The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1909-07-01

data ne mas at mana regarding prom
Used crop yields.
All this matter goes down to
Waship~ on by, various routes, where
part Of it goes to the chief statis-
Iticia4, and part. to- the assistant sec
rotary Of agriculture, where. it is
locked up, and guarded by a. combi-
nation known only to two persons.
The estimating board sit on a GER
tain day Of the month to compare
the various estimates, and give out
to the public the official estimate Of
the crop yield many given line, as
wheat, or corn or oats. These are
the crops in which the chief interest
centers, because of their speculative
value. Other crops, like barley and
hay are also estimated, but do not
so directly concern the markets,
and so do not receive the same de-
gree of attention from the general
public. .,s;.,s} ,,yy,3x,~,4t4 &
You will recall a few years ago
there was, a. scandal connectedt with
the issuing Of the crop reports.
Somebody tipped off. the PROSPECTS ,
few minutes too soon by the way
they arranged the window shades in
the room where the board of esti-
nation was gathered.
It is announced il AZ the present
time, that on certain day-say the
10th of July. at 2 p. m. the crop es-
innate will be issued, and If you. are
SO fortunate as to Be a member Of
the board. that makes the, estimate,
and anyone invited in by the chief
statistician is member of the
board, you will be told to be on
hand at eight o'clock in the morn
Ing, You come to the board room,
and you, together with the others,
are locked in, where you are to stay
until two p, m. I'll a
The telephones are disconnected,
and all chance for signaling to the
outside world is cut of. Then the
safes are opened, ana the reports are
spread before you. From the four
separate sources, Of information you
are to make up your final estimate
Of the crop acreage, condition, and
probable yield. 4,
Z The FARMERS usually underestimate
The acreage, for instance, is always
based on last! years; acreage, but it is
seldom yep, will find a; farmer who
win put the acreage much over 100
per cent. He is inclined to cut it
down, and as a result the estimator
has to raise his report to certain
extent IN order to correct the error.
The farmer is also inclined to under
estimate yields; and; here again the;
reporter has to check him UP in order
TO- bring the report out to coincide
With the facts.
After each member Of the board tof
crop reporters separately, has sum-
med up his estimate of the crop, they
COMPARE the .f,gureg and; from these
individual estimates they take a final
general estimate. So; close y do, the.
figures and estimates run" that Dean
Sheppard assured us that fully one
fifth of the time the members of the
board reported the same figures for
the various crop estimates under ad-
visement. "a
When the final estimate is made up
the clerks and stenographers take it
in hand ana preparssit for the2tele-
graph wires. The members iAof the
board sit behind the locked doors and
wonder when luncheon will besready.
At quarter to two o'clock the key
turns insthe lock, ana the secretary
of agriculture, or the assistant secre-
tary, if so directed, enters, sees the
final report signed by each member
of the crop reporting board, sees that
the chief statistician takes multiple
forms Of it, and prepares them for,
the reporters, ito, whom 1t is later
given. A few minutes later men rep
resenting the interests involved
come inland awaitsthe signal that re-
leases: their copy Of the report. AS
the hour hand points exactly sto two
p. m. the chief statistician mods, and
there is a scramble from the room,
out into the open, and to the tele-
graph wires that few minutes lat
er are hot with news that may send
the wheat market. ,saFs,. .s5,
Eat
His Cows Pays
The following Clipping from the
Kenmare Journal IS worth whole
lot of theory as to whether or not