The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-12-13
A RE. COUNT BY THE CITY
The Board Of Aldermen Met Yester-
day and So Decided.
CENSUS LESS THAN POLICE CENSUS OF '95
Ths Work If the Count viii Begin at Once
One Enumerator For Each Division. Must
be Taken in i've Days. The Cost
VIII Not Exceed $50.

The census of Raleigh, as announced by
the Federal authorities, is by no means
satisfactory And yesterday morning, in
accordance with resolution passed by
he Chamber of Commerce the board OF
aldermen provided for an honest and ac-
CITRATE enumeration of the inhabitants Of
this city
The census will not be taken by the
police force, but by men appointed by the
mayor, who are to record the name, race
sex of every inhabitant of the city,
and if when completed, it shows mate
rial difference from the government cen
sus, it will prove the latter incorrect, of
which fact, however, there can be no
reasonable doubt. At any rate, it will be
known how many people are in Raleigh
The taking OF the census will require
the services of one man from each di-
vision of the wards of the city, and five
days are allowed for the completion OF
the work The cost will be about $780,
The resolution adopted by the Board OF
Aldermen, at their meeting yesterday is
as follows:
Resolved, first: That whereas, the
census figures just out by the United
States government as to the population
Of the city of Raleigh is, in the opinion
OF this Board, misleading and incorrect;
Therefore, be is resolved by the Board
CT Aldermen that in order to correct SAID
error the mayor of the city is hereby
instructed to have a census OF the city
taken at once, or as soon as practicable
and he is hereby authorized to employ
competent and careful person for each
division of the wards of the city for the
purpose of taking the same, race, namc
and sex, and for such services they shall
be paid one dollar and fifty cents (S1.50)
for each day In no case shall more than
nve days be allowed for the taking o.
said census
This resolution was introduced by AL
derman Mcdonald, and was, after much
discussion unanimously passed. The res
olution as originally introduced provided
that it should be completed in three
days.
Speaking to the motion Alderman
Wynne said: In a general way | am il
favor of the resolution. Nobody seems to
believe the census of Raleigh. just an
nounced. If it is right, we want to know
so. if it's wrong we want to know it. We
want to have census we can swear by.
We want to do this but we want to do il
right
Alderman Mcdonald What do you OBJ
ject to in that resolution?
Alderman Wynne: 1t will take more
than three days to do the work ANY
way will suit me so it is we'll done.
Alderman Hamilton: l understand
they are going to have the city limits
extended by the next Legislature Hadn't
we better wait and have the census taken
then?
Alderman McDonald The extension OF
the city limits won't call for a census.
We'd better do it now.
Alderman Hamilton said he didn't see
why there as any hurry.
Alderman Mcdonald; We want to cor
rect through the press the false state
ments that have gone out about Raleigh's
population.
Alderman Hamilton: The people will
take what the government census says
about it instead of the police census any
way
Alderman Mcdonald: This is not go
ing TO be a police census.
Alderman German: If this census is
taken in manner that will not admit
of impeachment. and if it shows several
thousand more inhabitants than the gov
eminent census gives us it will have
very much effect when published.
Alderman Andrews stated that the gov
crnment census gives Raleigh a smaller
population than it had in 1895, according
to census taken by the city.
Alderman Mcdonald said that this CEN
sus is not to be taken by the police, as
they had other duties and that taken by
persons employed for the purpose it would
receive more credit.
1t was suggested that the census be
simply an enumeration of the inhabi-
tants. no record being taken of names or
other items.
Alderman German objected ITO do
this" said he, lis to eliminate the very
feature that will be of most service. If
we announce our population at a certain
number. and then have the names here
10 back it up there will be no way TO
get around it, and it will be much in our
favor
Alderman Jones stated that he didnt
see any use in taking a new census.
What good will it be. We may believe