The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-11-14
COTTON CROP FIGURES
CORRESPONDENCE OF FREEMAN
 AND WILSON.
New York Firm Suggested Changes In Methods Practiced by the Depart ment in Estimating
 Cotton Crop.

Washington, Nov. 13.-(Speciai.)-- Charles D. Freeman, cotton firm of 21 South William Street, New York. in view of what 1t evidently regards as@ a vindication of its efforts to get frdtn the Department of Agriculture more light upon cotton crop estimating methods adopted and practiced by the Department before and since the devel- opment of the cotton crop scandals, has sent broadcast the latest correspond ence of the firm with Secretary Wilson. The letters explain themselves and are as follows:
 Hon. James Wilson, Secretary Depart
 ment of Agriculture, Washington, Dear sir-In a letter addressed to you on August 23. 1905. relating to the cotton crop reports issued by your De pertinent, we referred to the fact that nation derived from various sources. We suggested that one way to restore public confidence in the crop estimates would be the making of true and which estimates may be based by the publication of the actual detailed re- suits obtain from the various sources. In answer to our communication you stated that you were considering the question which had been raised in several quarters" whether or not you could give out the reports as they came to the Department.
 In view of the fact that the condition report issued by your Department on October 8 is one not only at variance with the information in possession of the cotton trade. but in some instances in direct conflict with the reports is- sued by another branch of your De- partment, one thus contradicting the other, we now demand of you the exact facts upon which the conclusions of the October estimates of conditions were based; the average of correspondents, the reports of field agents and the township and county reports. and all the data going to make up the De- partment's calculation and conjecture. We believe that the October average of condition of TIP was not the aver age of the correspondents.
 We believe that the field agents did not conduct a comprehensive investiga- ton, and we believe that the work of the present Crop Estimating Board is no better than the work which pre-
 Charles D. Freeman & Co.
 October 13, 1905. Messrs. Charles D. Freeman $ Co., 21 Gentlemen--I am in receipt of your demand the exact facts on which the eonditiops were based" Your com municaticn will be placed on fle.
 James wilson, secretary.
 October 12, 1905. Hon. James Wilson. secretary. Depart
 ment of Agriculture. Washington,
 D. C.:
 sir-It is announced by your Depart nent that the Bureau of Statistics pro- poses to issue an estimate of the con dition of cotton on November 10. We respectfully urge that there is no pre- cedent nor necessity for this estimate, your bureau continue to be mere con- lectures and are unscientific. and that further publication of them is a menace to the business interests of the country.
 Charles D. Freeman 6 Go.
 October 31, 1905. Messrs. Charles D. Freeman & Co.. 21
 William Street. N. r.:
 Gentlemen-I am in receipt of your letter of the 18th of October, protest ing against the issuance by this de- partment of an estimate of the condi- tion of cotton on November 10th. Your communication will be placed on file.
 Respectfully,
 James Wilson,
 Secretary.