Evening star., 1934-11-27
VALUE Of FARMS
CENSUSEXPLA|NED
Austin Says 1885 Study,
Huge in Scope, to Aid
All Industries.

(Continued From Twelfth Page)
Latin word. and implies the essential
need OF the statesmen for accurate
statistics.
These basic figures must be up-to-
date and must have the stamp OF GER
tainty. While estimates may be SUI
ficient for many purposes, We must
have a factual foundation for check
ing these calculations. and a check
is required every few years to keep
estimates from cumulative errors. This
foundation is provided only by cen
sus. OF enumeration.
In other words. the check-up be-
comes a necessity. not only for the
transaction of ordinary governmental
business and for the proper determlna-
ton of policy, but also very necessarily
for all allotment programs IN times OF
emergency At the present time these
allotment programs vary from the crop
and livestock allocations of the Agrl-
cultural Adjustment Administration TO
the unemployment of the Federal
Emergency Relief Administration, the
loans of the Farm Credit Administra-
ton and for the ALLEGATION of funds OF
the emergency agencies.
Drought Has Strong Effect.
The pressing need for new base
agricultural figures at the present time
is accentuated by the drought OF the
past year and the depression when
has been with us since the Fall OF
1929. The drought has resulted IN
tremendous changes III crop produc-
ton during the past year, winch are
very difficult to calculate because most
crops are estimated upon the OASIS OF
planted rather than harvested acreage.
Ordinarily no adjustment is mace IN
the minor crops to cover crop failure,
because in 80 out of 40 years 1t has
leen found unnecessary For all prac-
tical purposes a check on failure has
been needed only upon wheat ana
cotton.
Some of the beneficial features OF
the Agricultural Adjustment Admins
tration program have been in reality
a type of crop insurance. PROBABLY
never again in our generation Will we
have a season when it will be possible
70 check adequately maximum crop
lcsses and to record the basic statistics
which are necessary for any crop in
surance program.
The drought has also made it neces-
sarv to revamp present statistics as
we'll as methods of procuring and
recording them The unprecedented
shifting of millions of cattle presents
another problem to the agricultural
statisticians Therefore new base
figures are absolutely essential.
Depression Shifts Studied.
Looking at the problem from the
human angle. we find it is necessary TO
know the movement Of farm popula-
ton due to the depression. The agrl-
cultural census Of 1880 indicated that
a movement back to farms had begun.
Many people are thought to have re-
turned to the farm. while the usual
flow of young people from farms TO
cities has been greatly reduced. At
the present time. in certain areas, It
is believed that the flow to the cities
has begun. both because Of resumption
of more normal urban conditions and
because Of changes in the farm set-up
resultant upon the control OF crop
production.
No method Of estimating has been
found which will satisfactorily indi-
cate the present movement. In addi-
ton to the basic agricultural statistics
which are needed information is
necessary at present for such pro-
grams as rural electrifcation. farm
housing and the other campaigns for
the betterment Of American life, which
are being seriously proposed for the
first time.
Facts Always Important.
All of these emergency needs may
somewhat outweigh the ordinary de-
mands for agricultural data. However,
in the transaction of the usual bust
ness for the Nation fundamental farm
information is necessary to those pur-
chasing and selling commodities, the
transportation of goods, the planning
and rerouting of traffic, the outline of
sales and advertising campaigns. the
granting of credit. the regulation of
national exchange and exports, the
planning and conduct of business in
general. and all long-range planning
which has to do with population.
Many believe that the future destiny
of the United States depends upon
the solution of problems with which
We are now confronted. These prob
lens must be settled upon the basis Of
facts disclosed by the coming agri
cultural census.
In addition to the help that the
agricultural census will be to the
emergency agencies, this census will
throw light upon numerous agri-
cultural and sociological problems.
Machinery's Use known.
Among these may be mentioned:
The replacement of farm labor by
heavy farm machinery; the substitu-
tion Of tractors for farm horsepower,
with its entailed decrease in acreage
for feed crops and the resultant build
ing up of national surpluses: the pro-
duction of milk per capita; the change
in acreages of principal fruits and
vegetables, and consequent changes in
the diet of the American people; the
effects Of rapid automobile transporta-
tiOll upOii dlSdS dIdPJCu W SlONllB
early vegetables and fruits: the de-
termination of whether our birth rate
and age calculations are correct, and
dozens of other economic and socio-
logical problems too numerous to
mention in brief broadcast
Because of these manifold needs of
the emergency agencies and of the
farm. business and scientific interests,
this agricultural census appears to be
the most important one that has been
taken for many years. 1t should prove
a most valuable guide for future ac-
ton
Magnitude Of Task Shown.
Some idea of the magnitude of the
task We now are undertaking may be
cleaned from calculations based upon
the more than 100000 farms re-
corded in 1880. These farms totaled
nearly l 900 900 900 acres and cropswere
harvested from approximately 359,-
100000 acres. The farm population
was over 10000 900. or 24.8 per cent
Of the total of the United States. The
broader classification, rural popula-