The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1911-07-25
CROP REPORTS A FRAUD
NO ESTIMATES ON COTTON CROP
WILL BE ISSUED.

Senator Smith Points Out vie Ab
suridity of the Guess to the Sec
retary Of Agriculture.
Senator E. D. Smith gave out thu
following interview Thursday, afte,
call on the Secretary Of Agricul
ture:
"On July "a statement Of the con
| dttion Of the cotton crop was ISSUED
from the department of agriculture
putting the condition at 1872 pei
cent Of normal, as compared will
ten year average Of 80 per cent
Also, that the acreage of cotton wa!
about 35,O00,OO0 acres. To quote
the exact language Of the alleged re
port in this respect, II says.
The report shows condition O.
the crop to be- higher than on any
corresponding date in the last ter
years. A month ago the genera
condition was 3.5 per cent above the
ten year average Today it is 10.G
per cent above the ten-year average
"'The acreage of cotton this veal
is about 5000, 900, allowing for the
average amount of abandonment
about 100000 acres, the indica'
tions are that approximately 34,'
100000 acres of cotton will be har.
vested.
"'The condition indicates a prob
d bile yield of 202.S pounds per acre
which, on 100000 acres would
mean 6,S05, 100000 pounds, or about
14,425,OOO bales.
"This being the first estimate o1
the kind and realizing it's immense
value to the speculator and gambler
I believed that there was some mis-.
take somewhere. 1t makes ne differ.
ence as to the fact, this is a mere
guess, for coming, as it is alleged
to have done, from the agricultural
department, it carried with it off,
ciai weight, and therefore, was cal
culated to have vastly more effect
upon the market than any private
guess could have. I, therefore, this
morning, interviewed Secretary VIII
son in person. He informed me this
estimate was without the sanctios OF
.aw, and that on account Of the
r,any influences that are likely to
occur in etfecting the final Yield OF
the crop, j: vas :oo:ishness for any
ono t. attempt to forecast tie yield
at this date. That, if this did come
from any of his divisions, that II
was the first and the last time 1t
would occur.
"Of course. the damage to a large
extent has been done. That is, its
effect on the price Of cotton has al
ready been felt, but it is due to the
public, the cotton growers and the
legitimate cotton dealers to know
that the agricultural department
does not lend its sanction to the
alleged estimate.
GAS an illustration of the a,bsur-
dity of an attempt to make a guess
now, in 1908 we had 92,344,00O
acres, and made 13,432,000 bales;
in 1910 we had 32,403D00 acres,
and made 1l,56O,OoO bales; in 1906
we had 31,374,0O0 acres, and made
13,305,O00 bales; in 1907 we had
31,311, 900 acres, and made 1885,
600 bales.
"Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Ar
kansas, Mississippi and Alabama are
infested with the weevil. The pest
begins it's ravages about the 18th OF
July. The extent of its ravages are
largely dependent upon the condition
of the weather. If there is an ex-
cess of rain the damage done by the
weevil is increased; If there is not
an excess Of rain the damage is less
ened. Already many complaints are
coming in from these sections of too
much rain. This factor, together
with many others that the cotton
trade if familla.' with, make it i'm
possible to foreteIl what the ultimate
yield may be. And I am extremely
gratified to know from the Secretary
in person, that this dangerous and
preliminary estimate will not be
made again."