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History of the New York Census. 



Having thus briefly noticed the several census returns 

 heretofore made in our state, we arrive at the very im- 

 portant question: — How can this inquiry be made more 

 thorough and complete ? 



It is obvious that the chief difficulties lie in the procur- 

 ing of full and uniform data. When the returns are once 

 received, the office details are altogether under control, 

 and the subdivisions of labor, the checks against error, 

 and final combinations and classifications, become matters 

 of accurate and systematic arrangement. 



I will therefore limit my remarks to the arrangement of 

 the blanks, and the probable difficulties to be overcome in 

 securing their proper return. 



Under the law of 1855, still in force, the preparation of 

 the schedules and the selection and appointment of enu- 

 merators, is entrusted to the secretary of state. The law 

 directs that one or more persons shall be appointed in 

 each town or ward. In 1855, this was made to imply one 

 in each election district. It may, if desirable, be extended 

 to school districts, or other small subdivisions of towns, 

 or to one or more blocks bounded by streets in the cities. 

 In these respects the existing law requires no change, and 

 upon a careful and deliberate revision of the law of 1855, 

 I find but two sections that absolutely require modifica- 

 tion. One of these, is that fixing the compensation of the 

 agents employed in making the enumeration at $2 per 

 day, a sum which under existing circumstances is too 

 small, and not enough to secure men competent for the 

 work. The other, is a clause making the payment to de- 

 pend upon the acceptance of the returns. As soon as 

 received, the schedules should be carefully revised by a 

 competent clerk, and if any obvious neglect or error ap- 

 pears, the person making the returns should be required 

 to supply the deficiency, or correct the error. Each clerk 

 of boards of supervisors should receive from the secretary 



