The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-06-20
THIRTY THOUSAND
FOLK IN RALEIGH
But the Census Will Show
Only About $4,000.
CITY LIMITS TOO NARROW
Nearly Half of It's Population Lives
OH the Outside.
ESTIMATES OF THE CENSUS JUST TAKEN
North Cardinals Population viii Very Probab,
Exceed zoos, 600. ignorance Of Me-
groes Caused Enumeraors
Some Trouble.

The census Of Raleigh for 1900 is
now complete. The enumerators who
have been canSassing the city have
covered the territories assigned to
them.
If any citizen discovers that he has
been overlooked it becomes his duty,
as he has the interest of the city at
heart, 10 report the fact at once TO
the enumeration Of his district and ms
name will be enumerated.
Though all the Raleigh enumerators
have completed their work. they could,
under the extension of time allowed
by the authorities at Washington,
have kept at work until the end of the
month, had it been found necessary.
The greatest trouble encountered
by the enumerators in this section has
been in dealing with the colored peo-
pie. who in the ma ority OF cases are
entirely ignorant upon some OF the
subjects embraced in the census inter-
rogatories.
The average negro is peculiarly at
sea as to his age. Some OF these ne
e.roes date their ages back to slavery
times, some to the epoch OF emancl-
patton, some TO the September storm
1S15). while few dated back to the
bio snow i'm 1859. and q few to the
time when the stars fell. Some OF
these old-timers seemed to have no
conception of time when applied to
months and years.
Now that the census taking is end
ed, SO far as Raleigh is concerned,
there is Il good deal of speculation as
10 what the result will be. While no
one has any right to give out this in
formation except it comes officially
from Washington, yet those who have
watched the work closest and who are
in the best positiC3 10 make fairly
accurate estimate -rof the result cal
culate that the figures will hardly
reach 10000, but will exceed $4,000.
One method Of estimating total pop
nlation is upon the voting population,
allowing five population TO each quail
fled voter. The last election census
Of this city was taken in 1898. showing
3,07s voters in the city proper and
applying the average Of five in .this
ease would give n total population of
1890. This, you must bear in mind
was two years ago.
1t must be remembered also, that
neither the election census nor the
United States census goes beyond the
city limits and that the 5000 or TO-,
900 people who reside in the suburban
districts, though to all intents and
purposes citizen of Raleigh. are not
counted in the census.
Another basis on which the census
may be calculated is The unofficial
census taken by the police of the city
in 1893, which showed a total popu
lation. inside the city limits of $1,000.
or an increase Of 412 over the United
States census of 1890. In using the
1893 census. however, it must be re-
membered that the increase in popula-
ton of the city during the past five
or six years has been the greatest
for that length of time in the history
Of the city.
Also in this connection n study of
the last two censuses may not be I'M
interesting. In 1880 Raleigh had in
the city limit 9,265 people. in 1890 its
population was 12.67S an increase in
ten years of 3.413 or 1854 per cent
Taking this same increase TO have
been maintained in the past ten years
and we get a population of 1865.
The 1890 census of the city b.
wards was: First ward, 2,1OS; Second
Ward. $3.50: Third Ward. 67S; Fourth
Ward. 1900; Fifth Ward, 1903.
While it may be a month before
the result of the census will be Off
cially announced. there is one point
which can be positively forecasted.
That is the fact that the death rate
will be very small. Although a higher
rate is paid for dead persons than is
allowed for the living, Raleigh enum-
orators have been able to find but a
small number of deaths. The census
will make a fine showing as to the
healthfulness OF the city.
In the 1880 census there were
1899 people in Wake county. Ten
years later this number had increas-
ed TO only 1920
T.. II <.ff I,