The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-05-25
GATHERlNGCOTTONST STATISTICS
Attempt to Place the Division in Weather
Bureau Was Defeated.

, there Is no doubt that the work as whole
has been productive OF much good,
The reason for the creation or "a division
Of cotton statistics In the permanent census
bureau Is not quite plain The provision
4 covering the case appears as follows III tho
/ VII croatng the bureau;
sec. y, That In the year 1905 and cvrcy
! ten years thereafter, there shall he a coll
lection Of the statistics OF m0nufnetn, es.
conned 20 manufacturing establishment !
I tory, system exclusive OF the so.cailed
! neighhorhood and mechanical industries,
and the director Is hereby authorized -
I prepare such schedules as in his Judgment
I NAV be necessary TO cnrry out toe prayi-
Sions of this section; and that in addition
! 10 the statistics now provided for by law
collect the statistics OF the cotton pro- iuc-
ton OF the country as returned by the gn-
same shall be issued weekly beginning Sep.
! ttnuer ] OF each ycar and continued til
February following; and that the director
( OF the census shall make. from time TO
I time, any additional special collections OF
statistics relating TO any branch of agri-
culture, mgnnIacture, mining, transporta-
ton. fisheries. or any other branch OF in-
dustry that may be required Of him by
congress"
The statistics collected by the census
bureau during the census year OF 1900 we're
approximately correct, Judged by the agri-
cultural departments figures, but Il Is by
no means clear that any special heneht was
main, they were merely a duplication OF
those prepared In MIR uyde's office.
CENSUS BUREAU
/ PLANS UNKNOWN.
Efforts to secure information regarding
the methods to be pursued by the census
bureau In gathering and disseminating It's
statistics have all been futile. A call on
the secretary TO Director Merriam about
a week ago ELECTED nothing further chan
an invitation to call again In few days.
when. II was stated the information asked
Tor would be Forthcoming. This did not
prove 90 be the case. ON the occasion Of
the second call tho directors secretary re-
lUred the correspondent TO the cher
/ stOtstlcan Of the manufactures division.
All tbut could be gotten out Of that In
uividonl was statement thot NO n,ans
had been arranged as yet. Continued ques-
tonlug resulted In nothing more than an.
other Invitation TO call again--this time
the date ot the call being placed Il mouth
hence IL would thus appear that the CEN
su8 bureau officials are ny no means Ger.
tain as 20 what they are to do aud the
Impression rs grOWing that Whatever they
I 90 y III not he of any unusun value In view
OF the fact, pointed out several tunes here.
iot,lr, tuut the division ur statistics &C
thc agricultural department 10 to continue
ITS work along the old lines making only
those changes which Will he necessary to
Keep ny Win the march ~ progress ia othrr
directions. some of those who have given
Nittnuon TO the matter are even un.
Rjuu as TO hiut that, Ia casting about 10
lud something Tor tue permanent Census
hu can 20 do, those responsible 10, Us
creation AT upon the collection ol cotton
Stutistca us one means ut Keeping re SOIL
uhy busy the numerous persons from the
: director down. Wnu have bpeu p,oti tcd
/ with employment lay tile new law wnlc1
Muko6 the census bureau pcunauGht IN
/ stltution on and after July ! OF tho present
year
OF course the census ofGcc may do some
worry pommendablc work ia rne cotton
sl0nStlcS linc, but ~ is not quitv pa u
mufgrlul tpuNNt ls a. kp a
nom IT, Iu matter now carefully an me-
CurHteN IL may be done. In the FIRST place.
there is NlVaAF uuhiity OF disCrt pdut'c4
Of greater or less magnitude hvtwteh the
hgurcs Of the agricultural department and
those of tie ccuNtls office and this win no
doubt cause unnecessary Trouble iDJs.
/ much as the people have for years Ea5t
Ing cotton ana other crops they W no
/ doubt cou niue to give its hgures the pr2i-
erenCe rs against those OF Mr.. MR.rdns
/ Qfncc. But IN the event that any material
dlueronccs occur II seems quite reasonable
70 suppose thar more or less confusion must
Inevitably occur In the absence Of any
I dchnlte statements trom the census pcopio
no worry clear lioa OF what they propose 10
do cnu be galHrd but until snch sac
mcnts are forthcoming u would seem that
ihosC Interested VIII serve taCr own III.
telesis 10 the best advantage by continuing
70 rely Tor thcll Information on tho diyl-
zion Of statistics of the agricultural depart
Wcut.
Tho census bureau win have two monrhs
after 10 hcc"mcg % permanent affIir ia
which 10 compile tee plans ns under tine
terms Of the new law the Issuance of tho
cotton. bulletins is not to be commenced
untli september J. CA w