The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1946-01-19
COUNCIL ORDERS
new AREA CENSUS
Continued from Page One)

City stands ready to defray the
testimated $500, based on 10 cents
per name, cost of the special
count.
The Bureau of Census is ex-
pected to set machinery in mo-
ton for taking the count as soon
as the City's check is received in
Wa shington. Under customary pro-
cedure, as soon as the check has
been received there the Bureau
will send enumerator supervisors
here to begin the count: The
Bureau recently has said it has
supervisors available to send here
at once.
The census is expected to show
an official city population OF over
1000, including 1000 residents OF,
the recently incorporated Sunset
Park and East Wilmington Sec
lions. Local officials, businessmen
and civic leaders have expressed
themselves as believing that such
evidence of an increased popu-
lation would be instrumental in at
tracing additional industries and
residents to the community.
The enabling motion, introduced
by Councilman J. E. L. Wade and
seconded by Councilman Robert S.
LeGwin at a special council meet
ing yesterday morning, further pro-
vided that the council authorize the
necessary. expenditure to finance
he census.
Indications today were that
| future action might be taken on
suggestion advanced by Council
man Harris Newman that the city
either request that the census be
limited to ascertaining the exact
number of people, without ad-
ditional information, or that the
Bureau limit its supplementary
data to survey of the type Of
employment experience the lstees
have or desire.
Newman's proposal stemmed
from his contacts, as member
of Industrial Properties, Inc, with
representative of industries inter-
ested in locating here. Industry
heads who are considering Will
mington, he pointed out, are ex-
tremely anxious for a guide to po-
tential sources of labor.
Wade's motion followed reports
by Nichols and City Clerk j. R.
Benson, instructed two weeks ago
to scan the budget for means Of
financing the census.
Although both committee men,
bers agreed that the count could
be paid for from the current
budget, some difference Of opinion
as to the best means of financing
it was evidenced.
Presenting a gloomy picture of
future city budgets, Nichols pre-
dicted that this years surplus, re-
quired by law to be carried over
as income in the next fiscal
budget, would be only about $780,
900, compared with t h $4,000
carried over from last year.
A more optimistic forecast was
voiced by Benson, who anticipates
surplus of between $4,000 and
S1OG, 600.
The most marked difference in
the two reports cropped up in the
proposed method of making neces-
sary transfers of funds to- finance
the census.
Nichols suggestions, if followed,
would involve the utilization of
small SURPRISES in the city election
and advertising appropriations, in
addition to $1,575 deposit to be
returned to the city from the Pied
mont League.
| Declaring that further alloca-
tons from the $4,000 emergency
fund would seriously deplete that
appropriation and leave very little
money in it for the last six months
of the fiscal year, Nichols said,
'That's about as far as I can go
in this natter
He made no recommendation
but cautioned councilmen that ''we
can't maintain our income at the
rate it's been for the past few
years" He said he was "disturbec
by the fact that the balance is
going to be materially reduced
and was trying to project my
thinking into the time when we've
got to be thinking about mex
| years budget"
The two chief sources for a sur
plus this year are, according tt
the manager, Alcoholic Beverage
Control board receipts and under
] spending.
It was brought out, through
= questioning by Wade, that Nichols
suggestions would require thu
drawing of legal resolutions b,
City Attorney w. B. Campbell, be
fore the necessary funds could b,
transferred to defray tn e censu
cost.
III Further inquiry by Wade reveal
ed that Benson had drawn III
| another set of possible source
which, if used, would require nj
| legal "red tape"
| Asked to report to the council
| the city clerk said, II could no
tell you that the money is no
available. It's in the budget; it.
up to you as to how much yol
| want to cut your estimated bal
ance at the end of the year"
II Benson explained that, if desir