Evening star., 1898-12-01
Nutrition Investigations.


The appropriation for Investigations
upon the nutritive value of various articles
and commodities used for human food was
continued by Congress for the past fiscal
year. and the supervision Of the work per
formed under this appropriation remained
in charge of this ONCE The services of
Prof. w. o. Atwater as special agent in
charge were also retained. The policy pur-
sued in the management of these inVeStiga-
ton has been the same as that heretofore
followed. The cooperation of the agri-
cultural experiment stations, agricultural
colleges and other educational institutions
was obtained in Il way by which the de-
partment secured the services of experts
and laboratory and other facilities for it's
work on very advantageous terms. Wher-
ever the cooperating institution has shown
special interest in this work, the purpose
has been to make this institution a center
of nutrition Investigations and to special
ize the operations there in the direction in
which it is found that that particular in
sutution can work TO the greatest advan-
tage
THE demand for publications on subjects
relating 10 the nutrition investigations has
largely increased during the past year and
the correspondence conducted In the offices
at Washington and Middletown on matters
relating 10 the food and diet of our people
has grown to large dimensions There have
been many indications that public interest
in these inquiries is widespread Among
the gratifying evidences Of the success
which has attended them has been the ap-
polntment of our special agent in charge
as consulting expert to the lunacy commits
sion of the state of New York on the food
and diet of the insane. In connection with
its other duties this commission is charged
with prescribing the diet for inmates of
the aSyluns Tor the insane throughout the
state. The department of health of the
city of New York is arranging to issue cir
cuIdrs of practical information regarding
the nu;ritiye value and preparation of foods
for general distribution in that city The
schools and courses of instruction in which
special attention IS given to the studv OF
the food and nutrition of man are RAPIDLY
increasing in number and Importance. This
ONCE is making a special effort to aid in
the dissemination of the results of the nu-
triton Investigations among teachers and
students in schools of all grades throughout
the country.
Work In Alaska.
BY reason of the showing made of the
agricultural possibilities of Alaska and the
feasibility of carrying on useful agricu,tu-
raj Investigations in that region, Congress
continued the appropriation for the cur
rent hscal year, under the same terms as
Deiore, with an increase of the amount
from 5000 to 10000. As soon as this ap-
preparation was made plans were formed
Tor continuing the Investigations Prof C.
{. Georgeson, native of Denmark and
thoroughly familiar with the conditions of
dSTiculture IN EOrthern Europe, who had a
long experience as professor of agriculture
ard experiment station worker in japan
and Kansas was transferred to this office
from the division of agrostology of this de-
partnent. and made special agent in charge
OF the Alaska investigations. At the same
time the weather bureau of this depart-
ment undertook the establishment of spe-
cial meteorological service for Alaska In
this way this cffice has enjoyed the cordial
corporation Of the weather bureau in the
Alaska work, and the aid which has been
given by the chief of that bureau and
his assistants has been of great service in
our Investigations. We have also enioved
the hearty support of the governor of the
territory, Mr.. John G. Brady"
Irrigation Inquiry.
Upon the subject of irrigation investiga-
tions the report states:
After careful consideration 1t has been
determined to confine the work of the Office
on irrigation for the present to two general
lines: ID The collation. and publication of
Information regarding the laws and institu-
tions of the irrigated region in their rela-
tion to agriculture, and (2) the publication
of available information regarding the use
of irrigation waters in agriculture as de-
termined by actual experience of farmers
and experimental Investigations and the
encouragement of further Investigations i'm
this line by the experiment stations Ar
rangements have already been made for
the preparation of several bulletins The
amount of money available for this work
VIII not, however. permit the extension Of