The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1919-10-07
ASK INVESTIGATION
OF CROP ESTIMATE
Discrepancy Pointed Out by MANY
Observers-Significan Com
parison.

SoiuuDld, oct. u j. SkOttOWe
Wannamaker, President of the
American Cotton Association has an
nounced that the association would
ask for an investigation by Congress
or the government report on cotton
issued Thursday. This action. he
started, would be. taken as a result
OF urgent requests received by the
association not only from the produc.
ers and business enterprises, but
from other interests in the various
1ecNons, including the cotton ex.
changes. The request, he said. had
come. from various sections of the
country.
THE association has been urged
from every section" said Mr.. Wanna.
maker, ito take the necessary steps
to have resolutions passed by Con
gress providing for an investigation
as to the indicated yield shown by this
report The association is making
painstaking investigation through.
out the entire belt as a result of these
complaints and will lay the informa-
tion which it obtains before Congress.
Strange Discrepancy
The government report issued
| Thusrday gave the condition of cot
ton as 54.4 The condition of the
crops on the same day last wear was
given as Sd. 4 The indicated yield for
this year, according to the government
report, is 15S pounds lint cotton per
acre. Last year when the condition
was given as being the same as this
year, the indicated yield was given as
only 1877 pounds. Regardless of
the fact that the report shows serious.
damage from boil weevil, boil worms
and insects, it gives the indicated
yield as being greather than last
years. The government report ap-
peared this time in somewhat chang
form, the indicated yield being given
by States. The indicated yield for
South Carolina is given as 2l1 pounds
per acre. We know absolutely that
is wrong. A canvass made by our as
sociation shows this to be an error.
A canvass made by our the as
sociation throughout the belt shows
that cotton is opening prematurely.
that the holls are nudersize, >he lint
shows marked decrease
Ovcrcstimate Apparent.
In justice to the farmer. the man.
fuacturer and the consumer, an in.
Vestigation should be authorized by
Congress. We do not charge that
the Department af Agriculture would
intentionally overestimate the yield
We have not, however, the slightest
doubt but that an overest!mate has
been made. Had the correct indicat-
ed yield been given based upon the
acreage shown by the department
after deducting for abandoned acre
age OF l, $40, 900, leaving total acre
age at 32,390. 900, the highest est
mate possible under the existing con
ditions, which diseased plant. ravages
by insects, premature opening, etc.
the indicated yield could not have
exceeded 9,775,OOO bales at the out.
side. exclusive OF linters, even with
a very late frost
With representatives throughout
the length and breadth of this en-
firsthand information the crops and
firsthand information the crops and
base our statement upon actual facts.
We shall use every effort in our power
to have this error corrected. In the
meantime. we feel convinced that if
the department itself will make a
recanvass, it will detect the error in
dicated and take necessary steps to
correct same.
I'VE are writing every member of
Congress from the South urging that
they insist upon this investigation and
we shall call upon cotton producers all
over the South TO do likewise"