Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1910-04-26
WOES OF CENSUS TAKER
EASTERN OREGON ENUNIERAToR
HAS HIS PECK OF TROUBLE.
Dogs Chase Him, Children Pull His
Hair, and Wild Man Threatens
to XIII Him.

1t is hard to be census enumera-
tor. To be a Democrat and a census
enumerator with Senator S. c. Beach
as the boss might be considered still
more of a combination. But that is
not all. Up in eastern Oregon is an
enumerator, who is Democrat and
who has been, during the past few
days, the recipient of many exper-
fences. He is, personally, a great
friend of the supervisor, and because
of his qualification he was asked to be
one of the enumerators, and said he did
not want the job He at last said that,
in case of great need, or in case there
happened to be district that no other
man would cover, as a matter of per-
sonal friendship he would take dis
trict He took one, and he tells about
it in the following letter to the su
pervisor:
Dear Beach, received the special
irrigation blanks, as my district is arid
except where reclaimed.
81 walked five miles one night over
the mountains before finding a place
to Sleep Roads are good, though.
Sometimes 1 walk three or four miles
into or out of my place to find a
rancher. A number of places have
changed hands and cannot get last
years report on crops, but am doing
the best possible. Have had some
great experiences. 1t is very hard to
get into a house and out without in
convenience.
Children Interfere.
"a youngster picked up my foun-
tain pen and broke it the first day by
prying with it while I was changing
papers. Another day a child grabbed
my hat and threw it into the water
ing trough, while another at the same
house swiped my knife. One schedule
was spoiled by baby grabbing 1t and
giving it to the dog.
There is seldom table on which
to write, at any house, and 1 use my
lap most of the time. Fence rails in
some instances for a table, and used
the stove at one place. At one place
where I staid over night the sheets
evidently conformed to the legal
length, but were made of diapers,
while one of the pillows was made of
-four sack and a corset cover.
1t is hard to write with one child
grabbing at the ink bottle, another at
the penholder, another at your grip
and two or three are asking questions
and another standing on your toes,
while dear mamma says, Don't
Mary" Don't Harry" "Now baby"
Here, look here, sonny, the man may
not like that" but at the same time
says about baby, Don't he look just
too sweet and cute for anything?"
"As 1 know not where I will stay at
nights, must carry all luggage with
me. ] had to work Sunday in order to
I find some people at home. In order to
do the census work justice 1 had to
thus work on the first day of the week.
How should the work be marked, nth
or a weekday date?
Crop Figures Come Hard.
"a number of present operators of
farms are unable to give last years
products, as others farmed the same
and last years people are gone, but
( can get estimates.
There is a partly deranged fellow
living back in the mountains who
keeps seven vicious dogs and at all
times carries a cooked gun. He has
killed one man, driven a number away
and fired at others Reputable men
who have been there warn me to stay
away,
my trousers are badly torn by
climbing barbed wire fences My coat
belongs to a second hand man, my vest
and shirt are not bullet proof, my
heart is in the right place and my feet
are tender. 1 carry no dog or bullet
Insurance. The world yet looks good
to me."-Portland Journal.