Newscopy: Census-takers invade bowery New York: - down to the street of forgotten men – the bowery - went Uncle Sam's census-takers, April 8, to invade 15¢ flop houses, missions, hallways, etc., in quest of information for the 1940 census. A sad sight to meet their eyes was this - in an all night mission as 8 bowery - where men without the price of a flop house sit and sleep on these benches.