Medford Historical Society Papers, Volume 25.

Never before has there been so accurate an enumeration of Medford's people made available. For instance, a family residing at number—, ——street, consists of the father, whose occupation is——. The mother is listed as housewife, but a distinction is found in some cases where some woman is the housekeeper. The young people of each household are there listed according to occupation, and older women ‘at home.’ To the names of some elderly men residing with a son the former occupation is given, and in some cases as ‘retired.’ In a few cases no occupation is given, though such are rare; the writer, after a residence in Medford of over fifty-two years, finds himself thus distinguished. No material criticism was made in the matter of the age item until the recent listing. Probably that is in the main correct, but there are exceptions.

Assuming 42,000 to be Medford's present population, with 27,000 above twenty years listed thus, and 7,000 enrolled in the schools, leaves 8,000 made up of children under five years, and young people under twenty not in public school. As yet we are not informed what proportion this latter class bears to the former. It is one, however, that will next year, in part, pass over into the listed residents to increase the 27,000 and be a part of the voting factor for good or for ill. The question naturally arises, ‘Which will it be?’ What do those of the annually recurring recruits to the voting list know of the city's affairs and needs, or of the qualifications for service of those for whom they vote?

Delegated to the few, are the city's business affairs placed in competent hands by the popular vote? Again it may well be asked, ‘How many of the electorate of Medford are enough concerned for its welfare to acquaint themselves with its affairs and their administration, but leave it to the other fellow? How many ever see the city's annual printed reports, or read its pages and form ’