The Sauk Centre herald., 1935-01-03
$4,000 Men Begin
Enumeration of Farms
Six Million Farms and Ranches in
D. 8. VIII Be Canvassed Be-
fore End Of January


proximately $4,000 federal census
employees will undertake the huge
task Of enumerating the more
than six million farms and ran
ches of the United States in what
is probably the most important
agricultural census in the nations
history, according to a statement
released by Director William l..
Austin, Bureau of the Census, De-
partment of Commerce. Plans
call for the completion of the can
vass before the end Of January.
"The Fifteenth Decennial Census
Act, approved June 18, 1929, direc-
ted that mid-decennial Census Of
Agriculture be taken January 1,
1885, for the calendar year 1891,
Director Austin said. Because Of
the tremendous upheaval in the
great basic industry of agricul-
ture, due to the depression,
drought and other factors, new
farm statistics are urgently needed
in connection with the Govern
ment's vast recovery program.
"The earnest cooperation Of the
farmer is necessary to the success
of this census, for it is one of the
federal activities designed primar-
lily for his benefit. However, the
welfare of agriculture affects all
other industries, directly or indi-
rectly, and the public generally.
The statistics are necessary not
only for the ordinary transaction
of governmental business, but also
for allotment programs. These
programs range from the alloca-
tions of the Agricultural Adjust
ment Administration to the Fed
eral Relief and Farm Credit Ad-
ministrations. Indeed, the benefits
expected to be derived from this
census are incalculable and will
have a marked influence on the
future welfare of agriculture and
the country as a whole. At the
completion Of the canvass every
effort will be put forth to make
preliminary tabulation reports
available at the earliest possible
moment.
due to the splendid cooperation
of newspapers, farm publications,
radio broadcasting stations, state
and county farm agencies and or
ganizations and educational insti-
tutions in disseminating informa-
tion concerning the importance of
this farm census more than
million copies Of the sample
schedule have been distributed to
farmers. Those who do not have
sample schedules are urged to
write, phone or call at the farm
census headquarters in their dis
trict, procure a copy, study the
questions and have their records
ready when the enumerator calls.
The headquarters for the Fourth
District Of Minnesota Is located at
Postoffice Building, Little Falls.
"The Bureau desires to call
attention to the law which pro-
vides that individual report made
by each farmer Is an absolute con-
fidehtial government report and to
emphasize the fact that no indi-
vidual figures will be used for tax
alton purposes nor given to any
tax official. All enumerators, as
well as all Census employees, are
sworn to secrecy and are required
to read the law and the severe
penalties established for any dis,
closure of information. Only
sworn employees of the Census
have access to the files.
8 of the Fifteenth Decen-
nial Census Act provides penalties
for failure to answer questions
asked by enumerators or for CIV
ing false information.
"Enumerators are legal residents
Of the district which they canvass.
Some, II not all, Of the farmers re-
siding in an enumeration district
viii know the enumerator person
ally and they will do well to see
that an accurate report Is returned
Tor their district. With the pro-
gram now being carried on by the
Government to assist agriculture
an inaccurate report might very
readily react to the disadvantage
Of the farmers In that particular