The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-07-21
wilson IGNORANT
OF COTTON REPORT
Secretary OF Agriculture Aston.
ished at Departments
Statement.
WILL NOT OCCUR AeAIA
Preliminary Estimate Recently
Issued, Without Sanction
ofLaw.
tspecia, to The rimes-Dispa,ch.l

Especial to The Times Dispatch.l
Washington. ID. c., July 20.-SSenator
f. D. Smith. of South Carolina. to-day
discovered by chance that Secretary
Wilson is apparently no more cogniz-
ant of what is going on in the Depart
ment OF Agriculture than the man in
the moon
When Senator Smith called at the
department to ask about the prelimin-
airy cotton report issued July 3, the
most astonished man in Washington
was MIR. Wilson. lie did not nnow
that such a report had been Issued But
the story is best told in the words OF
Senator Smith, who said to-day
On july statement of the con-
dillon of the cotton crop was issued
from the Department Of Agriculture,
putting the condition at $50 per cent.
OF normal. as compared with a ten
year average Of SO per cent Also. that
the acreage Of cotton was about $4,000
900 acres. To quote the exact language
OF the alleged report in this respect. II
says: The report shows condition OF
the crop TO be higher than on any cor
responding date in the last ten years.
A month ago the general condition was
s.5 per cent. above the ten-year aver
age. To-day II is 1913 per cent. above
the ten-year average
THE acreage of cotton this year is
about 35.ooo.000. Allowing for the
average amount OF abandonment. about
100000 acres. the indications are that
approximately 100000 acres OF cot
ton will be harvested.
Tho condition indicates probable
yield OF 202s pounds per acre. which
on 100000 acres. would mean $685.
100000 pounds, or about 1925. 900
bales
This being the first estimate of the
kind. and realizing Its immense value
n tl.tn o--l 7
i!eved that there was some mistake
somewhere. for It makes no difference
as TO the fact that this Is a mere guess.
coming. as IL is alleged 10 have done.
from the Agricultural Department II
carried with II official sanction. official
weight and therefore WAS calculated
to have vastly more effect upon the
market than any private guess could
have. therefore this morning in
Nrviewed Secretary Wilson in person.
He informed mo that this estimate was
without his knowledge or sanction.
without the sanction of the law. and
that on account OF the many influences
that are likely TO occur in efectlng the
final yield of the crop II was foolish
ness for any one to attempt to fore
cast the yield al this date. That II this
did come from any OF his divisions.
that II was the frst time. and the last
time II would occur.
Oh course, the damage 10 large
extent. has been done. That is. its
effect on the price OF cotton has already
been felt. But IL is due the public.
the cotton growers. and the legitimate
cotton dealers to know that the agri-
cultural department does not lend its
sanction 10 the alleged estimate.
LAS an Illustration OF the ebsurdity
OF an attempt TO make a guess now
IN 1905 we had 32.344.000 acres and
made 1880 bales. In 1910 we had
32,i03.o00 acres. and made 1866. 00e
bales. In 1906 we had 3l.37i.o00 acres
and made 1906 900 bales. In 1907. we
had 3l.31l 900 acres and made Il,3o5. 900
bales.
Texas. Oklahoma. Louisiana. Arkan-
sas. Mississippi and Ala bama are in
tested with the weevil. This pest be-
gins Its ravages about the 18th of July.
The extent OF its ravages are largely
dependent upon the condition OF the
wetther. II there is an excess OF rain.
the damage done by the weevil is
greatly increased. II there is not an
excess of rain, the damage is lessened
Already complaints are coming from
these sections of too ouch rain This
factor. together with many others tina
the cotton trade is familiar with. make
1t impossible to foretell what the ul-
Innate yield may be. And 1 am ex-
uremely gratifed to know. from the
secretary. in person to me. that that
dangerous and absurd preliminary es-
innate will not be made again"
P. H. MEG.