Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1891-07-06
Thu Siatiatica Of AK.icultuIe

In his annual report for 1s90as statis-
tician Of the United States Department
of Agriculture, Hon. J. r. Dodge gives
the following interesting facts regarding
the work of his division:
The crop reporting service is more
extended than at any former date, and
the constant aim has been to increase its
efficiency. 1t is duplicate in organiza-
ton, one set of correspondents report
ing directly to this office, the other to
state agents, who consolidate their
returns and report state averages for
comparison with those produced by the
tabulation of the regular returns
There are 1888 counties, each repre-.
sented by chief correspondent, aided
by at least three assistants, from which
reports are regularly made to the de-
partment. The corps of the state
agents is also very large. Effort
is made to obtain men Of largest expert
ence and best judgment for this service
men of ability and character, Of
promptness and reliability, OF public
spirit and esprit de corps as farmers.
Some have been twenty years in the
work. They have undoubtedly done
more extensive and valuable service than
any corps of voluntary correspondent
in any line of organized effort in the his
| tory of the country-content with the
compensation afforded by conscious
| ness of advancing the local and general
| interests of agriculture and promoting
the public good. In both lists there are
about thirteen thousand who regularly
contribute TO the preparation of the
| county estimates.
These correspondents are engaged in
| a grand work of primary statistical edu
| cation. The masses OF the people in
this country are perhaps freer from
ancient preiudices against the number
ing of the people," the census of crop
production, and the publicity of infor-
nation concerning current crop pros
poets than those Of any other. Consci
Gus of existence under free government
and liberal institutions, they cover I'M
der no tyranny and fear no oppression.
They seek only equitable compensation
for their labor in production. To OBJ
tain this knowledge of the amount and
quality of products. not only Of this
| country but of other countries compel
| ing 10 the same markets, is absolutely
necessary and this can not be obtained
in any other way so fully as by the gov
eminent iu co operation with other gov
ernments Were it possible, az it is not,
for American farmers to obtain this in
formation without government aid, and
keep it n s, cret OF their own, they would
be at the mercy Of Spectators more
than ever, rs the great advantage and
benefaetion Of national crop reports con-
| sists In their regulation OF the wild move
ments of speculative trade, which does
not he. itate tn exaggerate conditions,
mi srepresent facts invent misstatements.
and circulate s)l this misinformation in
newspapers # the largest circulation.
This causes constant fuctuation in the
market, not only facilitating specializing
movements, but giving opportunity for
largest actual buying of farmers
when prices are most depressed. The
tenor OF the best commercial opinion
sustaips the authoritative character of
the national crop report.
The demand for agricultural statistics
as basis for legislation and for intelli-
| gent action In business, has never been
more eager and general than in the past
year, Representatives and citizens of
foreign governments have been supplied
with data in response to requests for
| Information. Associations, industria,
and commercial as well as agricultural,
have sought statistics Of production and
distribution, and editors and authors are
constantly requiring and receiving syste
matte cellations of facts required in
experimenting their own investigations