Democratic watchman. (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1855-1940, June 18, 1920, Image 6
Pew fitdn Bellefonte, Pa, June 18, 1920. ESTIMATING THE NATION'S CROPS. Early in May, 1919, the United States Department of Agriculture is- sued a report showing the condition of winter wheat to be 100.5, half a point over a “perfect” condition as compared with the average of former years. On the acreage sown—almost 49,000,000 acres—this indicated a win- ter wheat crop of approximately 900,- 000,000 bushels. Adding to this a nor- mal spring wheat crop of some 350,- 000,000 bushels, there was a promise for a total wheat crop in 1919 of a billion and a quarter bushels. Subsequent reports reduced the prospective yield, due to losses through blight, insect enemies and other causes, until, at the end of the crop season it stood at a little less than 900,000,000 bushels for the com- bined winter and spring wheat. How is it done, this matter of esti- mating before the plants are fully grown, the amount of wheat and oth- er grains which will be produced in this country in a single season? If you should wander into a certain room of the Bureau of Crop Estimates at Washington on the day when one of these reports is to be given out, you would find gathered around a ta- ble many newspaper correspondents and press representatives. The word “wander” is used figuratively, because you could not gain access to the room without proper credentials, and once there you would be unable to leave until the business at hand was finish- ed; all doors leading to the room are locked, and there is no way of com- municating with any one outside. On the table are a number of sheets of paper—copy of the crop estimate— face down. An official of the bureau stands nearby with an accurately timed watch in his hand. Directly he says “ready,” and the press represen- tatives range themselves around the table, each with a hand on one of the sheets of paper. Next comes the command, “Get set!” and the repor- ters assume attitudes corresponding to those of a group of sprinters. Fi- nally there comes in stentorian tones the anxiously awaited word “Go!” Im- mediately there is a sound of feet racing over the flooring, followed in a few seconds by the rapid fire of tel- egraph instruments and by the excit- ed shouting into telephone transmit- ters of a series of numbers. The crop estimates is going to the four quarters of the country. All this is a part of the govern- ment’s determination to play abso- lutely fair, to see that no biased in- formation is put out before the fixed time, and to see that the report is re- leased to all interested parties simul- taneously. Of course, the reporter with the longest or the fastest moving legs may obtain a few seconds’ advan- tage over his competitors after the signal to go is given, but that is all. No matter on what day the govern- ment crop reports are issued, the time is always exactly the same— 2:15 o'clock eastern time to the sec- ond. The reason for this is that it is the hour of closing of the principal grain exchanges in the West—1.15 p. m. If the reports reached the ex- changes during the midst of a session, they might create unwarranted fluc- tuations in prices. The little race among the Washing- ton correspondents is only the begin- ning of the flash which carries the re- port to every person in the United States who is sufficiently interested to read it. A national crop repc is, to a con- siderable extent, a composite of thousands and thousands of individ- ual estimates of the local situation. That the reports are absolutely unbi- ased no well-informed person can doubt. As for the force of statisti- cians, no incentive for bias exists among them, even if a prejudiced re- port were possible, since the tabula- tors and computers who make up the totals do not even know the States to which the reports pertain and the fi- nal telegraphic reports and comments of field agents relating to spcculative crops are kept locked in the office of the Secretary of Agriculture until crop-reporting day, when they are turned over to the crop-reporting board. This entire board is immedi- ately locked in, with guards stationed at the doors and telephones discon- nected, until the minute the report is issued. In the central office of the Bureau of Crop Estimates at Washington are housed about 135 employees, the ma- jority of whom are statistical clerks, computers and trained statisticians experienced in handling and interpre- ting agricultural facts. In addition, there are forty-two salaried state field agents, each of whom is required to travel during the crop season, inter- view farmers, representatives of com- mercial houses, mills, elevators, buy- ing and selling agencies and state and local authorities. Each agent enlists the voluntary services of from 250 to 1500 selected crop correspondents in his State, who report to him every month regarding crops. At the close of the month the agent makes up a detailed estimate. Two other classes of voluntary re- porters send reports direct to the bu- reau at Washington; 2800 volunteer county correspondents, 53,000 town- ship correspondents, 20,000 field aids who report to the state agents, 6400 special price correspondents and more than 12,000 mills and elevators. Approximately 200,000 volunteer correspondents in all make up the bu- reau’s list, including 50,000 individual farmers. In addition to the special reports sent in each month by the field force, the crop-reporting board has all oth- er available data, such as the Weath- er Bureau reports, crop reports is- sued by state authorities and private crop-estimating agencies. The crop-reporting board is com- posed of the chief of the bureau, as- sistant chief of the division of crop reports, two statistical scientists and one or more of the field agents called in from the different States each month. When the returns from the voluntary crop reporters are all in, they are sorted by States and districts | | and partial totals are tabulated on | sheets which are identified by num- bers only, there being nothing on the sheets to indicate either the State or the crop, so that the work of adding up and averaging the partial totals is purely mechanical. The tabulation sheets are cut up into sections, which are distributed to different groups of computers, and the results are not as- sempied by States and crops until after the bureau is put under lock and key on crop-reporting day. The re- port of the state field agents go di- rectly to the secretary of agriculture and are locked, unopened, in a vault in his office. They remain unopened until the morning of crop-reporting day, when they are turned over to the chief of the bureau, at the time the crop-reporting board is called into session. Inasmuch as the field agents are ex- perienced crop inspectors, and as each devotes his entire time to studying the crops of his State, great reliance is placed upon their estimates. Yet the estimate of the other classes of correspondents are a check upon them. Furthermore, when the mem- bers of the crop-reporting board con- sider these estimates they take, in conjunction with them, other factors, such as weather conditions during the few days since the reports were made, and the estimates for adjoining States. The average of the three es- timates is then made. ) The Bureau of Crop Estimates is considered by those who know to be the best organized, smoothest-running piece of human machinery for gather- ing and disseminating agricultural statistical data in existence. So well recognized is that fact that a number of foreign countries have sent repre- sentatives here to study our system and to adopt that portion which is ap- plicable to their conditions. Real Estate Transfers. Foster V. Jodon Jr., et ux, to Geo. H. Wilson, tract in Spring township; $3850. H. Reeder Jodon to Foster V. Jodon Jr., tract in Spring township; $3200. E. S. Bullock, et ux, to C. H. Don- ley, tract in Huston township; $2000. John Daniell, et ux, to Stephen Sa- bol, tract in Snow Shoe; $1200. Isaac S. Frain’s Exr’s. to Albert N. Womelsdorf, tract in Marion town- ship; $125. Edward P. Lucas, et al, to Georg? F. Walker, tract in Boggs township; $3500. Jacob Carver’s heirs to Thomas Me- Closkey, tract in Snow Shoe township; $900. Charles W. Erb, et ux, to Annie XK. Humphrey, tract in Philipsburg; $2000. Margaret D. Garbrick to Christ Eckley, tract in Benner township; $500. Daniel H. Michaels’ heirs to Clyde M. Viehdorfer, tract in Burnside township; $150. John Zwalderigo, et ux, to Paul Kassop, et al, tract in South Philips- burg; $1100. Bertha D. Jones to Mary Gill, tract in Philipsburg; $1. Michael Gill, et ux, -to Bertha D. Jones, tract in Philipsburg; $1. Estella E. O’Brien to Moravian Coal Mining Co., tract in Snow Shoe; $1. James A. Beaver, trustee, to Frank M. Crawford, tract in Bellefonte; $1100. T. F. Rogers, et ux, to James Da- vis, tract in Potter township; $1. T. F. Rogers, et ux, to James Swabb, tract in Potter township; $2000. Harry Dukeman, sheriff, to Fannie S. Musser, tract in College township; $1200. Wm. H. Brown, et ux, to Carolyn B. Edwards, tract in State College; $4000. Wm. H. Brown, et ux, to George R. Green, tract in State College; $4000. Estella E. O’Brien to Moravian Coal Mining Co., tract in Snow Shoe; $1. George VW. Ward, et ux, to Mary J. Martin, tract in Ferguson township; $102.50. J. I. Reed to Mary J. Martin, tract in I'erguson township; $125. Edward H. Meyers, et ux, to Kd- ward L. Taylor, tract in State College borough; $200. ida M. Rishel heirs to James Reed, tract in Harris township; $1750. Harry H. Ishler, et ux, to Alfred Lee, tract in Harris township; $2300. W. G. Runkle, et ux, to J. Forrest Bible, tract in Potter township; $200. Andrew Lytle, et ux, to Ella E. Catherman, tract in College township; $150. Ellen Meese to Christina Rine, tract in Bellefonte; $1200. Sarah J. Moore, et al, to James H. Hugg, tract in Philipsburg; $5000. Fred Leathers, et ux, to W. C. Shay, tract in Howard borough ; $340. George W. Beezer, et ux, to N. H. Krape, tract in Benner township; 87500. Louisa Bush to D. C. Kustaborder, tract in Spring township; $250. Clayon B. Stover, et ux, to Elmer D. Ripka, tract in Spring Mills; $275. F. M. Crawford, et ux, to J. E. La- Barre, tract in Bellefonte; $500. Frank F. Palmer, et ux, to John Wil- kinson, tract in Potter township; $350. William M. Allison, et al, to Sarah Hoar, tract in Potter township; $450. John Wilkinson, et ux, to Lawrence M. Boal, tract in Potter township; $350. William M. Allison, et al, to Henry Foust, et ux, tract in Potter township; $350. W. W. Price to John P. Sebring tract in Taylor township; $350. Eliza Jane Harvey, et bar, to Lillie Mae Shellenberger, tract in Philips- burg; $1. Jacob Harpster, et ux, to Isaac G. Harpster, tract in Ferguson township; $4,000, Mary E. Sholl, et bar, to Orvis M. Sholl, tract in Millheim; $450. William M. Allison, et al, to Henry vis M. Sholl, tract in Penn township; $400. © WTO IER DITA AS A RL F. P. Royer, et ux, to Corney R. Boob, tract in Millheim; $600. David Chambers, treasurer, to F. P. Philips, tract in Potter township; $6.25. David Chambers, treasurer, to Hiram Bowes, tract in Liberty town- ship; $29.19. : Henry Ccle to Mary Ellen Williams, tract in Rush township; $275. James C. Reed, et ux, to John F. Kimport, tract in Harris township; $6,000. Ida Sullenberger, et bar, to Elmer Day’s heirs, tract in Liberty town- ship; $3600. Binder Twine Plentiful, Cheaper. The wheat grower need have no ap- prehension as to the supply of binder twine—this season. Reports coming to the Bureau of Plant Industry, of the United States Department of Ag- riculture, indicate that there will be a plentiful supply of this commodity available for the American farmer. ers in Yucatan to reduce their plant- ;[ ing, with the result that a real short-' age of the fiber five or six years hence |: is a very likely possibility. Big Compensation Paid During April. Industrial accidents injured 13,882 Pennsylvania workers during April, according to an announcement made i recently by Clifford B. Connelley, ‘ Commissioner of the Department of Not only will it be plentiful, but it is likely to be cheaper this year than for some years past. Yucatan—the chief and cheapest source of henequin, from which the twine is made—produced a large crop this year; which, coupled with the ter- mination of control of prices by the Commission Reguladora, was respon- sible for a drop in the price of fiber from 15 to 10 cents a pound in March. The price is now reported to be 3 cents a pound. This reduction should be reflected in the price of twine this season. Thus far the recent revolution in Mexico has not affected the henequin industry of Yucatan and Campeche, the two important fiber-growing States of that country. It is too late now for any disruption of this indus- try to affect seriously the supplies of twine for his year’s harvest, as prac- tically all the fiber necessary for the present needs have already been im- ported to the United States. Although there is no danger for this year’s twine supply,. officials of the Department of Agriculture are some- what apprehensive over the effect that the low prices for fiber prevailing now will have upon the production of the henequin during the next few years. Low prices, according to reports to the Department, are leading the grow- A ————————————————————"— Labor and Industry. The accident re- ports received by the State Bureau of Workmen’s Compensation indicate 177 of the 13,882 workmen died from the injuries received. The record of disabling accidents for April is ap- proximately 1,500 less than in March. During the first four months of this year, there have been 844 indus- trial workers killed and 56,072 other workers injured. Pennsylvania workmen, during April, lost 68 eyes, at a workmen’s compensation cost of $85,579. The following losses of limbs were suffer- ed at compensation costs as indicated: Thirty-three hands at $61,838; nine feet, at $14,785; seven arms, at $13,- 703, and five legs, at $11,400. The Bureau of Workmen’s Compen- sation, during April, approved pay- ment in 192 fatal accident cases. Fa- tal compensation awards totaled $422,016. Fatal compensation paid during the month amounted to $203,- 461. Disability compensation paid during the same period was $444,828. No Progress for Him. “Don’t want a railroad through here.” “You don’t?” : “No sires. I'm satisfied with the way things are now. Take your old railroad somewhere else.” “But this will improve the value of your property. It is a progress.” “That may all be, but I'd just as soon not have progress build a rail- road near my farm. It’s hard enough to get work out of the hired help now, without having them stop and rest, and look every time a train goes by.” —Detroit Free Press. A little turpentine dissolved in warm water is the best thing with which to wash windows and mirrors. A little aleohol will also do wonders in brightening glass. et Contents 15 Fluid Draotm 2 ALGOHOL-5 PER GENT. E pd AVesetable Preparationforas ii: SimilatingtheFood by Reg # St ting the Stomachs and Bowes 4 SE TRS : meee — . i Thereby Promoting Digestion : Cheerfulness and Rest.ContaiS neither Opium, Morphine nor Mineral. NoT NARGO TIO] SE ———— ] Recipe of PITCHED | Pumpin Sei Tha as fdr Sa Py Ee od Sugar Wintergreen Flavor, \ helpful Remedy for A help! i Gonstipation and Diarrhoea and Feverishness an Loss OF SEE? restiting therefrom-in FacSimile Signature of o ode ets o— NEW YORK. RES (Rata t] 35DosES oe. Bears the Signature CASTOR! CASTORIA For Infants and Children. | Mothers Know That Genuine Castoria Always of In Use For Over Thirty Years ‘ORK CITY. Piling Up Happiness Does each year find you wishing and hoping for better things in the future —and regretting lack of accomplish- ment in the past? There is one sure way to fill your horn of plenty to the brim with ali the good things of life. It entails no sac- rifice now. It merely means the form- ing of a good habit. Save! That good old formula for suc- cess is as true now as when it helped build the fortunes of our pioneer rail- road builders, manufacturers and pro- moters. Applying it on a small scale in your own way will bring you results in pro- portion. Open a bank account with us and we will help you save. CENTRE COUNTY BANKING CO BELLEFONTE, PA. 60-4 | Sh cL 1 SASS o ona 2 = IS = An Prue oi) Oc Fauble’s ‘Money back” here isn’t a ‘“‘game’’---it’s a privi- lege. The man who gives a store the opportunity to rectity a cause for dissat- isfaction is doing the store IESE Eo) me SSH wl p- a favor more than himself. That’s the right way to look at it.. — ERE Sa E Lc ARES A A A SS ENS a RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANANANS Quality. Service. Efficiency. E.—B. OSBORNE CORN and GRAIN BINDERS E.—B. OSBORNE MOWERS E.—B MANURE SPREADERS E.—B. CYLINDER HAY LOADERS LETZ FEED MILLS CONKLIN WAGONS E.—B. STANDARD MOWERS—in a class by themselves MISSOURI GRAIN DRILLS—NEW IDEA MANURE SPREADERS We are Headquarters for repairs for the E. B. Osborne, Champion and Moline Machines. SPECIALS—While they last. Spray Guns, 235, 35 and 50 cents. 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