The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-07-07
CENSUS IS WRONG
Sam Radges Says Enumeration
Was Not Complete.
He Knows of People Who We're
Overlooked.
TOTAL is TOO SMALL.
Unframed and Underpaid Men
Did the Work.
Says His Figures Of 40, O4O Are
Correct.

Col. Sam Radges, who knows more
about the population of the city OF 10
peka than any other man, says that the
returns of the United States census
snumerators are far from being correct
Col Radges has been issuing the CITY
directories of Topeka for more than %
years and he knows whereof he speaks
The directory he issued in 1899 gives the
population of the city as 40,040, which
is probably much nearer correct than
80 500 as reported by the enumerators.
81 don't want to make any insinuations
about what can not be avoided" said
Col. Radges, but have said that
enumerators picked up can not do the
work any more than a man who IS nor
a. machinist can step into shop ana
do the work. The whole system OF CEN
sus meration is wrong. Mr.. Br1SgS
told me that the returns are UlissaeAS
factory and that reports have not been
filled out and mistakes made ana thht
they have to be returned for correction
1t is a case of fixing up potched up
work. No one who has not had eApsT-
fence can do the work 1t stands 10
reason from the fountain head down 10
the enumeratOrS.
I'm regard to Topeka I think from
what I have heard that we have not
complete returns. I live in bulldlnS
adjoining the government building. YET
no enumerator ever called on me- They
properly without seeing me. NO one
can answer the questions but myself
There are two men who live IN the
basement of the building. They are
citizens of Topeka but they were not
enumerated. I am agent for the Neaie
block Men live there who are never
there in the day time. 1t is Impossible
for canvasSerS for a directory 10 ma
them there. No one came to me to find
out who lived there. The work should
have been done by men interested
enough TO make complete returns.
Briggs says the returns are 1ncom-
plete for the reason that the govern
ment does not pay enough for careful
work. The enumerator who dld the
Office block said:'T can not come again
have other work to do I know from
personal observation that the census is
very inaccurate. I am satisfied we have
more people than is shown. can send
out trained enumerators and find 100
men who sleep in stores who have never
been taken by the United States census
enumerators. There are also janitors
in school houses and Easements that 1t
would take a search warrant to find.
People have boarders whom they do
not consider part of their family. Ihere
are i0l things which enter into the tax
ing of census not known by the pollt1-
cal hangers on who do the work. I
know that many applicants who are
given places for political reasons are
not competent. It takes enrerprising
men who are interested in the town TO
do the work as it should be done In
competency makes inaccuracy. I regret
that the city must have ten years of an
official record which is not accurate.
I estimated the population when the
directory was gotten up last year and
gave the population as I estimated it.
I will stand by those figures. People who
live in Potwin are just as much in To-
peka as any others.