The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1903-01-06
DIVISION OF STATISTICS
SECRETARY WILSON RECOMMENDS
ITS ENLARGEMENT
Into 5ureau--The Opinion Is Distinct
Triumph for John Hyde, Whose Hon
esty Has Recently Been Aessiled.
Especial to The Post

Washington, January s,-Secretsry of
Agriculture Wilson today sent to con-
gress his long looked for opinion as 10
the sdvisability OF consolidating the divis-
ion OF satisfies with the weather bureau.
The opinion is a distinct triumph for the
division OF statistics in general and its
head. John Hyde, in particular, isasmuch
as Mr., Wilson says that the division
should not only not be consolidated with
any other branch of the government but
should be enlarged into bureau.
The communication sent In today is the
most voluminous executive document re-
ceived by congress during the present ses-
sion. II was prepared by the secretary In
accordance with a paragraph in the agri-
cultural appropriation bill OF last session.
which directed him 10 furnish congress
with an opinion giving his reasons as to
whether it was advisable to merge with
the weather bureau all work of the de-
partment regarding the gathering and
compilation OF crop statistics and report
After going thoroughly over the points
in question, the secretary makes these rec
concentrations
l. That the division Of statistics be not
transferred.
?. That it be given bureau organiga-
ton with three additional highly trained
statistical experts who shall be paid az
least $4,000 per year each, that the divis-
ion may enlarge its work so as 10 embrace
staple crops not at present given atten-
ton.
), That the weather bureau continue its
weekly meteorological crop report.
The secretary says that there is no du-
plication of work by the division and the
bureau. The work of the bureau is wholly
meteorological and that of the division is
wholly statistical. The bureau has in its
employ no statisticians or statistical ex-
perts and the transfer Of the statistical
work of the department to il would in
evitably result in subordination OF that
work to meterology that would be mis-
chievous in the extreme The secretary
goes into the matter Of crop statistics at
great length. He explains thoroughly the
different methods in vogue here, and ex.
presses the opinion that that used by the
division OF statistics is the best available.
This is in direct conflict with the opinion
expressed by Census Director Merriam in
the bulletin given out by his bureau today.
Mr.. Wilson says that the reports Of the
division OF statistics arc made up from
statements received from total Of z56,o47
persons. OF these six are special field
agents, tilrty-eight are State statistical
agents, seven are special cotton agents,
and the OTHERS are aids to State agents
county correspondents and aids, town
ship correspondents, independent farmers,
cotton ginners, special cotton eorre-
spondents and miller5 etc.
In Texas these classes number as fol-
lows Aids TO State agents, 1905; county
correspondents and aids, $50; township
correspondents, 1870; independent farm
ers, s46s; cotton ginners, Io4o7; special
cotton correspondents, os7; millers etc.
44s. The number Of ginners reporting 10
the department (Io.4o7) IS in marked CON
trast 70 the number reporting 10 the CEN
sus bureau. accordiss to the statement is
sued by Director Merriam today This
statement shows that Texas ginners to the
number of only 4s4s we're heard from.