The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-10-25
PORTLAND GROWTH
FINDS DEFENDER
Oregon Town Dislikes NOto-
riety from Census Middle.
by JOIN Il. LATHRoP.

Correspondent Portland COrsgl Journal and Boise
idaho Capital Newal
The country was startled a week ago by
the announcement OF Director e. Dana
Durand OF the Census Bureau, that gross
frauds had been discovered In the emu
meratlon OF Tacoma Seattle. and Aber-
deem. Wash; Portland. Greg. and Boise,
Idaho, as Well as In Minneapolis, Mimi,
and Fort Smith. Ark
This statement was followed during the
past week by admissions that only in
Tacoma was there evidence or more than
usual errors OF the count As TO Ia
coma. The bureau maintained that more
than $1,000 names had been added 10 the
alleged population, leaving s2,S72 as the
correct figures for that city. 1t was adj
naitted that in the instances of the other
cities the final announcement OF popula-
ton, corrected by rigid investigation and
exam eston by bureau experts. would be
substantially as indicated by the original
returns OF the enumeratOrs and super
Visors.
Representatives OF those Western cities.
thus absolved from all imputation OF con-
spiracy 10 work a fraud upon the law,
believe that justice 10 Portland. Seattle.
ana Boise demands that the people OF the
East be given the facts herein set forth.
For instance, the return Of the bureau
experts showed that errors were found
in only two enumeration districts IN
Boise, and the Director stated 10 me per-
sonaliy that the final figures would be
almost exactly the same as those orig
inally returned by the enumeratOrs.
In portland no errors were discovered
hal -r.F -Fef -I.r.
ures, and the same Is true as 20 Seattle.
About LOCO names ara alleged TO be I'm
the Portland enumeration which should
not have been there. a small fraction OF
Il per cent Taking into account all OF
the pertinent facts relating TO the cen
sus-gathering Of this year Il Is apparent
thar irreparable injury has been done 10
The eiues which were included with Ia
coma As 10 that city. II Is understood
that further proceedings are 10 be had,
With specific allegations by bureau Of
hcials that concerted action was had by
census takers and local interests 10 pad
the returns. The truth. Of course sill
Dc brought out IN the Investigation.
which, it Is said VIII be made through
regular Federal court procedure.
But, apart from all other considera-
atoms. the incident OF the inclusion OF the
now practically eKonerated cities IN
the list with Tacoma has thrown q
cloud over the claim OF the municipali-
ties concerned that their increases OF
population have been so enormous as the
returns show
The East win perhaps. find Il difficult
to believe even the final figures 10 be
given out Yet. here Is an illustration
which shows the wonderful growth IN
that region. The Portland Railway,
Light and Power Company, which con
uols every mile Of street car line IN Port
land. on October Il. 1910. filed its annual
report with the secretary OF State or
Oregon. II shows:
Passengers csrriei in 1900 as.sS0,7: passengers
carried IL 1910, sle2 80; increase. l5SS6 SIS q 3
Der cent.
Receipts nom transportation. 1870. 8. s5s asol, re-
ceiDis frum transportation. 1910 s. 1913; Increase
in one year. siI5aS650
This was an increase in passengers OF
q per cent in one year. The same ratio
Of increase, maintained during the past
ten years, would yield 80 per cent for the
decennial period The Federal census
gave Portland 1920 in 1900. An increase
Of go per cent in ten years would Yield
at this time 2g7792 population.
Every auxiliary test - city directory
business Of the local post-ofice. regis
tratou Of voters, passengers carried by
steam roads. and still others-uphold the
claim Of Portland 10 at least $4,000 popu-
latiOn; an Increase Of about IL per cent
The same IS true Of other cities which
should now justly be included IN the ac-
Cused by implication but not found guilty
class. Folks Directory gives Portland
go 600 population this year
The 1900 enumeration was palpably in
adequate. Every other test showed not
less Than 1860 population az that time.
But, even accepting the figures OF that
year as correct, the present population
Of Portland, IL placed az 252,000, IS within
the truth when tested by every means
possible. II is only fair 20 those other
cities 10 record that the census officials
do not accuse the citizens Of concerted
action 10 commit fraud.
So fast has Portland grown. that Post
master herrick has reported that 5000
persons living there now are not served
by letter carriers. The aceretions have
been so rapid that. although additional
carriers have been added, faster than
ever before, the Post-otiice Department
has found IL impossible 10 keep pace
with the Increase OF population.