The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1905-10-04
M. REARpoN DEMANDS PROOF
He Denies the Correctness of Popula-
ton Estimates Made by Secretary
Woods of Rock Hill CONNER
cial Club.
Editor Daily Item:

In Justice to the thriving cities OF
Spnter and Anderson, the fifth and
sixth cities in population in South
Carolina. according to the offlcial
Tinted States census Of 1900. l beg
space in your paper to ask certain
onest,ons of Mr.. John Wood, Of Rock
Hin the secretary Of the South Car
DINA Industrial and Commercial AS
sociation, and also secretary Of the
Commercial Club of Rock Hill, S. c.
On page II of a pamphlet, entitled
>soutt1 Carolina, An Invitation to
Homeseekers and Investors, and
printed upon the face of this pam
phlet is Issued by the South Carolina
Industrial and Commercial Associa-
ton, John Wood, Secretary and Treas
urere, with endorsement Of the State
Department Of Agriculture, Com
merce and immigration will be
found the following lines:
esThe following gives most con-
servatiye estimate Of the population
of the several thriving and rapidly de-
veloping cities and principal towns OF
the State, based upon the census OF
1900 and the average decennial rate
of increase in normal tines
Among the cities and town men
toned here will be found the esti'
mated population Of the following
cities for 1905, according to the latest
-omcial Wood Census
Union 1926, Rock Hill 6,S55, An
derson S,7Ss, Sumter $500.
The United States census of 1901
gives the population of those cities as
follows:
Sumter 5,e7s, Anderson 5,4sS, Rock
Hill 5,AS5.
according to the United States
census of 1900, Sumter was fifth in
population, Anderson sixth, Rock Hill
seventh and Union eighth.
But now, according to Mr. Woods
census, Union then the eighth place
is now fifth in population, and Sum-
ter, the fifth in population is now
eighth, while Anderson, the sixth in
population, is now seventh, and Rock
Hill then seventh in population, is
now sixth.
An official city census in 1903, made
by order Of the city council Of Sumter.
by four reliable, intelligent white ci-
tizens, By. house to house canvass,
for the Information Of the United
States gogescment shows by actual
count of names that Sumter had in
1908, 1881 population in the city
limits. and the suburban population,
practically a part Of the City, was 7e4'
making the city and suburban popuia-
ton s,04s. What, T would like for
Mr.. Wood to do is to show how ne
changes the positions Of Sumter and
Anderson to the eighth and seventh
places respectively in population, ano
puts Union, the eighth in population
as fifth in population.
Mr.. Wood had before him correct
information, or should have had
when he made his remarkable esti-
mate of population of towns ane
cities, as sent him a printed pam
phlet containing information as: to the
population of Sumter, etc., based OF
the official city census of 19o;
{7,2S1) of the city Of Sumte-, S. {.
am, therefore, at a loss to know nov
he arrives at the estimates which ne
has sent all over the State, and per
hans over the United States, Which
places Union and Rock Hill so IA
above Sumter and Anderson in popu
1ation. It may be possible, but I have
seen no indication Of the very -su
perior growth in population of Omo1
and PocS Hill over Sumter and An
derson. IF he bases his estimates ac
cording to the census Of 1900. unles
he knew of his own knowledge VIVA
the actual increase in population o
the several cities was or knew OF SOM
special reason Why the population
Union and Rock Hill had Jumped VI
so much over Sumter and Anderson
he should have allowed the severa
cities to remain as they were by IN
census of 1900 according to rank, Wit
additional estimates as to growth i
population. In the case OF aSunte
he had the printed Information OF a
official nature that Sumter's popuia
ton in 1903 was7,2st and that the es
timated population in 1905 was le,eo'
I think we can prove to the satlsfae
ton OF anyone that Sumter,s pfesei
population is 10000, yet Mr- woo
puts Sumter down as having IN lso
e,eos population. He may be corree