The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1890-07-10
AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS.
RYrHa SECRETARY.

lew COHuttc1 u buG bto1c Ectuttu 10
give assessors the farm statistics the
Law requires them 20 take. the Secre-
tary Of this Board prepared IN srti-
Gle on The subject In which he sought
70 ktate clearly the reasons why
farmers should give these statistics,
and this paper vas given IN the pub
lie through the repoi Of this hnsrd
last July.
In the December quarterly report
Of this board, also. q paper was pub
lished. taken from the report Of the
Department Of Agriculture, Wash
Ington, ID. c., showing 10 q coneIu-
sive manner Why these statistics
should be given. And In order to
assist the assessors ia case they met
with opposition Of this character
while engaged In their official duties
last spring, prepared Q letter and
inserted it on The first page OF the
statistical role, which In this way
was brought directly before the eyes
Of each assessor Of the state. In this
letter stated briefly and clearly the
reasons why giving statistics could
be no detriment to farmers, but on
the other hand benefit.
After all this effort on the part OF
the secretary, with the valued assis-
lance Of the editor OF the Kansas
Farmer. who on several occasions
through this paper spoke plainly and
frankly on the subject, advising the
farmers to give the statistics. we are
confronted with the fact that Farm
ers' Alliances In different sections Of
the State more than ever before have
persisted In passing resolutions
against giving farm statistics, and
many assessors have written us that
they have had trouble in getting the
information they are required by law
TO gather.
Under tbese circumstances would
not think Of saying anything further
on the subject ut this time, believing
that that class of farmers who are Of
this mind are either beyond che
reach Of the literature of this office,
or II within reach are not in q cor,di-
ton Of mind at present 20 be eithe Z
reasonable or logical; but to our sur
prise we have found that some OF the
leading alliance papers Of the state,
which are presumed Go be aud ought
to be the directors Of thought in the
present crisis, take aides with that
class Of farmers, comparatively small
as yet, who are opposed to giving
publicity to crop statistics. These
public journals, which should be
directors OF thought aud noulders OF
public sentiment, are advocating the
abolition OF that feature Of the state
Board Of Agriculture which provides
for the collection OF agricultural sta
tistles. This being 30, It seems 10 he
the duty OF some one to investigate
the subject thoroughly, and give the
facts more fully TO the public than
heretofore.
IL it II true, as claimed, that the
publication Of these crop statistics ID
detrimental to the farming interests
Of our country. then certainly every
statistical bureau Ia the United
states and that OF the National Gov.
eminent should lie sunk into the ses
and the farmers allowed to grope
'he:r way In darkness; furthermore
zhe national census-taker now about
10 visit us should be sent to Hades
and darkness reign supreme.
Now, what are the reasons given
for this opposition to publicity Of
crop statistics? First, we are told
zhat this statistical information
which assessors gather Is used by
grain spectators I'm q way that II
detrimental to the producing classes
Now In answer to this, will say II
eur farmers knew what 1 know In
regard TO this matter, they would
know this: that the Chicago Board
VI Trade have means Of securing this
same information wholly ludepen.
lent OF the assessors returns, and
they will and do get this information
in spite ri anything we may do
'rhey have paid agents or reporters
Ina every county in the State, who
report TO the board in Chicago when.
ever called on, the acreage, eondl-
zion aud yield Of every lesding crop
grown in the State. One Of these
county reporters, while In my Office
o short time ago, told me he Vas paid
for reporting. Besides, they have
experts out travelling during the
growing season, and when they have
been over = State they know about
as much concerning the condition,
yield, ETC., Of leading crops as We do
after assessor returns are In. Two
Of these experts were in my Office a
few days ago. One Of them said TO
ne that he was paid from thirty to
forty dollars per day for this work.
Travelled not only by railroad, but
much by private conveyance into
sections away from railroads. Went
into the grain fields, talked with
farmers, aud when he had canvassed
q state he would approximate very
nearly the yield OF wheat, etc.; and
thia IL true.
Since, then, grain spectators will
have aRd do have this information
In spite Of Us, the argument OF the
farmers ~ stated for refusing 10 give
statistics to the assessors has no
force whatever. This, however.
being the fact, that spectators will
have this information anyhow, Ii
strong reason why farmers should
have q means Of securing it them
selves. Otherwise wosId be IN the
light and the farmers In the dark.
In busIness, light II always 10 be pre-
ferred TO Observation-Disclosures 10
ignorance.
But when pressed, these wise
teachers say farmers should not be
In ignorance in regard to their own
business, but now since they are 90
organized, this informa-
ton should be secured through their