Hon. CHARLES H. WILSON, Subcommittee on Census and Statistics, CITY PLANNING COMMISSION, Cannon House Office Building, Washington, D.C. Norwalk, Conn., July 27, 1971. DEAR SIR: Thank you very much for your letter dated July 26. I have written the President and enclose herewith a copy of that letter. I applaud your activities in pursuit of a mid-decade census. It is ironic but true that those interested and concerned with the use of statistics have been trying for such a census ever since the fourth decade of the last century. If you are not aware of it I suggest that you review the so-called Shattuck Report to the Massachusetts General Court prepared in 1842, I believe, in which it urged a mid-decade census. As my letter to the President indicates, Massachusetts did adopt Shattuck's proposal but in terms of our needs of today it was so limited it was virtually useless. Thank you again. Very truly yours, Enclosure. JOSEPH R. TAMSKY, CITY PLANNING COMMISSION, The PRESIDENT, Washington, D.C. MR. PRESIDENT: As a city planner I have long felt a critical need for up-to-date information on the changes which have been occurring in our communities. I have worked in the states of Connecticut, Massachusetts and Pennsylvania during the past 25 years and in each our planning was greatly hampered by a lack of data, dependent as we were on the Decennial Census. Actually Massachusetts had a census of sorts which was taken every ten years at the mid-Census date (1935, '45, etc.). While this system was better than nothing (it gave us only total population without breakdown by age, sex, race or by section of the town) it was only, in fact, a little better. Connecticut, using an annual census of school-aged children, publishes an annual town-by-town estimate of population. These figures have only marginal usefulness, however, because they are only estimates and have been found in error more often than not. Actually the lack of good data on the number, characteristics, and distribution of population and housing constitutes one of the most significant barriers to effective local planning that I know of. Times are changing and our communities (even those which are not growing rapidly) are undergoing significant changes each year. The need for a middecade census is greater now than ever before. I urge your support for this modest expansion of a critical data source. Respectfully submitted, JOSEPH R. TAMSKY, CITY PLANNING DEPARTMENT, Colorado Springs, Colo., July 26, 1971. The PRESIDENT, The White House, Washington, D.C. DEAR MR. PRESIDENT: I am writing to urge your support for a mid-decade census series to be undertaken in 1975 and every 10 years thereafter. Because of the rapid growth of the Colorado Springs metropolitan area, it was found that the 1960 Census was of little or no value to the community in the late 60's. It is definitely my opinion that because the society and physical makeup of our cities is changing at an ever-increasing rate, a census series taken every five years is essential to keep abreast of the ever-increasing social and physical problems. Generally speaking, I favor a complete enumeration along the lines of the 1970 Census, so that proper comparative data will be made available. I thank you for your consideration of my feelings concerning this matter. Very respectfully yours, JAMES D. RINGE, CITY OF EAST ORANGE, PLANNING DEPARTMENT, East Orange, N.J., July 15, 1971. Hon. RICHARD M. NIXON, Washington, D.C. DEAR PRESIDENT NIXON: As professional planners who recognize the need for current, accurate census information, we urge you to support the efforts of the Subcommittee on Census and Statistics to establish a mid-decade census enumeration. The benefits and long term financial savings of such a program greatly outweigh the cost of the census program. Sincerely, JAMES T. Tso, Assistant Planning Director. SPOKANE, WASH., July 14, 1971. Hon. RICHARD M. NIXON, President of the United States, The White House, Washington, D.C. MY DEAR MR. PRESIDENT: I was surprised to leanr of your Administration's recent reversal of its position concerning the mid-decade census. At a time when our population is more mobile than ever before and unincorporated county populations adjacent to urban areas are growing at tremendous rates, resulting in increased planning problems in these suburban areas, it is inconceivable that your Administration would deny local governments this essential tool for sound fiscal management. A great deal of time is being spent by your Administration in an attempt to implement some form of revenue sharing plan. The allocation of such funds which would be kicked back to the local areas may well be based on the estimate of population for respective localities. The areas most in need of "preventive maintenance planning" are the suburban and small town areas. With less resources with which to fight for their share, much of these vitally needed funds are going to continue to be spent on our "downtown problems." Consequently, our next "downtown problems" will certainly be in our present suburbs. A mid-decade census would give these growing areas a fair and equitable tool with which to opt for a slice of the pie commensurate with the scope of their pending problems. I sincerely request that your Administration again review its decision not to enumerate at mid-decade. Respectfully yours, THOMAS G. MOSHER, Associate AIP. CITY OF OMAHA PLANNING DEPARTMENT, President RICHARD M. NIXON, Washington, D.O. DEAR MR. PRESIDENT: It is my understanding that the Director of the Bureau of Census, Dr. George H. Brown, has stated that the administration does not favor a mid-decade census. I would like to give you my opinion on this subject as a Professional City Planner. I do not see how we can continue to operate and be expected by the Federal Government to supply the myriad of population and socio-economic type information, which is required by all Federal Programs unless we go to a fiveyear census. In Planning, "change is the name of the game." Population, land uses and socio-economic factors change rapidly in the cities, sometimes by the second, minute and day. When we have to deal with ten year old statistics, we are severely hampered as we attempt to arrest or solve the problems of the City. Your attention to this most pressing domestic problem would be most appreciatel by the City Planners of the United States. Sincerely yours, JAMES F. KELLY, City Planner. JULY 26, 1971. The PRESIDENT, Washington, D.C. MR. PRESIDENT: I am writing to you in the hope of gaining your support for the mid-decade census which had been discussed by Subcommittee on Census and Statistics of the Committee on Post Office and Civil Service. As a planner at the local level, I cannot overemphasize the value of census information to planning efforts. If we are to meet the problems which our nation faces, those of housing, economic development, discrimination, poverty, we must have first hand information available. The Bureau of the Census has been a leader in providing sound, reliable data which can be used to form the bases of local aid programs. To this end, I implore you to support the mid-decade census currently under examination. Respectfully yours, JOSEPH M. MISSAVAGE, Commissioner. JULY 26, 1971. The PRESIDENT, The White House, Washington, D.C. MR. PRESIDENT: I am writing to you in the hope of gaining your support for the mid-decade census which had been discussed by Subcommittee on Census and Statistics of the Committee on Post Office and Civil Service. As a planner at the local level, I cannot overemphasize the value of census information to planning efforts. If we are to meet the problems which our nation faces, those of housing, economic development, discrimination, poverty, we must have first hand information available. The Bureau of the Census has been a leader in providing sound, reliable data which can be used to form the bases of local aid programs. To this end, I implore you to support the mid-decade census currently under examination. Respectfully yours, STEWART J. PAPERIN, Senior Planner. THE CITY OF PENSACOLA, FLA., The PRESIDENT, The White House, Washington, D.C. DEAR MR. PRESIDENT: Please reconsider your and Dr. George H. Brown's decision to not undertake a mid-decade census in 1975. If a complete census is not feasible, a limited population and housing census would be very beneficial to all the urban areas in the country. The people utilizing census data in the Pensacola area are in complete agreement with Representative Charles H. Wilson, California, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Census and Statistics of the Committee on Post Office and Civil Service that a mid-decade census is important to our country and hope that you will reconsider your decision on this matter. Respectfully yours, PETER A. DEVRIES, Director of Planning. OFFICE OF THE MAYOR, Sioux Falls, S. Dak., August 11, 1971. Hon. CHARLES H. WILSON, U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, D.C. DEAR CONGRESSMAN WILSON: In this fast moving society and also very transient society, it would appear that a mid-decade census would be of great benefit to cities and states throughout the country. It would greatly facilitate planning for future development in the areas of housing, public utilities, police and fire protection, etc. I hope you are successful in your efforts and thank you for sending me the Congressional Record, Volume 117, Number 90, dated June 14, 1971. Thank you again and best wishes. 63-434-72-15 M. E. SCHIRMER, Mayor. D. Communications From Business and Professional Organizations MAYO CLINIC, Rochester, Minn., September 22, 1971. Hon. RICHARD M. NIXON, The White House, Washington, D.C. DEAR MR. PRESIDENT: I recently wrote to Congressman Albert H. Quie, Representative of this district. Mr. Quie recommended that I call to your attention the information in that letter which I had stated as follows: I was disappointed to read today of the Administration's refusal to endorse a mid-decade census. The high degree of mobility and rapid growth of our population dictate the need for current census information. This Department is currently involved in a 5-year research project supported by the National Institutes of Health at a cost of $250,000 annually and we constantly utilize census data for this research and various other projects in medicine. The United States Census is one of the most valuable data sources we have in this Department, but by 1976 the 1970 census will be seriously outdated. To protect its investment in our research, I would hope that the government would revise the census arrangements. A proposal to have the census at 5-year intervals is sound and necessary. I urge you to add your support to efforts to have a 1975 census. Sincerely, LEONARD T. KURLAND, M.D., Professor of Epidemiology, Mayo Graduate School of Medicine. JULY 14, 1971. The PRESIDENT, The White House, MR. PRESIDENT: Dr. G. H. Brown, Director of the Bureau of the Census, recently said, in testimony before the Subcommittee on Census and Statistics, that "At this time this Administration does not recommend a mid-decade census." Congressman C. H. Wilson, Chairman of the Subcommittee expressed his deep disappointment at this refusal of support for the mid-decade census, and urged all census users to contact the President "advising him of their desperate need for a mid-decade census." Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, United Kingdom, Ireland, Turkey. and Denmark have gone over to a five-year census, while in the U.S. the Census of Population and Housing is the only one still on a ten-year basis. Because of the rapid growth and great mobility of our population the decennial census data is inadequate for at least the last half of each decade, and this means that it is outdated very soon after it becomes generally available. It is vitally important that we have current data on population and housing which is needed 1. As the basis for our entire vital statistics system, 2. For epidemiologic and health delivery research, 3. On a block-by-block for urban planning to cure the desperate ills which exist in our large cities, 4. For allocation of block grants and categorical funds by the Federal government, |