Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-08-29
OF CENSUS
System of Enumeration Allows Veri-
fcation of Returns.
DISAPPOINTMENT OF some CITIES
Complaints Shown to Be Without
Foundation.
UNUSUAL CARE WAS TAKEN

The work of counting the population OF
the great cities Of the country has practi-
cally been completed. Detroit is the only
one of the largest cities of the Union the
population of which has not been an
nounced. and that will probably be given
out tomorrow. 1t is in these cities that the
greatest rivalry in regard to the popula ton
exists, the people in almost every one OF
them having looked forward to an an
nouncement Of phenomenal growth that
would give them a place among the most
prosperous cities Of the country. In most
cases when the census returns have been
given out they have been accepted with
good humor, even by those whose hopes
were not fulfilled. but there have been some
cases in which the charge has been made
that the census enumeratorS failed to count
all the people, and there has been some dis
position Ito go back on the returns"
Nothing New In Thia Rivalry.
There is nothing new in this feeling of
rivalry among the great thriving cities of
the United States. 1t was very strong
when the last census was taken, so strong.
In fact. that the returns in number Of
instances were padded out of shape. In the
case of Omaha. Neb., the present census
shows falling off in population of about
$1,000. whereas the fact Is Omaha has in
years. This result was merely because of
padding done ten years ago, and SO gener-
ally is that acknowledged that no COM
plant has been made because the census
enumerators have failed to maintain Oma-
has fictitious population. In the case of
some other cities there have been COM
plants OF general character This one
and that one has declared that his city had
10000 or 100000 more population. Some
men have declared that they and their
families were not counted at all.
Investigates All Complaints.
1t so happens that the present census was
taken In way that allows a very prompt
disposal OF any charge of failure to count
the population, and Director Merriam has
made prompt investigation Of every COM
plant that has come to him. Not only has
he investigated these complaints, but he
has invited any one who Is dissatisfied with
the census returns of his city or communi-
ty to lay before him some specific COM
plant. There Is no way for him to reply
to the man who declares that this OF that
place has 10000 more people than shown by
the returns. but he has so far shown every
specific complaint to have been unfounded.
Jacksonville, Fla. lately complained that
a census taken by local authorities showed
a greater population than that of the CEN
sus bureau. Investigation showed that this
local census was taken when a democrat tic
convention was in session and when the
hotels were packed with guests.
Census official lately sent to the bureau
here the names of fifty people who had
complained publicly that they had not been
counted. Investigation showed that each of
them was recorded in the returns.
--- VerihcatiOn of Figures.
The ability Of the census bureau to verify
its own figures rests in the fact that maps
were made showing every house In cities
and record was made of the inhabitants
of each house, or II the house was vacant
that fact was indicated. The present was
the first time such maps were made, and
although they added about 100000 tc the
cost of taking the census they added enor-
mously to the accuracy Of the count, and
above all they form a record which allows
complete verification Of the work.
The charge that the population of cite )
was not fully given because the count was
made In midsummer, Is shown to be i'll
founded from the fact that wherever a fam
lily was away on vacation. or members
of a family were away. they were counted
as Of the city in which they had their
homes. The enumerators were paid two
and a half cents for each name, so that
there was an incentive for them to secure
every name possible. In addition to that
people Of the locality in which the enumer-
alton was to be made were employed, SO
that .-leir local pride assisted in making
the count as complete as possible.