Heppner gazette. [volume] (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912, 1909-09-16
FARMERS TO KEEP RECORDS.
Census Director Durand's Appeal for
Accurate Farm Data.

w eoPt oSPss 80 ~ "'AA ~
suggested by U. S. Census Director
Durand to the farmers all over the
country that the work of securing ac-
curate 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 per-
sonal cooperation is but one of num-
ber Of ways and means chosen by Di-
rector Durand in the effort to secure
an accurate, expeditions and econom-
ical census concerning population, agri-
culture, manufactures, mines and quar-
ries, which are the subjects of inquiry
defined 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 informa-
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.
In 1900 the census found 5,739, 657
farms, an increase of 1,175,01 over
the total for 1890. The 1890 figures
were 555, ,734 higher than the number
of farms counted in the 1880 census.
Taking the increase between 1890 and
1900 and adding that number to the
total reported for 1900, an estimated
or approximate number of farms exist
ing at the time of the thirteenth GEN.
sus may be. .ascertained; the process of
calculation being that called "arith-
metical progression" the method chos-
en- by the majority of statisticians and
also used by the census bureau.
Therefore the 1910 total should reach
5,914,673, or roughly, about 5000, 900
farms, which is the number estimated
by Chief Statistician Powers. There
were 10, ,433,18 males and females
over 10 years of age June l, 1900, en-
gagged in agricultural pursuits. Prof.
Powers believes the 1910 census will
swell that number to the extent of sew
eral millions.
In order that the farmers may'begin
at once, Director Durand indicates as
follows, what operations are to be re-
corded, although the schedule is still
in incomplete shape:
Each person in charge Of a farm
will be asked to state the acreage and
value of his farm; that is, the acreage
and value of the land kept and culti-
waited by him; also the area of land
in his farm covered with woodland;
and finally. that which is utilized for
specified farm purposes.
each farmer will be asked to give
the acreage, quantity produced and
value of each crop, including grains,
hay, vegetables, fruits, cotton, tobac-
co, etc., raised on the farm in the sea-
son of 1909.
each farmer will be asked to re-
port the number and value of all do
mestc animals, poultry, and swarms
of bees on the farm April Is, 1910;
also the number and value of young
such as calves, colts, lambs,
pigs; and of young fowls, such as
turkeys, ducks, etc., raised
IN the farm in 1909. He will be fur
her asked to state the number and kind
If animals sold during 1909 and the re-
.eipts for such sales, the number pur-
chased and the amount paid therefor;
md also the number slaughtered for
:ood and the value of such animals.
"The law requires a report of the
lumber of cows kept for dairy purposes
n 1909, and the total estimated amount
# milk produced on the farm; also
he amount Of butter and cheese sold
md the amount received from such
ale. The census will seek to ascer-
ain the quantity and value of all eggs,
loney and wax produced on the farm
n 1909.
"Of the expenditures of the farm,
he census schedule will call for state
nent of the amount paid farm labor;
he amount paid for feed for live stock;
nd the amount expended for fertiliz-
RS in 1910.
The information reported on the ag-
icultural schedule will not be used as
basis of taxation or communicated to
ny assessor.
Director Durand wants the farmers
0 keep books this year so that guess
York and recollections will be elimin-
ted as far as possible.