New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-04-16
NOSES BEING COUNTED
Census Takers Begin Big Task
of Enumeration.

The actual work Of collecting STATISTICS
about the five million inhabitants Of greater
New York began yesterday morning az
O'Clock. when the census takers starred
their big task. Two weeks are assigned oy
the government for the work. and its soiu-
ton is system
IF it wasn't for system We could do
nothing. said Supervisor Albert Falck. IN
his office. on the seventh iOor OF the
Trinity Building BY far the most DIM
cult work have had is getting the ma
chine ready and the cOgs in order 50 thar
the wheels will move without hitch It
is running splendidIy so far. but pride com
eth-yOu know.
Strange TO say. thus far the enUmeratOrs
have not reported single case OF trouble.
and they are working in all sorts Of sec
lions and In all parts OF the city The
public always expects the census taker 10
be thrown downstairs or to lose his hair
at the hands Of an irate spinster or some
I thing like that but the spring weather
seems 70 have warmed all hearts.
/ Mr. Falck will not make estimates. It's
a foolish man who does. he said II Is
thought that there are about 2.Sa.0J0 per
I sons in Manhattan and The Bronx Some
/ 100 enumerators are at work on these. and
\
I between l.5o0 and 1000 names
/ There are fifteen special agents directly
under the head supervisor. and each OF
these has charge Of 81 inspectors The in
/ spectors. in turn. control about 30 emu
merators each. This year there is a good
proportion Of women among the euumera-
tors-l5O in all-and they are working large
/ ~ I'm the tenement and residence sections.
I a u
shifts. for the task is regarded as stupen-
dOus.
Advance blanks have been scattered in
every home and institution in the city, so
that those who would have 70 answer the
questions could become familiar with them
before the patient enumerator came around.
And it takes considerable patience 20 earn
a days wages. for the rate is from two
70 two and a half cents a name Down
/ town in the business districts the emu
merators get paid by the day for the 1ani-
tors are about the only legal inhabitants
OF the various Office buildings
The enumeratOrs have full authority 70
call a policeman II there is a refusal to
answer questions. but there should be no
! reluctance in answering. for proclamation
/ on the back OF the blanks signed by Presi-
dent Taft distinctly says that no informa-
ton gained will be used for political pur-
/ poses. for Jury or military duty or in en-
I forcing any OF the laws Of the land and
that the Information will not be dtvulgsd.
/ Enumerators may be punished by a heavy
l fine for disclosing information.
/ In the foreign quarters in some instances
interpreters are employed to assist the emu
meratOrs but where il has been possible
| the jobs have been combined, and money
and that other valuable asset time. are
I saved.
In Brooklyn Supervisor William Liebar-
man. IN charge Of the census on Long
Island and Staten Island. appealed TO the
police to guard against the theft % the
advance sheets. EnumeratOrs found that
I in some instances the sheets had been
stolen or mislsid and that men were selling
them at cents each. advising people
that it would be a good plan 10 have them
ready before the rush began.