The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-06-06
THE LOCAL CENSUS WORK
Count Of the Districts Population
One fourth Completed.
Rapid and satisfactory Progress
Made-supervisOr DinGman Pleased
with His FOrce-LnrEest Growth
Found i'm Northern Suburbs-The
Influence of Rapid Transit.

Work is progressing satisfactorily in the
taking of the census for the District OF
Columbia for 1900 Harrison Dingman, the
Supervisor of the local enumeration, is
established in two rooms in the Atlantic
Building. on Street, where he receives
the returns every day from the big force
he has in the field in every part of the
District. Including today the enumerators
have now been at work four days, the field
work having commenced last Friday.
1t is estimated that today's returns will
complete about a fourth of the entire field
work. The District IS divided so that each
section will contain approximately 1000
inhabitants. and the more rapid enumera-
tors are beginning to turn in reports of as
high as 500.
The city is mapped off into sections ac-
cordinS to the latest police census. II is
known that the population has increased
since that time, and that there has been
some little shifting Of the density OF pOpu-
lation, so that squares and sections can
only be judged in an approximate way;
but some such plan was necessary in order
to proceed with the work as rapidly as
possible. Some of the outlying sections in
the north and northwest Will show the
largest increases. owing 10 the tendency
toward the suburbs. especially since the
perfecting of rapid transit facilities in
those sections 1t is thought possible also
that one or two squares in the city proper
will show decrease in population.
II is thoughtihat the suburb known as
BIcomin gdale lying north of Florida Ave
md
Second Street west, as far north as the
Soldiers Home grounds, will show the
largest increase. as entire squares for
merly vacant lots have filed up there
since the last census. Columbia Heights
also is found 10 have increased in pOpula-
ton rapidly, as have Washington Heights.
Connecticut Avenue Heights, and many Of
the suburbs farther away from the city
limits
Superintendent Dingman reports that his
force is proving an excellent one. almost
entirely satisfactory. II is working
rapidly. for the most part and it is not
belived that any changes will Be neces- AIRY
in the personnel The more rapid emu
merators viii finish their districts perhaps
a day or two in advance Of the slowest. II
this proves 10 be the fact they will be
sent into the slow mems districts TO he p
out This viii be hardship. as the work
day.
The reports OF the enUmeratOrs are that
they have very little trouble in securing
answers to their enquiries. Some of the
questions a few people al first refused ID
answer. but when pressed. and shown the
Census law. which is forcibly woTded, III Y
usually accede without further trouble.
Now AM then lady does not wish to state
her age. especially when it is greater than
that of her husband. Sometimes questions
regarding property are also considered i'm
| pertinent
Sometimes people are in reality unable to
answer the Questions. Sometimes n pre-
! tend ignorance. The enume. ato. 5 are usu-
ally able to distinguish between the two
classes. Yesterday an old co,ored woman
was unable 10 state her age. The best that
/ she could do for the enumerator was TO
| tell him that she was seventeen years Old
| when the Stars fell" After some consul
| tatiOn Of astronomical and historical au-
| thorities. the record was completed prob
| ably as il should be.