The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-11-18
THE LEAK IN THE
COTTON REPORT
The Statistician Writes Re-
garding the Matter.

New York. NOV. 1.-THE Board of
Managers OF the New York Cotton Ex-
change is Investigating the report that
persons interested in the cotton ex-
changes have received advance mforma-
ton from the Governments latest esti-
mate of the cotton crop. Superintendent
King Of the exchange, today made pub
lie letter from loAn Hyde, Statistician
Of the Department Of Agriculture ut
Washington, dated November 10th, in
which he says:
Il replied at once to your telegram of
she fourteenth instant, 10 the effect that
she supplementary statement issued that
day VIII regard 10 the cotton crop was
given to the two telegraph companies at
i1:a5 a. nl. | might have added that
they were informed of its coming at least
an hour in advance, If, therefore. il did
not reach the cotton exchange until 2:40
n. m. nearly three hours had elapsed be-
tween its bong given to the telegraph
companies aid its reaching Your office,
and nearly four hours between the tele-
graph companies being informed that
the statement was to be made and such
delivery. The reason for making the
statement is found, as stated in the cir
SuIar itself in the fact that the depart
ment's preliminary estimates have FIRE
quently been much below the actual
facts. and it was desired that it should
be properly understood that the depart
qYent fully recognize this fact, and was
taking every precaution against its re-
Cairrence Had the department content
cd itself with letting the statement APP
pear in the course of a few days. in its
printed report it might either have failed
to attract attention or have given some
persons an advantage over others, by
reason of the fact that the printed report
IS issued in so large an edition that its
distribution extends over several days.
BY handing it. therefore, to the Western
Union and Postal Telegraph Companies
it was expected that the most prompt
and general publicity would be given to
it through cotton exchanges. The two
companies were notified not later than
IL O'Clock that a statement would be
given to them, and at 1855 their repre-
sentatives were in possession of it. The
local manager of the Western Union in
forms the department tat the transmits
sion of the statement was delayed by an
oversight which seems to have been in
the nature of a misunderstanding be-
tween two operators while the Postal
Telegraph Company state that they ask
ed their operator at the New York Cot
ton Exchange if be wanted it, and receiy-
ing no answer they gave it out elsewhere
1.-THE Department does not take 9,O0O,-
900 bales as the possible maximum, as
some of its critics have charged. 1t
merely states that while present indica-
tions do not exceed those figures, yet In
view of the experience of the past, the
crop may turn out to be as large as D.
100000 bales. In view of the failure of
the statement of Tuesday to reach YOU
promptly, | certainly will advise you in
future when any statement is to be is
sued aside from the regular statement
ON the tenth of the month and the print
ed statement which follows it, but in
handling Tuesdays statement stimuli
taneously to the two rival companies
whose service ON the tenth of the month
is usually. so satisfactory, it was GER
tainay felt that everything was done to
Insure prompt and general publication
of the statement to everyone interested
The Cotton Exchange has received a
report from the Washington branch of
the Western Union Company which
practically assumes responsibility for the
delay In sending out the statement. The
cotton exchange manager of TIE Postal