Evening star., 1934-11-27

is coming back into agricultural use.
Vast regional changes in the pro-
duction Of various crops and live stock
products occurred between 1919 and
1929, notably the development of cot
ton production in Texas and Okla
homa and its decline in Georgia and
South Carolina; likewise, an increase
OF wheat acreage in the Central Plains
and decline east Of the Mississippi;
also an extraordinary increase Of milk
production in the States west of Lake
Michigan.
Agricultural interests must know II
these trends persist, or if there has
been reversal Of these pre- depression
trends, particularly in the East and
Southeast
Likewise, 1t is necessary to know
what is happening in the cut-over
lands Of the Lake States, In the hill
lands of the Southern Appalachians
and in the valleys Of the Pacific Coast.
Valuable to Many Agencies.
Among the agencies having nu-
merous programs expected TO remedy
Embellishments in American life that
will benefit from the agricultural
census are those which have to do
with acreage adjustments, subsistence
homesteads, marginal lands, land
utilization, soil erosion, farm credit,
farm housing and labor and unemploy-
ment. OF course, all public works
and all industries are more or less
influenced by agricultural conditions
as shown in agricultural statistics
One OF the most important aids to
the success of this census is the plac-
ing Of sample copy Of the agricul-
tural schedule in the hands of every
farmer and rancher prior to the time
when the enumerator will call for a
report This will afford an oppor-
tunity for study Of the questions, so
that they can be answered promptly
and accurately. Copies can be pro-
cured by writing or calling at the farm
census headquarters, recently opened
in your district, or direct to the Census
Bureau in Washington, D. C.
All State and county farm agencies
and organizations. agricultural schools.
business interests, newspapers and
farm publications can furnish direct
aid by assisting in the distribution Of
these sample schedules and by giving
the widest possible publicity to the
agricultural census so that every farm
er and rancher may know the impor-
tance and need for full and accurate
reports.
Some Opposition Manifest
Opposition on the part of some per-
sons to answering census questions has
manifested itself here and there in
previous enumerations. Such people
are imbued with the idea that any
statistical inquiry is an unwarranted
interference in their private affairs.
However, this opposition has been di-
minishing during past years, due to
realization Of the value Of these in
quiries and Of the benefits which ac-
crue, directly or indirectly, to the pub
lie generally.
Thomases, desire to call their atten-
ton to the fact that neither the Con-
gress nor the President would approve
the spending of millions Of dollars in
various statistical activities unless
these efforts brought dividends in the
form Of incalculable benefits to the
country and its citizens. The very fact
that these agricultural census activities
have grown and expanded from year
| TO year under pressure of public de-
mand is in itself evidence OF the need
for national inventories in our modern
life.
GarfieId's Opinion Given.
A former President of the United
States. James A. Garfield once ex-
pressed his opinion of the value of
census statistics in the following
words.
The developments of statistics are
causing history to be rewritten Till
recently, the historian studied nations
in the aggregate, and gave us only the
story OF princes. dynasties, sieges and
battles. OF the people themselves-the
great social body, with life, growth,
forces, elements and laws of its own
he told US nothing. Now, statistical in
quiry leads him into novels homes,
workshops, mines, fields. prisons, hos
pitals and all other places where hu-
AiioAA AAotdA { NioPidSo Ito NCdhIlcSS dIlQ
strength. In these explorations he dis
covers the seeds Of national growth
and decay. and thus becomes the
prophet of his generation.
The chief instrument Of American
statistics is the census which should
accomplish twofold object 1t should
serve the country, by making full
and accurate exhibit of the elements
of national life and strength; and it
should serve the science of statistics
by SO exhibiting general results that
they may be compared with similar
data obtained by other nations. The
| census is indispensable to modern
craftsmanship"
| And I might add that the farm CEN
J sus is indispensable to the future well
fare, not only Of agriculture, but of all
other industries in which our people
| are engaged.
In conclusion. permit me to bespeak
the Whole-hearted support of the pub
lie generally anG farmers particularly
to the end that the project may be