The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-11-14
Says Report Was Direc-
ted by Congress.
HIS MOUTH is SHUT
Refuses to Discuss Remarks of Cheat
ham Explains How the Reports
are Prepared and Safeguarded.
Says Cotton BoIIs Continue 10
Produce in December.
Especial to News and Observer

Especial to News and Observer
Washington, d. c., Nov. 13.-Secre-
tary Wilson Of the Agricultural De-
partment refuses TO discuss the at
tack made upon him by Richard
Cheatham, secretary of the Southern
Cotton Association, who scores him
for sending out a report on the cot
ton crop on November 10th. Mr..
Cheatham declares that no sane man
who knows anything about cotton
production in the South is ignorant of
the fact that cotton bolls have passed
beyond the increasing stage by No
Vember 1st.
Secretary Wilson, while refusing to
discuss Mr.. Cheathams remarks about
the November 10th report said TO
your correspondent that the Novem-
ber report was made by special direc-
ton of Congress at it's last session,
although no extra appropriation was
made for that purpose. He also de-
clared that cotton bolIs in some of
the Southern States continued to pro-
duce even in December, and also
after preparations for planting the
next crop had been begun in some
instances.
Mr. Wilson also gave the following
explanation of how the crop reports
OF the department are now prepared
and safeguarded. He said: I'VE
get reports from four reliable sources.
First, from our three general agents
in the field, such ct
in the field, each of whom has his
own territory TO look after. Next
come reports from a State agent in
every State in the cotton belt. Then
there come reports from every county,
and after that reports from every
township in the cotton area. All
of these reports which are sent to us
under seal from an army of men are
specially looked after by the Post
office. When they arrive in Wash
ington the envelopes and packages
containing them are locked in a spe-
cial box and sent over to the Agri-
cultural Department in special bags
locked and sealed. Thus they cam
not be seen by anybody at the post
Office Or on the road from the post
office. When they reach the AgricuE-
tural Department they are put under
lock and key by Assistant Secretary
Of Agriculture Hays and are not taken
out until the board is ready TO go TO
work on them. which they do in
closed room and nobody else can en-
ter. Each member of this board
works on the figures in his own way.
and the results of the additions and
percentages of each are consolidated
in the form of an estimate or report,
which is issued to the public"
Mr.. Wilson expressed his conviction
that the November report was an ac-
curate statement of the condition of
the crop UP to November 10th or the
date the various reports We're sent in.
The National Association OF Presi-
dents of State Universities opened here
this morning in the banquet room OF
the Shoreham hotel, and will continue
until Tuesday morning when the As
sociation Of Agriculture Colleges and
Experiment Stations will open and
continue until Thursday.
a matter of importance taken up
by the National Association of State
Universities today was the question of
graduate courses of study. At pres
ent some universities maintain grad
uate departments and some do not,
and the hope is to map out some
definite plan or policy in regard to
this work in the State universities
Route No. l, Rural Free Delivery
ed January 2, at Eure. Gates county.
North Carolina. and also route No. /
at Stateroad, Surry county
The postofffce at Handleton, Wa
tauga county, has been ordered dis
continued November 30th. also post
Offices at Corepoint, Beaufort county.
and at Aho, Watauga county.
The following North Carolina peo-
pie are here: Gus Vernakes G.. L.
Best, Charlotte: Richard Cole and
wife, Washington e. b. Dewey.
Goldsboro; j. Norman White and
wife Greensboro.
President j. S. Mills, of Southport
Railroad; A. b. Andrews. S. B. Pat
terson, Raleigh, are registered here.
also A. d. Lindy, Charlotte; Judgr
Thomas II. Sutton. H. l.. Cook and
j. F.. Newell. Fayetteville, n. G.