Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-09-27
How Big Is a Cityf

Pride in the home towns size is one
Of the toughest nuts the Census Bureau
has TO crack when It undertakes the
business of counting noses every ten
years. For when the cold figures fell to
meet the fond expectations Of emotional
luncheon clubs and chamber OF COM
merce boosters as to population, all the
bitter disappointment takes the form OF
caustic abuse heaped upon the heads of
the enumerators, and the demand is
made that something be done. Atlanta's
case is interesting, as it brings UP the
question OF how big" city can be in
the eyes Of its own proud citizens as
against the official and scientific APP
praisal of the unfeeling Census Bureau.
Atlanta's population as announced by
the Census Bureau is 27O,367. But. SO
insistent.i Is Atlanta that this Is all wrong
and the population In reality should be
S60,692 that 1t takes the matter into
court, asking for a writ Of mandamus
TO compel the Census Bureau to record
the latter figure. In his answer to the
petition, Director Of the Census Steuart
says that despite the protests received
from congressman, representative citi-
zens and officials of the Chambers Of
Commerce of other Southern cities stat
ing that the population Of Atlanta
should be set forth as $50, 692" the Gen.,
sus Bureau will continue to record the
population as 27e,367. To do otherwise
would be mot only untrue, but unfair
to other cities Of the South. and would
give Atlanta rank among the cities OF
the United States and the South to
which It Is not entitled"
The tight over Atlanta's population
does not rest upon the accuracy of the
enumerators, but upon the point. of
view regarding the number of smaller
surrounding municipalities and boroughs
to be included as part Of the city
of Atlanta. Mr.. Steuart tells the court
that while the Georgia Legislature has
authorized the mayor and common
council to draft and submit to the
Legislature new charter providing for
the consolidation of the governments
Of constituent boroughs and unincorpo-
rated communities, into one, the charter
must be submitted to and voted on by
each of the various boroughs, and this
Is not 70 be done before 1889. II the
Census Bureau construed the city Of
Atlanta on the basis of claims sup-
porting the larger population figure, 1t
would embrace an area of 1874 square
miles, larger than any city in the coun-
Try except New York, Chicago and
Los Angeles, with populations, in round
numbers. of 100000, 100000 and
100000 respectively. Possibly as q
polite concession to AtlantA's claims,
however, in its next bulletin the bureau
win include q footnote giving the, pop-
ulation Of the municipality Of Atlanta
IS 36o,es2, with the populations of
the various constituent municipalities
and boroughs separately enumerated.
No matter what the cities claim, the
Census Bureau, Of course, must set up
one standard for all and stick to It..
Otherwise the census figures would lose
al value for purposes of comparison
and merely serve to tickle the vanity
OF the city that could claim the great
est area in surrounding territory. No
matter how well founded ,Atlauta's
claim may appear to its citizens, it is
q futile gesture unless 1t is based an
standards accepted by the Census .Bu-
reau as reasonable and applying every
where.