The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1910-01-07
ENUMERATORS
ARE VERY SCARCE
CENSUS DIRECTOR FEARS THAT
1T WILL BE HARD WORK GET
TING ENOUGH CENSUS TAKERS
THE PROSPERITY OF coUN-
TRY IS TO BLAME.

Census Director Durand stated in a
phamphlet recently issued, that, as u
result of his conferences with the sup
ervisors Of census throughout the coun-
try he finds that in many sections, es-
pecially in the larger cities, there have
not been as yet sufficient applications
for the positions of enumerators. II
looks, he thinks, as IL the country Is
so prosperous that people are not as
anxious to get these responsible places
as had been expected.
The scarity is giving the director
some concern, as only a few weeks re-
main before the date for closing the
consideration Of application. It will be
impossible generally to extend the ap-
plication time limit, as to examine the
test" papers, with the necessary care
TO insure the designation OF qualified
persons, will consume every moment
Of the time allowed for this phase OF
the work Of selecting the enumerators.
leaving nothing for an extension of
the date for shutting down on appli-
cations.
The director therefore urges all per-
sons desiring places as enumerarors to
make application as quickly as possible,
and he hopes that, in order to help get
a perfect census, philosophical and
energetic people throughout the coun-
try will offer themselves for these
positions, even though they may noe
care for them from the standpoint of
the pay involved. He also trusts that
employers will deem 1t their duty to
give leave of absence to their en-
ployes who may desire TO act as en-
umerators. Some slight sacrifice of
this sort will be amply repaid by the
improved quality of the census returns.
Continuing, the director said:
Although the actual work of ak
ing the census will not begin until
April Is, 1t is essential that those who
wish to act as enumerators should ap-
ply Immediately. Except under unusu-
al circumstances, no application receiv-
ed after Jan. 25 will be considered.
About $4,000 enumerators will be re-
quired. Each will work in his own
locality. Any competent person is en-
titled to apply for this position, and
will be fairly considered for appoint
ment.
Political recommendations are not
necessary. The supervisors, 20 whom
application must be made, have been
instructed to consider all candidates
and to select solely on the basis of
efficiency. For the purpose of aiding
the supervisors in determining the
competence Of the candidates. a written
test will be prescribed, and any per-
son between the ages OF Is and 20 who
is a citizen of the United States will
be permitted to take IL.
THE test will be OF a strictly practi-
cal character, substantially the same
as was used in 1900. 1t will consist of
filling out sample schedule of pop
ulation, and, in the case OF rural dis
tricts. filling out also sample sched-
ule OF agriculture, these schedules be-
ing precisely the same as will actually
be used by the enumerators in their
work later on. In order to assist can
didates in preparing for the test, copies
Of the blank schedules and general in
structions regarding the manner of
filling them will be furnished to each
candidate in advance. Any person of
ordinary common school education and
good judgment should have no difficulty
in passing.
This test Is not civil-service ex-
animation. IL will be conducted under