The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-07-16

extensive service than they do at pres
ent.
The operation of collecting and
compiling the reports from these va
rious sources is of unusual interest,
particularly in view of the vital me-
ceSsity of carrying on the work in alb
solute secrecy in order TO prevent the
manipulation of the market by per-
sons who might otherwise come into
possession of Information as 10 proba-
BILE final results. If any advance in
formation has ever Leaked" from the
bureau the fact has never been es-
tablished. Charges of such leaks
are persistently made by interested
persons, however. and the truth con-
corning some Of the more notable
cases will be dealt with hereafter.
The reports of all the correspond
ents except the travelling and State
agents are sent to the statistician on
special form in sealed envelopes. and
the figures contained in them are
transferred TO tabulating sheets and
gwen proper arithmetical weight &C
cord.ng TO the acreage or production
of the geographical unit they repre-
sent. During the time this work is
Being Zone the figures OF the different
classes Of correspondents are worked
out in different sections of the bureau,
:
edge only or the particular class OF
figures with which il has been en-
pfoyed aud knows nothing OF the 9TH
er classes Furthermore. the forms
containing the returns are so distri-
buted that no one individual among
the clerical force can get any infoT-
nation of value.
The State statistical agents make
up their own figures for their respec-
tive States and those residing more
than 500 miles from Washington telc-
graph their final reports, in cipher. oil
the morning of the day the bureau Is
| To issue its estimate. Those living
close to the capital mail their reports
under special delivery stamps and, il
they are received before the date SET
Tor the issuance OF the estimate, the
statistician locks them in his safe.
with thir seals unbroken, and they
do not leave his hands until after the
| official statement goes to the public.
Cotton estimates are usually given
| out at noon. Washington time. and
grain estimate at y. m. The days
on which the figures are announced
are more than busy for the statistician
and his assistants. Some two or three
hours before the estimate is to be
made public the heads of the various
sections which have compiled the re-
turns from the different classes Of
correspondents bring their final
figures to the statiStician and he. with
one or. two trusted aids retires to
his office or that of the Secretary OF
the Department. Then the doors are
locked and there is no communication
of any kind with the outside until the
estimate is ready. The tabulated re-
ports of the different classes of cor
respondents are transcribed and the
totals or averages are copied IN par
allel columns for purposes of COM
iarison, analysis and harmonization
An average of these different sets of
figures is not always struck. but the
statistician. relying on his knowledge
Of the relative accuracy of his vari-
Gus sources of information. decides
on a figure which may be said TO be
a composite of all the others.
Giving Out The Figures.
Once the'totals for all the States are
made up. IL is a matter Of only mo-
nent TO compile the figures for the
whole country, and then the thing is
done. Promptly at the hour previous.
~ indicated the statistician energies
from retirement and gives his COM
pleted statement to Representatives or
the press and of the two telegraph