New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-05-22
GOVERNMENT CROP-REPORTING.

MR. DODGE REPLIES TO CRITICISM OF TIE
AGRICULTURAL DEPARTMENTS WORK.
Tothe Editor The Tribune
Sir: Any one familiar with methods ana results
II crop reporting In different countries KNOWS t"'
the work in this line Of the Department OF Aecu''ure
Of the United states has withStpod 'he 'es'e Vi
vcrifcation bcttr than that OF any other country.
Free admissions II This tenor are maze DF i"reie"
stati,llcans. ard It's methods have been ad"p'el o.
several " the principal European countries. lhcre
h, probably mu" public interest In wheat tilh III
any other general crop. Whatever the tcNporar'
criticism by the warning ia'tioEs Of the eAcn""s-
pits. the nGal cstiniates are ahcrwaiu hcop'"u
authority which none have been abie 70 discrent'
as none have seriously attempted Il. at least un,ll
very recently. There +, no crop record OF sueh
cOus ,toncy for series Of years. rs that ilrnishen
I'm the period NJ eleven years from lScl to lool
inclusive. The aggregate OF these eleven estimates
made before distribution could be known, was 1"''-
100000 bushels. Exports were LIE seed, oo3 :
food consumption, Oh thu accepted basis Of -
buslcl, per head. 1904: total distribution. fJo.oo
900 bushels, or 100000 less than tho aggregate
estimate, oi a period OF eleven yeas. Vet the sur
plus wa, doubtless 100000 larger at the end OF
the period, June 80, 1o0. than at the beginning,
making underestimate OF about per cent for the
period
Your editorial. "Are Crops TO be short!' makes
one point I'm criticism. and the Only one mat j.
trnable that thI, remarkable agreement Is impaired
in the las, two years. In which distribution some
what outruns estimates, and the reason for 1t Is
limited at In my entire experience In croproporting
have never known anything like the organized
opnostlon 10 crop returns that hos been rife since
1852 This was first indicated by tho refusal OF
thrcslcrs to I'LL and return the record books OF areas
and bushels harvested. under advice OF leaders OF
local organizations. The same men Taught p'rsh'-
entity the dangerous hercsy that publicity Of crop nfor
nation wa, inmical to farmers The same men
started avalanche of prices by the counsel Hold
YOUR wheat" aud organized effort to secure that re-
suit until the deficiency In European markets had
been supplied, by search In every nook ana corner
Of tho earth, leaving the accumulation from the
largest crop ever grown in any country to depress
ruinor,ly the price, In all the markets OF the world
The all pcrvadng influence Of this pes'iferous asa-
ton bonn Il ignorance and ianaticism for the
suppression Of the only statistical Information 'ha'
cun benefit the grower has affected 10 some extent
the reurns OF the orrespondents OF the Department.
and caused some underestimate. as 1t has also In
ter'ered with the completeness ana accuracy OF the
returns OF the Eleventh Census, the state returns. and
every statistical agency In crop enumeration
Another abnormal condition las also terhed 10
undcrr- Innate the Unusual and even extraordinary
rate OF Yield OF the last two seasons the result OF
exceptional meteorological and soil conditions e.
lccally It. le0l. when an actual census OF ABOUT
30 900 rpa wheat growers made an average yield
Of bushels per agli' 1T l2b bushels 10y te ""'
farmers the year before.
Ilr CORE pondci.ts OF the Department arc To-Day
the best corps Of voluntary cop reporters ever orHa
Izrd and better ten year, ago; but Their" meyer
Uus a set of ieurn-, whether comparative or ehuhi'T
tive state .,s,cssors'. National Census Enuner
ators' that did not retir errors Of judgment or
statement requiring revision and correction: mere
atr such errors In the ccn>u, 10y tens ana hundre1S
of Thousands. most ~ which can b" corrected
Iu mentioning cotton You forget In your edltorinl
that The Statisclan has made 10 estimates OF pro
ducllon. simply giving The returns OF conduio" VI
other i.vrstigAtio'. made by correspondents, M
revised because the public seemed 10 de'ir" H. and
inns hnC Ia obtain The r.ts which The stitlsliclhh
Ind previously obtained with remarkable co.choss
Tie critic, Of croprcportins are In the main dcrsrH
lrnotont ~ the philosophy. the laws Of limitation ana
even the methods employed. though buinpuoiy
rroti,tic I'm their assumption OF such hrowl.dse
Washington May 10, 1873. j. H. Dob"f''