The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-07-14
Is Given Out by County Clerk
o. X. Swayze.
PEOPLE IN COUNTY 7O,O91
Gain of Nearly 5000 Made
Since Last Year.
The Largest Increase in SINH
lar Period in Years.

The report of the deputy assessors
on the population of Shawnee county,
including its townships and cities, was
released today by County Clerk o. K.
Swayze and shows an increase OF
nearly 5000 in this county since 1912.
This is the largest gain that has been
recorded for several years. Mr..
Swayze asserts that the population of
the assessors report places 1t at
49,S40. There are 70,091 people in
Shawnee county-in comparison with
64.225 year ago and 60,69S in 1911.
Deputies in the office of County As
SCISSOR S. H. Haynes have been busy
compiling the report since March L.
Mr.. SwayZe declares it the most ac-
curate record in years.
Topeka has over $4,000 inhabitants.
The enumeration taken by the asses
sors this spring does not show this
population, but it is so close that it is
safe to bet on This is the opinion
of the county clerk, who has just COM
pleted a com mpilation of the statistical
rolls as returned by the deputy asses
Sors.
"It is a we'll known fact" continued
Mr.. Swayze, that the assessors have
too much to do to pay strict attention
to the population figures. They do
their best, the most of them, but it is
a physical impossibi1ity for them to
finish their labors in the time allowed
by law and get all the dope required.
Just think of it, they must count the
shade and fruit trees, the strawberry
and other small fruit vines, the dogs
and wells. the babies and brides, the
pounds of butter made, the factories
and size of their output, and a thous-
and and one other things that all the
legislators of the past thirty years
could think of to load on them.
'tOf course their primary and i'm
portant work is the assessment of
property for taxation. 1t is important
that this be as accurately taken as
mans judgment will permit, if all else
be neglected, yet a penalty is fixed for
failure to do the many chores for out
side bodies, the state board of agricul-
ture, the state board of horticulture,
the state board of health, etc. Then
people wonder why the population
figures are below the estimate of the
best gueSserS.
when the city and county assessors
commenced their labors on March 1, Coun-
ty Assessor Haynes and the county clerk
impressed upon them the Importance of
getting every soul in the enumeration of
their districts. Throughout the assessing
period they were reminded over and
over to count all the people. 1t is be-
lieved the extra effort is responsible for
the nearest correct enumeration taken for
many years.
For the purpose of comparison the as
SCISSORS enumeration for three years IS
shown here, also part of the government
census figures for 1910. Il is fair to pre-
sumo that the federal census takers, who
had nothing else to do, made a better job
it is hard to believe that Topeka citys
population was correct, when the asses
sors found 1,459 more people that year
than the census takers did,
The government report for 1910 shows
total population of 61,s74 persons in Shaw
nee coqnty1the county figures are SO, $50.
OF the city at 436S4-the county report
totals As, 143 persons in Topeka.
Following is the complete report of the
population of Shawnee county for the
past three years: