The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1904-07-15
ThOburn
Reviews Difficulties
EncounteredinGath-
ering Statistics


endeayor 70 secure data for agrlcul.
tural statistics from the several coun
ey clerks Of the territory. Thus far he
has received returns from less than
half the clerks. The returns thus far
received are none Of them entirely
complete though. with one or two ex
ceptions. they are sufficient to AFFORD
good basis for statistical compute
tinn.
A few uf the county clerks have been
prompt in making the return, while
others have been disposed TO question
the expediency OF making any return
at az. for the reason that the assess-
ors returns were not always COM
plete The assessors very generally
blame tho people for refusing to di.
vulge statistical information. and
seemingly with some show Of reason
for the law provides no penalty for
such refusal Then. in their turn, the
Deople can censure the secretary OF
the board Of agriculture for his failure
70 compile statistical report Of agrl-
culture and kindred Industries OF the
territory
There is a good old fashioned notion
pro, alent in some parts Of Oklahoma
10 the effect that agricultural statist-
fcs are collected by governmental
agencies of state and nation for the
EXPRESS purpose of giving advance
tins 10 bucket shop spectators and
grain nit operators. Like other pop
ular fanacies. this would be import
ant If true In speaking OF this sua-
feet today. Secretary Thobum said:
oTf the people who repeat this worn
out charge would only pause to con
alder for a moment It's absurdity woul'i
be apparent. The figures which we
are striving TO secure for compilation
we're gathered by the assessors near
ly four months ago II may be a
.nm,ti. or more before all of the data
IS returned to this Office. Then It VIII
be two or three months more before
the figures can be compiled by tAe
limited office force at the command OF
the board and arranged for printns.
If speculative interests were depend
ent upon such sources for their intorni'
alton they would cut very little hg
,re in the markets for obvious rea
sons. AS matter Of fact, the spea
ulators gather their information inde'
pcadent of any governmental agency
For instance, here is circular letter
srom railway official connected Win
a largo eastern transportation sys'
tenn. WHO Is stationed at Kansas GUY
IA relates to the broom corn outloo'
az Kansas and Oklahoma. and, as the
compiler states In a private note
these circular letters are furnished
gratis TO all large factories through
out the east. From this circular
quote in part as follows for the rea
son that 1t gives hint as to the
method by Which snch information Is
gathered by private or speculative
agencies.
~tAfter a thorough canvass OF the
entire broom corn raising districts OF
oklahoma. find that between August
1903 and April /, 1904, the railroads
transported from Oklahoma lOtl cars
of broom corn (about 300 tonsl a
,docreasc Of i4i cars. (about 1880 tonsl
.as compared with the correspondents
perioa for The year previous, during
which time they handled ll5o cars
fabont 1920 tons) The yield per
acre throughout Oklahoma during inc
.se,so NOT 1909 was so varied and l'gh'
mat II is useless, in the absence o.
oficial statistics, 90 attempt TO esl'
mate ihc acreage
correspondents without eNcep'ioH
,ores mat the acreage for 1904 rs very
materially Increased over that OF lsoo
rstimates vary in different sections
come counties. which have raised very
Kan. broom corn OF late years nave
increased ,heir aoreage from 100 t'
az, ner cent this season ON aecou"
~ nc failure OF the wheat crop Whn'
other counties. that have had la's'
aorsas se the last two or three years
report an increase Of l5 10 ~ ~
cent and believe that total III
croase of s., Per cent over 1908 VIII %
conservative estimate Of the 100
acreage.
continnng. Secretary Thoourn sara
aThe ostrich may hide his head y
The sand II he win bur he cannot NeeI
the sun from shining, In other WORDS
from the foregoing quotation from I'm
circular Of information 1t Is evlaen
that the speculative interests VIA D
kent thoroughly posted on crop area
,t.i,,. a,tan n the indiN iiua