New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1902-10-18
REPORT ON COTTON.

REPORT ON COTTON.
Mr.. Joseph R. Domengeaux of
Lafayette, has been appointed a
local special agent of the Census
Office to collect cotton ginning sta
tistics for this country, and we join
the Government in urging the GIN
ners to give Mr. Domengeaux their
hearty support and cooperation,
thus enabling him to make prompt
and accurate returns. We would
impress upon the ginners the fact
that this agent is sworn officer Of
the Government, and that their re-
ports, are forwarded as given to
him directly to the Census Office,
at Washington, without passing
through the hands of any middle
men. The information given is
held as strictly confidential, and
the operations of individual gin
ners 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 ability to render this great SER
vice to the Southern people and to
all interested in the cotton staple.
The Census Office has demon
strated in three annual reports, the
fact that the ginners are the only
reliable source of information as to
the volume of the annual cotton
crop. This is very complimentary
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, Con-
gress, in the act creating perma-
nent census Office, provided for the
collection and publication of these
statistics at intervals during the
ginning season. For the crop Of
1902 the office will issue three re-
ports: the first two will cover the
quantity of cotton ginned up to and
including October Is and December
Is, respectively; and the final re-
port will cover the total quantity
ginned from the growth of 1902.
Realizing that the collection of
the data for these reports is made
at a season 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
secure report of the quantity of
cotton ginned up to certain dates.
In undertaking the frequent and
hurried reports now sought, it is of
vital Importance that the returns
be made with absolute ormity,
and that all be received at Wash
ington at one time. This result
could not be expected from indivi-
dual requests made by mail of
10000 ginners, at time whels they
are engrossed in their ginning
work. Furthermore, the Census
Office must be kept advised Of all
changes in the management and
operation of these establishments,
and secure returns from all new
and revived plants. To accomplish
such results, it becomes necessary
for the Office to have local repre-
sentatives who shall be charged
with the duty Of keeping in close
touch with the ginning industry in
each county, and of promptly re-
porting the quantity of cotton
ginned.
The statistics for the October
report will be collected during the
week beginning with Monday, Oct
ober 20, and ginners should keep
such records as will enable them to
furnish promptly the required in
These returns will be
and the result published
within one week from their receipt
at Washington.
Cotton statistics collected through
The commercial system, however
compiled, fall short of
The demand of both producer and
nanufacturer-frst, in that as they
cover the quantity of cotton mar
zeted between September l, Of one
year and August 81, of the follow
ng, they are not statistics of a crop
grown in any one year and second,
u the liability to error involved in
statistics so compiled. Nothing
short of official reports, made suffi-
,iently early to form a basis of
prices, will entirely satisfy the cot
.on grower or manufacturer. 1t is
gratifying to know that the South
has the assistance and cooperation
If the Government in bringing
about the result they desire-an
undertaking the success of which
now depends upon the cotton grow
srs and ginners themselves.
The Summer Season
s full of dangers particularly for the chill
lren, who not knowing the result of eating
lnripe fruit, indulge themselves, with t8e