The Detroit times., 1910-01-08
WANTS CITIZENS TO
AID ENUMERAT0Rs
Census Superior Points Out Value
To City of Accurate Boost"
Statistics.

II Detroit is 10 make a proper show
ing In the United States census, which
Is 10 be held between April Is and 80.
II will be necessary for every man
and woman to help the enumerators.
Every name omitted from the list be-
cause or any circumstances Is going 10
mean Just one less In the official popu-
lation OF the city for the next 10
years TO come; every bit OF informa-
tion missed as to wages and living
conditions. Is going to show that much
less In the prosperity OF the city In
the big census books.
For that reason. and believing that
Detroiters want TO boost their city.
Supervisor Orvlce X. Leonard Is going
to do all he can TO let the people OF
the city know that the big count Of
noses Is coming. He Is going TO make
the schedule OF questions public SO
that citizens can find out what IL
wanted and have the information
ready when the enumerator comes
around. And people going out Of the
city but whose home Is here, can write
out their answers to the various Ques-
tions and leave or mail them TO
neighbor TO be collected at the proper
time.
Although there are SO questions.
altogether. 1t Is not SO hard TO answer
as one might think. Everyone old
enough to talk knows his name and
age and where he was born. and most
people know where their fathers and
mothers were born. But II does take
little figuring 10 give the right fg-
ures as TO income and expenditures.
average number of working hours and
all that.
Perhaps some OF the questions may
sound embarrassing: II may be trifie
hard to tell total stranger how much
or the time you are employed and what
you get paid for 1t. But all the infor-
nation is confidential. The enumera-
tor dare not tell anyone else or he
would be prosecuted and the individ-
ual slips are lost In the mass OF data
when they get TO Washington. so that
John Jones wages and circumstances
disappear I'm the great shuttle OF aver
ages. The tax-dodger may safely tell
the census enumerator of his wealth.
| for il can never be used in court
against him.
All through. the census Is imper-
sonal and as secret as the confessional.
| And IL is the duty OF every man and
woman to help in making the compila-
ton complete. Furthermore. II IS
dangerous TO refuse to answer ques-
tons or prevaricate. for the census
taker can call in the nearest police
officer and compel obedience
There will be 325 enumerators
working during the census time In
Wayne county. The work OF laying
out districts Is now going on and. once
appointed, the enumerators will be
/ held responsible for their sections.
They are 10 get specified sum for
each name turned In and will report
every few days as to progress.
Supervisor Leonard Is going to ask
the clergy and school teachers to tell
their charges about the census SO that
everyone may be familiar with what is
coming. Interpreters will be required
I'm the foreign districts and IL Is IN
these that the greatest trouble Is ex-
pected.
| Enumerators whose district contain
many people who are away from their
boarding places all day and come
home only to sleep will have their
troubles. They may have TO leave
schedule blanks and get these per-
sons TO fill them out.
! Next week census Offices will be
opened on the third floor OF the Ford
building. There are a lot Of applica-
tions for places coming in now. and
the tests as to competency will be
held Feb g.