Mr. Greenspan commented that the Census was not using the postal map but using the true map of city, villages and hamlets. Since I did some of the preparation work in Saratoga County for Census 2000, I must tell you that their system has some real problems. Why the government does not use only a GIS map for all of the Census is beyond me. With most counties and towns using GIS mapping for all of their needs, one has to wonder why anything else, especially some from over 50 years ago would still be in use. The maps I was given, in some areas, did not match the town maps. After working with the Town Assessors and other town officials to correctly identify the areas on my map, we discovered that there were quite a few errors. I had to redraw entire areas to place the residences I recorded on the map. Some subdivisions have been situated there for over 20 years and should have been included in the 1980 and 1990 census but were not on the map at all. Another census person was assigned the area adjoining mine but the information she had was not correct and because I had checked it at the town hall, found that she and I overlapped in some parts of a road and that parts of the upper road was not included in either of our maps. Also the name of the road at the foot of the hill did not mean a thing but the older residents knew what was correct. The local firestation was at the foot of the hill beside the sign and when I asked what they would tell the fire department, found that that was not even what they use. We were suppose to have been supplied with the latest information from 911 setup which included the latest street names, etc. Some roads on my map were logging roads of pre-1940's and grown over but we were required to drive (usually walk because it was not passable) to the far end of each as indicated on our map. Some roads were extended, cut off or no longer there. In other words the picture was totally changed many years ago. Distances in feet were way off and some not even close. I included the mileage to each in tenths of a mile for their use. The town assessor sent me to one man who resided in the town over 60 years and longer than anyone else in the area on the map. He showed me all of the areas that were missing and gave me better distances to follow. It would be work, I am sure, but it would seem like before the next census of 2010, that our government should attempt to convert to the GIS mapping system. All residences could be located on those maps and assigned a definite location ID and it would simplify a lot of processes for not only census but any municipal govenment to properly identify all necessary information for taxes, utilities, and other reports as needed. Ruth Ann Messick