The Yakima Census Shortfall
A census taker quits early, leaving the city's official population count significantly underrepresented.
Census Enumerator Liggett has completed his labors, and the indications are that the returns will not show the actual population of this city by several hundreds. Mr. Liggett has stated that he repeatedly visited dwellings and was unable to find the occupants at home, and the parsimonious remuneration for such work would not admit of the devotion of more time to the attainment of a complete census. For his labor he will be paid less than forty dollars, which certainly is inadequate compensation. The same complaint comes from other sections throughout the state, giving evidence that the census will be invaluable as an authoritative statement of the population.
“The parsimonious remuneration for such work would not admit of the devotion of more time to the attainment of a complete census.”
Census undercounting remains a major civic struggle, often impacting federal funding and representation for growing cities like Yakima. What was then a complaint about 'parsimonious' pay for the legwork of counting neighbors reflects the same tensions in ensuring equitable and accurate data collection today.
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