The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-04-15
CENSUS TAKERS
COMMENCE WORK
CONTINUED from Page oneJ

the census himself l.. Dana Durand.
Also, the enumerator had a toun
tain pen filled with black ink, and
set OF daily report cards.
We met with a difficulty AT the very
| first house we visited. My friend rang
the doorbell. but nothing happened, eX-
cept that a little black dog ran around
! from behind the house and bCrked.
The only thing 10 do now Is TO
leave a blank schedule 10 be filed in
b. the family and trust to finding them
on a second visit. said the enumera-
tor. by rights they ought 10 be
Family No. l in my report. Now |
will have to leave them for my sup
elemental schedule"
What's a supplemental schedule"
asked
It's the regular one except We
mark 1t supplemental and use il for
enumerating people we don't find on
our first visit" he said. Just then an
old man In overalls came around from
the rear OF the house.
They've gone out OF town for over
Sunday" he said
who are you asked the enumer-
Gtor. Where do YOU live?'
Il live upstairs i'm the barn he said.
Il have my shop in there
IL guess you'll hay, 20 ne my first
family then. said 0umerGtor.
When the man in ovel- "rotCStei
that he wasn't a family, 80. al!
alone, my friend said tha 80
difference.
"One person can be a census flmi s.,
he said This census is neing taSal
ty families"
So we put down that Michael Flynn
was the head OF a family Of one.
When We came over from County
Cork there were five of us. he said.
Soon the first two children died.
Nora, my wife, went eight years ago.
too. and now all | have is my boy
Terence. He lives in New YorL
While the old man was prattinS
away my friend was writing on his
schedule without bothering TO ask
questions lie had il down: Flynn,
Michael Head OF family. Male.
White
How cid are you?' he said.
Let me see pondered Flynn. Il
was naturalized in 10 and then | Was
81 years old That makes"
But the enumerator already had him
down as ~, widowed. blank under
number OF years married three chill
dren born and one living, born in Ire
land father and mother Doth born in
Ireland. immigrated i'll 1861, natural
lied, speaks English, mechanic At odd
jobs, working on own account, able
to read and write, rents home veteran
Of the union army, and possessed OF
his faculties of seeing and hearing.
| looked on In admiration You re
a regular reporter for digging facts out
OF rambling talk | said.
The supervisor instructed us to lis
ten closely when people talk, he said.
Il thought | would be able TO do 1t,
And so we enumerated Michael Flynn.
Family No. l.
Flynn was a sample Of the way 1t
went A discouraginS thing 10 me was
the number OF folks away from home.
Wives were unable TO remember their
husbands ages, and that meant second
visits for the enumerator. One boy was
away at college. but we numbered him
IN His mother was able 10 give all
the information necessary In our
rounds we visited the homes of two
travelling men, out on the road. We
enumerated them from data supplied
bv wives and daughters.
1t is possible am duplicating
caumeTators in other cities with these
TWO men said my friend. We take
w. all hotels But nearly ever travel
Ing man who has a home Will tell an
euUmerator so and thus be left out Of
the enumeration In the city in which
he happens 10 be visiting The home
is tho only basis for accuracy
We visited the home of a washer
woman on a side street Her son was
IN jail she urged my friend to take
hgucs regarding hun. bur he shook
lis head. Then she pleaded. for she
feared ha was tc be left ont Of the
census.
"He will DE numbered" said the emu
meHtOr But be l have TO 30 in as
a prisoner iu the schedule sheets ~
the enumCrator Whn visits the jail
bat don't feel bad about H. Komem-
rer We destroy all names after the
figures are in
", came 70 several people who
coult not speak English This meaat
that an interpreter had 10 be- found.
one Chinamau refused 10 answer
Il know he eau peak English. 90
Tits 80 usc askiHr the supervisor Ter
J an Interpreter my friend said i
leGppose he has got into the country
lin spite OF the exclusion law. and Is
afraid TO answer
Finally the enumorator showed hiss
10 mciallooKing commission. and lastly
The badge No use John shook his
head. Bur my friend was prepare.
II lie drew from hiss pocket proolama.
ton In Chinese. issued by the Chinese
Consul-geoeral a, San Francisco. o.
LeriEg all the Chinese in America 20
answer he questions OF the census
enunerator. assuring the yellow meG
jnat NO Information so secured can DC
used in deportation proceedings After
heading tho picture writing the China.
man showed he understood English
Ignd answered the Questions