The Washington times., 1905-10-29
FRS. Burch EMPLOYED
By Firm of Brokers
Abandons Own Bureau to Prepare Sanger
& EttlsOn's Crop Reports-Won't Deny
Price Helped Her Get Place.

NEW YORK. Oct 2S-Mrs. Bertha
Burch. for ten years connected with the
bureau of statistics in the Department
Of Agriculture in Washington, and re-
Gently secretary to Chief Government
Statistician Hyde. who retired under
ire in the recent cotton scandal expo
sureS. has established herself In this
city with Sanger & Ellison, commission
merchants. in the Beaver Building. and
will prepare for them their monthly cot
ton crop report.
Her services were solicited In ac-
cepting the position she has abandoned
= plan well under way TO establish a
bureau of her own here.
Amazed Experts.
The firms first report prepared by
Mrs. Burch and issued on September IS
was so close to the official figures sent
out by the Government several days
later that the local statisticians were
amazed. Her percentage OF average
yield for the fourteen cotton States last
month was only Al per cent away from
the official figures.
When 1t was learned that Mrs Burch
prepared the report. a rumor circulated
lllsll she naQ ODlalnGQ from
Government reporters and paid them
for their services, a thing the Washing
ton department does not dc. This
charge was denied today by Mrs. Burch.
She declared She had her own sources
OF information quite apart from those
drawn upon by the Department of Agri-
culture.
Mrs. Burch said she expected to have
a good deal to contend with from de-
tractors.
But 1 am going to win despite all
the hubbub.' she declared with vigor.
II am here under contract to make
my department the best in the city.
IL my report for next month is not
close to the official figures. it will be
simply because L have not had time to
get my machinery in first-class working
order.
Likes Wall Street.
This is my first bit of business expe-
rience in New York L like Wall Street.
The life down here is fascinating
NC, l have not met any of the big
cotton operators since / started here a
month ago. l know Theodore III. Price,
having uet him al the department "a
Washington. / don't care to say wheth-
er or not he was instrumental in secur-
ins this position for me.
Il do know. however, that / had all
my plans made 10 start an independent
bureau, when an offer to take charge
of this department was made to me III
Washington. i Immediately decided
that it would pay me to accept it,
What do you think of the crop re-
ports issued here?" was asked
Those which are not biased by specu-
piled. Some, though, are frightfully
biased. l wonder how the firms have
the nerve TO foist them on the public !"
Friendly Toward Rival.
Mrs. Burch has a rival in the field in
the person of Miss X NJ. Giles, who has
an Independent bureau at 6S Broad
street. Toward her the newcomer has
the kindliest of feelings
..Her reports are splendid" Mrs Burch
said. During the past five years they
have been very close TO the Government
figures.
MY work here is conducted along the
usual lines. I-have sent out 0000 cards
to persons, who. I think. give me
correct reports of conditions. My first
report was made up from the replies of
$50 correspondents"
the best Government reporters for in
formation" was suggested.
Her Own Reporters.
THAT is false. L am not knowingly
receiving information from any Of the
Government reporters. AS for paying
them, that is absurd Those persons
who give US their reports are remun-
Grated to the extent OF receiving cur
market letters. that is all
"Of course. among 10000 men in Che
West. qualified to report on crop mat
ters. one may strike here and there
somebody who is doing the same kind
OF work for the Government. That can
not be helped
Wouldn't your knowledge of depart
ment work make il easy for you to Sc
cure the services of the Government re-
porters2'
II say positively that 1 have my own
corps of reporters. That must be I'M
derstood. so that nobodv will make the
mistake of thinking otherwise.
Il have Instructions from the firm to
20 ahead as see fit. without regard 10
expense. and ] am doing IL.
'As for the details of the work. they
are all old friends OF mine. / have been
a statistician ten years. and wouldn
want any pleasanter duties. l know
there are many bright people here. but
do nos fear that nay reports will suf-
fer by comparison
Mrs Burch has a large room fitted up
especially for the handinp OF grea'
bulk CT correspondence. The drop from