AGRICULTURAL GRAPHICS. 



A REPORT* UPON EXHIBITS OF THE BUREAU OF STATISTICS OF THE 

 DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, BEING DIAGRAMS ILLUSTRATING 

 THE AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS OF THE UNITED STATES, PREPARED 

 UNDER DIRECTION OF THE STATISTICIAN OF THE DEPARTMENT. 



Sir: The development of statistical organization in this country (Tur- 

 ing the past generation has been one of the marked features of educa- 

 tional progress. Every department of the National Government has 

 its machinery for statistical investigation. The States have their or- 

 ganization for collating or collecting fiscal or agricultural statistics. 

 Commercial hoards and agricultural societies participate in the work, 

 of co-ordination of important data. A spirit of statistical inquiry is 

 abroad, accompanying the schoolmaster, invading the press, and some- 

 times the pulpit. 



What is better, and manifestly the explanation of the increased pop- 

 ular appreciation of the uses of statistics, the multitude no longer look 

 with suspicion and distrust upon the collection of statistics, rendering 

 more efficient effort possible, and paving the way for better co-operation 

 in the work. Fifty years ago the ignorance and suspicion of the people 

 made impossible what is now easy of acquisition. It is not long since 

 I had occasion thus to note the iingering of such prejudices in these 

 words: 



It is well known to statistic! an a that in the past the greatest bar to efficiency in 

 census work was found in the ignorance, the indifference, or the actual opposition of 

 individuals from whom primary data must he obtained. Man, in the individuality 

 and selfishness of his wild or savage state, has not learned to yield gracefully some- 

 thing of his natural rights to the general welfare of the community, and his partly- 

 civilized brother is much inclined to resent as an impertinence the well-meaning and 

 even beneficent attempts of the statistical inquirer. He is suspicions, and fears a tax 

 levy if the inquirer is a Government official, and some economic disadvantage if he 

 is a fellow-craftsman. It is wonderful to observe the lingering of some such preju- 

 dice in the minds of multitudes of no little intelligence and a degree of culture. It 

 is gratifying to see these mists of ignorance and prejudice disappearing in the bright- 

 ening light of the practical culture of the present day. 



The necessity of impartial crop statistics, for the protection of farmers 

 against attempts of speculators to depress prices temporarily for per- 

 sonal gain, is more and more apparent. With increase of interest in 

 statistics there arises a persistent disposition in adventurers and sharp- 

 ers to utilize it for their selfish and fraudulent purposes. " Statisticia n s 

 spring up like mushrooms in every avenue of publicity, and by appro- 

 priation of results of organized work and the unfounded assumption of 

 original effort make an exhibit that is fraudulent in its method rather 

 than inaccurate in its estimates. Others, equally unscrupulous, with an 

 eye to gain, distort facts to affect the markets, to elevate and depress 

 prices, from gambling considerations. This cannot be prevented ; the 

 gambling spirit pervades the trading marts of the country ; but the 

 great body of consumers and honest middlemen should question sharply 

 the efforts of all interested parties who aim to mold public opinion 

 through printed circulars and the public press. They should learn to 



"Made to Mr. William Sannders, representative of the Department of Agriculturo 

 at the New Orleans Exposition. 

 466 



