Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1924-12-11
AGRICULTURAL
/. CENSUS IS TO
Be TAKEN SOON

washington, d. C.-The Depart
mont of Commerce is about to take a
census of agriculture covering the crop
roar 1924 and relating to conditions
on or near January 1, 1925. This is
tba first Census of Agriculture to be
taken midway between the decennial
censuses; the Act of Congress author
;z;ng il is based ON the belief that,
with rapidly changing conditions in
agriculture, there should be a stock
taking as Of ten as every five years.
The work of taking the census will
begin on December /, and is to be COM
Melted on or before January 81. AS
RAPIDLY as possible after the receipt of
retnrns statements viii be released for
the press, by the Census Bureau at
Washington, relative to production Of
the principal farm crops and the val
ues of farm properties, including land,
buildings, machinery, and live stock.
The enumeration will require the
services Of $4,000 to 10000 enumera-
tors acting under the direction of 212
supervisors, who have for the most
part been selected from the employees
of the Bureau of the Census and the
Department of Agriculture Employees
of the Forest Service will secure the
Census returns for most of the farms
within The National forest reserves in
Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida,
+. Idaho, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana,
Nebraska, Nevada, Oregon, South Da-
kota, Tennessee, Utah, Washington,
West Virginia, and Wyoming.
Sample questionaires are being
widely distributed to the farmers, TO
familiarize them with the information
soon to be called for by the enumera-
tors. In addition to the usual inquir-.
les relative to production, values, and
farm expenses, the schedule calls for
the amount of taxes paid by the farm
operator on farm property, including
real estate tax, personal property tax,
and special assessments. 1t is import
ant to ascertain just what the burden
of taxation resting upon the farm real
ly is and how it compares with the a.
mount of taxes paid by other interests.
This may point the way to a more
equitable adjustment of the tax bur-
den.
Heretofore the census of agriculture
has always been taken in connection
with a complete census of population.
This time it will cover the farm popu-
lation only, showing the number OF
persons living on the farm, including
the family of the operator and the
farm laborers and their families.
These persons will be classified as I'M
der or over ten years of age and as
white or colored.
The extent to which farm opera
tors used the purchasing and selling
facilities of farmers organizations
will be brought out by two inquiries
one calling for the value of products
of the farm sold through farmers
marketing organization, and the other
calling for the value of all farm sup
plies purchased from or through q
farmers organization. An additional
index to the marketing conditions Will
be brought out by answers to inquiries
as to the kind of road adjoining the
farm, whether concrete, brick, maca
dam, gravel, improved dirt, or unim
proved dirt, and the distance to the
nearest market town. Through IN
quiries of this character the Census
seeks to secure information relative Il
conditions upon which to a consider
able degree the success of farm oper
alton depends.