is only trifle over four
times greater than Alliance, the popula-
tion of Canton is 35,6O9. Are we forced
to accept these figures when the basis
of the multiplication is the ratio Of
difference in the school enumeration?
Should we not be certain that the
general rule concerning population
figures based on school enumeration are
worthy of reliance? Isn't the First ward
situation pretty fair barometer of the
unreliability of school enumeration as
basis for population? Or did the AL
lance man make mistake in his cal
culations as to the general census?
Must Canton, after all, accept a census
population of about $4,000? Hardly.
The figures will show that Carton is
going forward with rapid strides. We
have the population, the business and
the advantages and no sort of hocus
pocus Is going to be allowed to inter-
fere with the progress Of the city.