Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1911-01-19

One hundred and thirty thousand
persons-a mighty army-secure for
Uncle Sam the information contained
in the monthly crop reports. which
convey as near as it is possible for
human agencies the condition and
prospects of the chief agricultural
products of the country at that time.
These reports are literally the pulse
of the country's prosperity. Few peo-
pie. however. realize the amount OF
work, the minute detail, connected
with supplying this information to the
public free of charge.
If reports during the growing season
show that the condition of wheat is
such as to indicate full crop on
large area the merchants of the wheat
producing sections of the country
know that they can give liberal orders
for goods to be handled by them sew
eral weeks or months later The man.
ufacturers. located far from the
wheatfields, know where there will
be large demand for such of their
products as are used by all dependent
on the wheat industry, the railroads
transport, and SO the advance knowl-
edge regarding the probable future
outcome of the crop serves as a guide
to every branch of commerce and
trade connected with the wheat grow
ing areas of the country. The same
is true as to the other crops-corn,
cotton, oats. rye. tobacco. etc.
Monthly Reports Necessary.
If, on the other hand, the condition
of growing crops Is unfavOrable re-
liable information to that effect is
equally-in fact, mOre-impOrtant to
trade and commerce than when the
promise is good.
1t was to remedy the evils and to
subserve and protect the interests Of
all that congress provided for issuing
monthly crop reports. The crop re-
porting service Of the department of
agriculture aims to supply the public
at large with impartial, unbiased in
formation regarding crop areas, con-
ditions and yields. which it must be
apparent is lightly essential and ben
eficial not only to farmers, but to COM
mercial interests of every kind and
class
Following the estimates regarding
acreage come the condition reports
which are made from month to month
during the growing season. including
not only the crops concerning which
estimates are made. but also so called
"minor crops" Altogether during the
year estimates regarding conditions
are made for ffty-five separate and
distinct crops.
There are four great sources through
which data are secured by the depart
ment:
First-A corps of township CORE
epondents numbering between 10000
and 10000.
Second.-There is corps Of country
correspondents. one of whom resides
in each agricultural county in the
United States. The county correspond
ents have each from three to ten
friends scattered throughout the cOun
ty who report to him each month.
Third.-In each state there is a sala-
red employee known as a state stats
teal agent He maintains a large
corps of spondentS throughout his
state. who report to him each month.
The state statistical agent i'll the more
important agricultural states performs
considerable travel for the purpose OF
personally familiarizing himself with
crop conditions.
Corps of Special Agents.
Fourth. There Is corps of speciai
field agents. e0ch of whom has two or
more states through which he travels
interviewing farmers. agricultural i'm
plement dealers. country merchants
grain and elevator men, produce deal
ers, country bankers and any others
who by the nature of their business
are well informed regarding agricul-
tural conditions and prospects. The
special field agents also 90 into the
fields and personally examine the
crops.
In addition to these four general
sources of information the bureau has
special lists of correspondents. such as
mills and elevators for the wheat crop.
cotton ginncrs for the cotton crop and
various other classes for other crops.
which report to the bureau whenever
called upon. Altogether there are up
ward of 10000 voluntary correspond
ents of the bureau. none of whom re
ceivoS money compensation.
The crop reporting board consists.
as Il rule. of five membership chief
of the bureau of statistics acting as
chairman. The associate StatiStician
and another agricultural statistical
scientist in the employ of the bureau
at Washington serve on the bureau
regularly. and each month two employ
ees of the bureau-either special field
agents or state statistical agents-are
brought to Washington for service on
the board.