The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-04-16
CROP STATISTICS.
improvements I'm Methods of Gather
ing Information Discussed.

WASHINGTON. April 15.-Delegates from
the National Board of Trade met in the
rooms OF the Interstate-commerce Commits
sion to-day to discuss improvements in the
methods of gathering government crop re-
port statistics The meeting was called to
order by A. c. Raymond. of Detroit, who
explained that it grew out of a resolution
on the subject introduced at the meeting
of the National Board of Trade in Wash
ington last January.
Secretary of Agriculture Morton. being
asked to address the gathering, said that
he presumed the delegates were aware
that they were entering on an inquiry Of
great gravity and difficulty. 1t was a mat
ter between two great classes-the pro-
ducers and consumers. What was needed
he said, in order to get accurate statistics
was an annual crop census, on which ap-
proximate facts OF crop acreage could be
obtained Some persons thought this was
too expensive. He had discussed the mat
ter with the President and he had believed
that IT was the only way. 1t had been
estimated that 1t would cost 100000 a year,
but the Secretary believed that even IL it
should cost three times as much as this 1t
would be money well expended.
Henry Ro6inson. statistician of the De-
partment of Agriculture, explained at
some length the methods now employed in
obtaining information on which crop re-
sion as to the character OF the men who
furnished the information followed. Mr..
ftopiHSoH Salu tnat farmers were the main
source of information. Mr.. Stone, of Chi
cago, said that he believed county bankers
would be the best men possible for agents.
The proposition of Mr.. Stone was attacked
by several members, who said that hank
ers would be SO directly interested that
they might be Influenced in making the
reports. Mr.: Davis suggested that the re-
ports should come from the township as
SCISSORS, who would report to the county
auditors. who should report direct to the
Agricultural Department. In answer to an
inquiry by Mr.. Ray, Mr.. Robinson said he
was not sure whether the agents in the
various counties were known to one an
were. He also said that the department
changed agents IL they were found sending
incorrect reports.
Papers were read by b. w. Snow B. F.
howard and j. c. Brown. Mr. Snow, who
was formerly assistant statistician of the
department said that the weakness in the
present machinery is the paucity of the
data used in the making up of the reports
and the assumption that a single man is
able to answer accurately for a whole
country. Instead of one return from a
county. there should be one or more re-
ty. thus limiting each mans answer to
the district Immediately under his eye.
These reporters should be farmers. An
other corps should be organized from among
local millers in each county and still an
other from local grain dealers. Mr.. Brown,
ports once were accepted as accurate, but
they now fell fiat. He had noticed that
in States where the Farmers Alliance was
best organized and maintained there were
the greatest errors in the reports.
The conference will rcassemble to-nor-
to be presented by :. special committee OF
the delegates So