Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-10-23

- ER. w. c. BRUCE, of Stone Noun
NH tain, has been appointed local
agent of the census office to
collect cotton-ginning satisfies
for DeKalb county and the government
urges the ginners to give Mr.. Bruce their
hearty support and cooperation, thus en-
abling him to make prompt and accurate
returns. 1t would impress upon the gin
ners the fact that this agent is a sworn
officer of the government. and that their
reports are forwarded as given to him di-
rectly to the census office, at Washing
ton, without passing through the hands
of any middlemen The information given
is held as strictly confidential, and the
operations of individual ginners are not
divulged. Upon the joint cooperation of
the cotton growers, ginners, and local
agents must depend the success of the
census office in this inquiry and its abil-
ity to render, this great service to the
southern people and to all interested in
the cotton staple.
The census office has demonstrated in
three annual reports. the fact that the
ginners are the only reliable source of
information as. to the volume of the an
nual cotton crop. This is very compii-
mentary to the ginners. who no doubt,
will feel pride in sustaining the repu-
tation earned.
In recognition of this interest shown
by the ginners. and of a general demand
for more frequent reports through this
source, congress, in the act creating a
permanent census office, provided for the
collection and publication of these sta
tistics at intervals during the ginning
season. For the crop of 1902 the office
will issue three reports; the first two
will cover the quantity of cotton glnned
up to and including October IS and De-
cember 13, respectively; and the final
report will cover the total quantity gin
ned from the growth of 1902.
Realizing that the collection of the
data for these reports is made at sea-
son when the ginners time is greatly
taxed and approaching the necessity
for prompt returns, the census office has
located, in each county containing ten
or more ginneries, an agent, who will
visit each ginnery in the county and Sc
cure a report of the quantity of cotton
ginned up to certain dates. In undertake
ing the frequent and hurried reports now
sought, il is of vital Importance that the
returns be made with absolute uniformity,
and that all be received at Washington
at one time.
This result could not be expected from
individual requests made by mail of $4,000
ginners, at a time when they are engross-
ed in their ginning work. Furthermore,
the census office must be kept advised of
all changes in the management and opera
ton of these establishments, and secure
returns from all new and revived plants.
To accomplish such results, 1t becomes
necessary for the Office to have local rep
resentatives who shall be charged with
the duty Of keeping in close touch with
the ginning industry in each county. and
of promptly reporting the quantity of cot
ton ginned.
Cotton statistics collected through the
commercial system, however accurately
compiled, fall short of the demand of both
producer and manufacturer-hrst. in that
as they cover the quantity of cotton mar
keted between September of one year
and August 81 of the following, they are
not statistics of crop grown in any one
year; and second in the liability to error
involved in statistics so compiled. Moth
ing short of official reports, made suf1i-
ciently early to form a basis of prices,
will entirely satisfy the cotton grower or
manufacturer. 1t is gratifying to know
that the south has the assistance and CO.
operation of the government in bringing
about the result they desire-an undertake
ing the success of which now depends up
on the cotton growers and ginners them
selves.