Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1919-04-11
Government Estimates.

| Government Estimates.
A checking Of cotton planted in the
various counties of the cotton belt
shows that acreage planted in cotton
in 1918 and in previous years, by the
United States department Of agricul-
ture, bureau of crop estimates, is in
correct. A house-to-house canvass OF
every farmer living in certain coun-
ties together with the checking Of ev-
] cry piece of land planted in cotton in
said counties, prove beyond question
of doubt that the method employed by
the United States department Of agri-
culture of estimating cotton acreage
production is crude and incorrect, and
often results in injustice and unfair
ness to the south.
Therefore, be it resolved:
That the methods employed by the
government Of taking cotton crop re-
ports is inadequate to meet present
needs; that the methods now adopted
by the government fail to meet the
necessities of the occasion, and are
even inaccurate and incorrect. There
are other methods that should be
adopted. The method employed In Sc
curing cotton acreage is crude, and
more in the form of an estimate than
complete and correct statement Of
acreage.
Would Change Method.
We, therefore, urge that the con-
gressional and senatorial committee
referred to above be requested to use
their best efforts to induce the govern
ment to recheck their acreage figures
for the years 1917 and 1918 in ample
time to permit them to issue correct
acreage figures for 1919. That after
rechecking same, they issue a state
ment correcting such errors as may be
found therein. Furthermore, that
they be urged and requested to employ
methods THAI will insure the correct
ness Of these reports in the future.
Probe War Industries Board.
Whereas, on the basis Of the manu-
factured product, cotton should have
sold for seventy-fve cents (75 cents)
per pound, basis middling, in the ear
ly fall of 1918, and whereas upon the
price set by the war industries board
cotton was worth first sixty cents ESQ
cents) basis middling, and after the
price was reduced by the war indus
tries board for the manufactured pro-
duct, cotton was worth forty cents Gao
cents), basis middling, and whereas
there is a deep feeling OF dissatisfac-
ton and well-grounded suspicion
throughout the length and bredth OF
the cotton belt and in other sections
Of the country, that cotton was not
permitted to move on its own merits;
that the cotton growers OF the soutn
were not given a square deal. Where
as, it was reported throughout the
leading press during the time the price
fixing Of cotton was agitated that one
of the leading officials of the govern
ment had issued a statement to the
press that twenty-five cents (25 cents)
per pound, basis middling, was fair
and reasonable price for cotton, and
whereas this statement was not cor
rected for days, and as a result brought
a tremendous loss to the south.
Therefore, be it resolved, that each
and every one Of the congressman
from South Carolina, and each of the
senators from South Carolina are urg-
emily petitioned to use every effort In
their power to have an investigation
made Of the war industrial boards ac-
tivities and works, especially as to-
such activities, acts, deeds and works
affecting the price Of cotton; what
steps they took, If any either collect
lively as a board or individually, di-
rectly or indirectly, that bore on the
price Of cotton, to have thorough In
vestigation of said matter made and
the public furnished with full and de-
tailed information.
one of the congressman from South
Carolina, and each of the senators
from South Carolina are hereby urg-
emily requested and petitioned to in
vestigate the matter Of the statement
issued to the press by one of the lead
ing officials of the nation, in which he
stated that twenty-five cents (25
cents) per pound basis middling, was
a fair price for cotton; that the inves-
tigation be made for the purpose OF
ascertaining who made this statement,
who was responsible for the issuance
of the same to the press; who was re-
sponsible for the long delay in correct
ing same; and further, that they take
all necessary steps that lie within their
power for such punishment as can be
meted out legally to the party who was
responsible for said statement.
He Had His Revenge.-We can vouch
c.. +h;. o,o,, ba;po aptbantic.