The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1905-10-21

p Plus.
The first bulletin Of the 1906 census. Civ
ing the population of Rhode Island cities
by minor civil divisions. was issued today,
presenting with the notations, which will
also be applicable to future bulletins Civ
ing the population OF the cities of Provi-
dence and Newport.
Owing TO the unavoidable lateness in
beginning the actual enumeration OF tho
population OF the state, many families and
individuals were away from their usual
place OF abode, when their homes were
visited by enumerators during the latter
y Vt OF June and the first OF July. When
ever a house or home was found clos~
for the summer, enumerators recorded
the name OF the head or the house or
home, its location and either the business
or summer home address OF the family or
Individual. as the case might be.
More thar 1900 families, averaging more
than four people TO a family, were thus
recorded, and either by mail or by spe-
cial agents an enumeration has been
affected in practically every case, and the
results tabulated with the returns brought
10 the office by the enumerators.
In the national census of 1900 families
out OF town for the summer received
schedules from the census office In Wash
ington. which they were asked to MI out
and return. The same course was pur-
sued by this bureau; but when less n
half OF the schedules were returned by
mail. special agents were employed for a
personal canvass. and the unreturned ball
ance thereby obtained.
NOT A CRITICISM.
- - LII
cism of the 1900 census. inasmuch as 10
employ special agents In every city or the
country for such n purpose. would prob
ably cost more than the department would
be justified in expanding. The fact estab-
lished is. however. that probably hundreds
Of families away for the summer are not
obtained by the national census.
Realizing that In many cases enumer-
ators would not be able TO reach all the
families or individuals who were away
from their several places OF abode dur
ing the time Of enumeration a careful IN
spection has been made by this bureau
OF cards returned by enumerators for the
so.caled summer resort districts; and
hundreds Of people who were enumerated
as residents OF other towns were taken
ont OF the summer resort districts and
placed In the cities where they right
fully belonged.
Care has been taken 10 avoid duplica-
ton and the following course pursued by
this bureau was found to be very effec-
tive.
Whenever In a summer resort district
Gin answer TO the question How many
months during the census year-l2 months
preceding-have you been a resident OF
the town In which now living) II the
census card showed that n person claimed
but one or two monehs residence therein
provided the residence in which the person
enumerated was in n district known as
either a small or large summer resort,
the directories Of Rhode Island cities
were scanned for the name Of such per
son. and when found the cards for the
M me were placed where they belonged.
Care was taken TO educt from town
or country districts no cards which we're
made out for that class OF citizens who
having both n city and country residence
claimed abode in the country residence
Cor more than six months of the year.
A PROMPTLY JUSTIFIED COURSE
The justification OF this course was
proven by the fact that hundreds OF fam
flies and individuals living in summer
cottages. cabins. huts and tents enumer-
sted In summer resort districts were
eventually credited TO the city In which
they belonged. In one single enumeration
district more than eighty families living
in tents were distributed by this bureau
IN three cities OF the state.
In enumeration districts outside of
cities. having the same geographical
boundaries "a had the enumeration dis
tricts Of 1900. Il was comparatively easy
for this office 20 determine the accuracy
OF figures obtained by tabulating the re-
turns OF 1906 e~numefHtOrs.
whenever a district has shown n de-
crease, or whenever existing conditions
have seemed 90 point toward the POSSIBLE
ity OF n greater Increase. In population
than had been recorded, n rigid
ton has been made. IN every u case,
unless investigation Shove that condi-
tions existed which practically verified
the first enumeration. n system OF verih-
cation has been undertaken. which either
fubstantiated tho first count. or discover
"a the people omitted.
FOR THOSE OMITTED.
In the cities OF the state. wherever by
comparative methods ~ seemed possible
that enumerators might have been some
what careless IN their work. a house 30
house verincation was successfully under
taken. In Woonsocket. a notice was pub
iished i've times I'm every paper IN the
city. asking for the names OF people who
had been omitted by enumerators. TWEEN
ty-one additional names were thus obtain
ed.
In Providence and Pawtueket a complete