The Port Gibson reveille. [volume] (Port Gibson, Miss.) 1890-current, 1902-10-23
REPORT ON COTTON.
To secure Quickly Accurate Stalls
tics OF the Cotton Crop.

4 TICS OF the @OkAuu @EOps
Mr.. chas. A. Taliaferro has been ap
pointed local special agent Of the Cen
sus Office to collect cotton ginning sta.
tistics for this county, aud we join the
Government in urging the giunsrs TO
give Mr. Taliaferro their hearty support
aud cooperation. thus enabling him 10
make prompt and accurate returns. We
would impress upon the giuners the
fact that this agent is a sworn officer oi
the Government, and that their reports
are forwarded as given TO him directly
to the Census Office, at Washington,
without passing through the hands oi
any middlemen. The Information Civ
en- is held IS strictly confidential, and
The operations Of individual giuners are
not divuiged. Upon the joint co-opera.
tion Of the cotton growers, ginners, aud
local agents must depend the success Of
the Census Office IN this inquiry, and
its ability to render this great service 10
the Southern people and to all interest,"
ed in the cotton staple.
The Census Office has demonstrated
IN three annual reports, the fact that the
ginners are the only reliable source oi
information as to the volume Of the an
nual cotton crop. This is very compli-
menlary 10 the ginners, who, no doubt,
will feel a 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
statistics 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 ginned
up to aud including October 18th aud
December I3th, respectively; and the f.
nal report will cover the total quantity
ginned from the growth Of 1907.
Realizing that the collection Of the
data for these reports Is made at a sea.
son when the ginners' time is greatly
taxed, and appreciatiug 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
aud secure a report Of the quantity OF
cotton ginued up to certain dates. In
undertaking the frequent aud hurried
reports now sought, 1t is Of vital i'm
portanee 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
90 900 ginners, at time when they are
engrossed IN their ginning work. Fur
thermore, the Census Office must be
kept advised Of all changes in the man
agement and operation Of these estab-
lishments. and secure returns from all
new and revived plants. To accomplish
such results, it becomes necessary for
the Office to have local representatives
who shall be charged with the duty Of
keeping ia close touch with the ginning
industry il each county,an of promptly
reporting the quantity Of cotton ginned.
The statistics for the October report
will be collected during this week, be-
ginning with Monday, October 20, and
ginners should keep such records as will
enable them 10 furnish promptly the
required information. These returns
will be tabulated, and the result pub.
ished within one week from their re.
ceipt al Washington.
Cotton statistics collected through the
commercial system, however accurately
compiled. fall short Of the demand o.
both producer and manufacturer-hrs
in that as they cover the quantity ol
cotton marketed between September j
Of one year and August 81 Of the follow
ing, they are not statistics of a cror
grown in any one year; and second, n
the liability to error involved in stats
tics so compiled. Nothing shor; of Of
fetal reports, made sufficiently early tC
form basis Of prices will entirely sat
isfy the cotton grower or manufacturer
II Is gratifying 10 know that the South
has the assistance and the cooperation
Of the Government in bringing abou
the result they desire-au undertaking
the success of which now depends upor
the cotton growers and ginners them