Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1892-08-26
INTERESTING STATISTICS.

INTERESTING STATISTICS,
The statistical reports, which are
turned in to the department of agricul-
ture and labor by the county auditors of
the several counties in the state, and
which are prepared from statistics
gathered by the several county asses
sors, have nearly all been received at the
department. With the exception of the
two counties, Emmons and Williams, all
the reports have been received, although
a number of them have been returned
for correction. There exist in nearly all
of the reports, a discrepancy in the
figures turned in last year as to the crop
of 1891, and the figures obtained by as
SCISSORS this year as to the same crop.
Some Of the discrepancies are very
marked, and such reports have been re-
turned.
Without complete reports from all
counties in the state, 1t is impossible to
arrive at any accurate statement as to
crops, acreage, etc.; but from the re-
ports available some interesting facts are
taken.
In the first place, a careful study of
these reports shows an increase in the
acreage of wheat over that of last year,
instead of a decrease, as seemed to be
the general supposition. The l~ateness
OF the spring was a strong argument
against the possibility of there being an
increase in acreage. But the figures
show that in the central and western
counties there has been an increase,
while IN the Red River valley the acre
age has not materially changed. Bur-
leigh county has $4,000 acres of wheat
this year as against 1900 in 81, or an
increase of 5000 in acreage, and ada
cent counties have increased proper
tionately.
In Cass county, the auditors report
shows an'increase of II per cent. over
the acreage of last year. But the &C.
curacy of this report is doubted, for the
department has twelve crop correspond
ents in Cass county, aid each of these,
in a report made June l, estimated the
acreage as having decreased "a per cent.
In the light of the auditors report, a
circular letter was sent to these twelve
correspondents asking them if. there
existed any reason why they should
change their original estimate of the
acreage, and answers from three of
them, all that have been received as
yet, say that they have no reason to
alter their original estimate, and the au-
ditor's report has been returned &C.
cordingly, that the facts in the case may
be investigated and a correction made.
The corn crop, however, shows a de-
cided decrease il acreage. In nearly all
counties there is a falling off reported.
This is attributed mainly to the lateness
Of the spring, and not to any discour-
aging circumstances that may have
been encountered in it's growth.
Perhaps the most decided falling off in
the acreage Of any grain is in that of
flax. From no county is there an in
crease reported, and the decrease is re-
lnarkable. The most notable example
is in Walsh county, where, in 1891, was
an acreage of 1927, and which this year
is returned at 112 acres.
The cultivation of rye, on the other
hand, is being paid more attention by
farmers, and the acreage will be much
greater than that of last year.
The potato crop will be about the
same as last years. The greatest acreage
in the state is reported from Richland
county, and the starch factory at Hank
inson has caused the present years
acreage in that county to be much
greater than last year's-2,837 acres in
1892 as against 1872 in clan increase
of 1865 acres.