New-York tribune., 1905-07-15
CROP REPORTS VALUED.
ACCURACY Essential.
Secretary Cheatham Says GOUern-
ment's Work Is of VitaI I'm Importance.
IFRoM THE TRIBUNE BuEEAu.l


Washington July 14.-Secretary Cheatharn, OF
aae Southern Cotton Planters Association who
reached Washington last night in company with
President Harvte Jordan. Of that association.
SAID to-day that he regarded the government
crop reports. especially the cotton reports as OF
great value 70 farmers and planters.
-As a result OF all this scandal" Mr.. Cheat
hara said. "it is but natural that most people
should at once decide that the government
should so out OF the crop reporting business
But q second thought on the subject should be
Fuhcient 10 reveal the error II the government
cotton crop report should be discontinued the
producers OF the staple. the manufacturers who
use IL and in fact everybody legitimately con-
oerned would be at the mercy Of the specu-
iators. and conditions would be Infinitely worse
than now.
'In my opinion the government should con-
tirue 70 gather and publish the crop statistics.
Surely honest men can be found TO do the work.
and e system devised which would keep tempta-
tioa out OF the way OF the weak"
The views expressed by AIr. Cheatham viii
md cordial Endorsement among the farmers.
planters and even the manufacturers throughout
The country. II Is, Of course. possible for any
individual to secure as accurate an estimate Of
the crop conditions as can be procured by the
Department of Agriculture, provided such indi-
viduaI IL willing 70 eXpend a sufficient amount
OF money. Secretary Wilson estimates that It
would cost approximately $4,000 for private
individual, or company. 10 acquire the informa-
ron which reaches the department through its
large corps OF trained reporters.
Were the government 70 discontinue its crop
reporting there is no doubt that brokers and
Others would Immediately take steps % secure
some kind of an estimate Of the crops but such
estimates. even II accurate. would be the per
- l1O u,efn M
pned them and the cotton planter and the
farmer would be left entirely at the mercy of
fhe men whose business II is TO buy their prod
nc
Il Is not difficult TO foresee the bearish tone
7bicb would color those reports, as given TO
the public, at least as long as there remained a
hale Of cotton or q bushel Of wheat in the farm
e-s' hands. Any shortage OF the crop would be
diligently concealed until the producer had part
ed with his crops and then only would It become
obvious that the crops were more valuable than
the public had been led 10 suppose.
Il was 10 protect the producer against false
reports issued by irresponsible Spectators that
the government system was devised. and It has
served It's purpose remarkably well, as is shown
by the nearness 10 the actual figures the gov
ernmeut estimates have generally displayed
last year there was only the slightest dis
crepancv between the estimates Of the Depart
1neut of Agriculture, which were issued IN Sep
TENDER, and the actual number Of bales ginned,
as shown by the Census Bureaus report issued
a. the close of the ginning season
Al TIE face Of the large area devoted 10 wheat,
and the possibility Of a single week materially
changing the total crop, the departments esu-
mates have fOreshadoWed the results with strik-
ing accuracy, aud the saIne has been generally
true 0f corn. oats and other crops Of which the
department has issued estimates The Importance
10 the producer Of knowing the visible supply
Rnd the probable total production in this coun-
TTy and abroad, must be apparent TO every
business man. and the necessity 10 the owners
OF stocks or quOuable commodities Of the market
reports which appear ia the daily papers Illus
trates how important IS reliable Information
concerning the crops TO the producers Of farm
products. whose business is Of so diffuse a char
aCrer 10 render il impossible for them TO OBJ
tain anything approaching an adequate knOWl-
edge without the assistance Of the government
Secretary Cheatham to-day had a long con-
ference with District Attorney Beach and Mr.
Moran, acting chief OF the Secret Service Bu-
reau. regarding the recent cotton investig igation
M Cheatham purposes TO remain here for some
time, and viii assist in the preparation Of evi-
denCe upon which possible criminal prosecutions
may be based