Los Angeles herald., 1909-09-06
FARMERS ASKED
FOR FIGURES
EXHAUSTIVE DATA WILL Be
COLLECTED BY CENSUS
AGRICULTURAL WORKERS WILL
HAVE TO KEEP BOOKS
Vslue Of Ranches as Opposed to Man
ufaetures Is Indicated by
Returns In 1890
and 1900

VIII pp p0SStSltu Dy United STATES Cen
sus Director Durand to the farmers all
over the country that the work Of Sc
curing accurate returns at the coming
census of agriculture will be greatly
facilitated if the farmers will keep or
provide some sort of written record Of
their farm operations during the year
1909. This effort to secure the farmers
personal cooperation is but one of a
number of ways and means chosen by
Director Durand in the effort to secure
an accurate, expeditions and economical
census concerning population, agrieul-
ture, manufactures, mines and quarries.
which are the subject of inquiry de-
fined in the census law.
Notwithstanding the value of the
population returns for the political
purpose of reapportioning representa-
tion in the congress of the United
States and of the statistical inforTna-
tion derived from an analysis of the
population details, the census of agri-
culture, of all the subjects in the CEN
sus law, is regarded as Of the greatest
Importance.
The twelfth census reported a total
fixed capital of S5046 $685. invested in
manufactures. The corresponding total
for agriculture was $2051400183S or
more than four times that of manufac-
lures A more conservative estimate,
based upon different standard of COM
parison, also used by the census bu-
reau, places the investment in agricul-
ture as more than twice that of manu-
factures.
In 1900 the census found 5739657
farms, an increase of 1.175,016 over the
total for 1890. The 1890 figures We're
555, ,734 higher than the number of
farms counted in the 1880 census. TAX
ing the increase between 1890 and 1900
and adding that number to the total re-
ported for 1900 an estimate or approx
mate number of farms existing at the
time of the thirteenth census may be
aScertained the process of calculation
being that called "arithmetical pro-
gression,' the method chosen by the
majority of statisticians and also used
by the census bureau.
Therefore, the 1910 total should reach
5,914,673, or roughly, about 100000
farms, which is the number estimated
by Chief Statistician Powers. There
were 10,433,18S males and females over
10 years of age June l, 1900, engaged in
agricultural pursuits. Prof. Powers be-
lieves the 1910 census will swell that
number to the extent of several mill
lions.
it. evident that the Importance of the
agricultural census hardly can be over
estimated Hence the solicitude of
Census Director Durand and Chief Sta
tistician Powers in charge of the CEN
sus division of agriculture.
Director Durand believes that great
good will be accomplished by getting
into direct contact and cooperation
with the farmers. Some of the instru-
mentalities which will be used by him
and which promise practical results
are the state commissioners and state
boards of agriculture, the state agri-
cultural colleges. the agricultural ex-
pertinent stations, the farmers insti-
tutes, the farmers unions, the Pat
rons of Husbandry, and the state
oranges, in fact, all the existing or
ganizations for the education and bet
terment of the farmers. Added to
these will be the daily newspapers, the
country papers and the farmers publ
cations.
1t is estimated that millions of far
mers will be reached at their holaes
or at their mutual Improvement meet
4 ings by the contemplated methoo u6
! circulating preparatory information.
Pertinent Questions Asked
The necessity for scme written OF
f permanent record by the farmers them
selves of farm operations is obvious and
it's value in furnishing data more re-
liable than guessWork is equally evil
In order that the farmers may begin
at once Director Durand indicates as
: follows what operations are to be re- re-,
! corded, although the schedule Is sun
I in incomplete shape: 49,
, Each person in charge of farms VIII
1 be asked to state the acreage ana Valus
of his farm; that is, the acreage ana
= value of the land kept and cultivated
! bv him; also the area of land IN MS
farm covered with woodland; and final
ly, that which is utilized for speeiheo
: farm purposes.
Each farmer will be, asked to give the
, acreage, quantity produced ana Value
: of each crop, including grains, hay,
I vegetables, fruits, cotton, tobacco, ETC..
= raised on the farm in the season OF
1909.
Zach farmer will be asked to report
: the number and value of all domestic
animals, poultry, and sWarms OF pees
. on the farm April 10, 1910; also tne
4 number and value of young animals,
such as calves, colts, lambs, pigs, and
: of Young fowls, such as chickens tur-
keys ducks, etc, raised on the Iartn IN
1909 He will be further asked 10 slatS
= the number and kind of animals sold
during 1903, and the receipts from such
sales, the number purchased ana the
amount paid therefor; ana also tne
/ number slaughtered for food and the
5 value of such animals.
3 The law requires a report or the
8 number of cows kept for dairy pur-
poses in 1909, and the total estimated
. amount of milk produced on the farm;
= also the amount of butter and cheese
s sold and the amount received from
7 such sale. ,.....
0 animals. etc, on the farm April 10,
. 1910. as explained previously, the CEN
Z sus will seek to ascertain the quantity
/ and value of all eggs, honey and wax
8 produced ON the farm in 1909. sf
0 of the expenditures of the farm, the
. census schedule win call for a state
ment Of the amount paid farm labor;
. the amount paid for feed for live stock
u and the amount expended for fertilizers
0 in 1910.
6 If the farm changes owners or ten-
s ants between the crop year, 1909 and
. the date of enumeration, April 10, lslO
2 it is requested that the occupants OF
: the farm in 1910 shall secure the above
information relating to the farm ior
the preceding year, 1909. The owner or
9 tenant this year should leave his book
= record with his successor.
a The census act provides that the IN
: formation shall be used only Tor the
i statistical purposes for which i Is sup
6 piled. No publication shall be made
5 by the census office whereby the data
3 furnished by any particular establish
: ment can be identified, nor shall the di-
= rector of the census permit anyone
S other than the sworn employees Of the
6 census office to examine the individual
. reports.
8 Furthermore, the information report-
: ed on the agricultural schedule will
& not be used as a basis OF taxation or