Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-07

cOld-Wave, frost and storm warnings has
increased enormously in the sixteen years
under review. The distribution by tele-
graph and telephone has increased from
less than 1000 to 5.5OO.OOO. There Is also
a river and flood service. The river fore
casts issued daily have contributed In no
small measure to the success of naviga-
ton in the great inland waterways. Flood
giving specific information as to the time
Of arrival and duration Of floods and the
highest stage expected.
The bureau of statistics has i'm
mensely improved its crop-reporting
work by adding the services of travel
ing field agents. This bureau has
eighteen lists Of correspondents. some
Of whom report concerning the crops.
and others concerning great variety
of subjects, among which are reports
farm.
An important expert service has
grown up in the department in the
construction and maintenance of roads.
The office Of public roads has perform
ed many field experiments with regard
to this subject 1t has a laboratory
for testing road materials; it conducts
much research work: 1T builds models
of types OF good roads; it trains road
engineers and provides specification
of improved standard systems of con-
structiOn. maintenance and administra-
ton of roads: and it investigates the
economic benefits Of road improvement.
The development Of this bureau during
the past sixteen years has placed it in
such a position that 1t may now be
called a clearing house for all road
questions.
Forest Service Activity.
In midsummer Of 1912 the forest
service employed a total Of 4.097 per-
sons and had an appropriation of over
$1,000 900 for the current year. This
bureau employed only fourteen persons
sixteen years ago. It's administrative
and protective duties alone are dis
charged in thlrty-four states and in
Alaska. Besides having charge Of the
national forests. this bureau offers to
provide owners of woodlands an op-
portunity to obtain practical advice
and assistance looking toward the in
PRODUCTION of forest management on
their holdings.
Grazing Of the forest lands. which was
formerly done destructively, is now per-
mitted under control of this department.
Grazing permits are issued and In 1912
over 5000 permits were issued for the
grazing Of 1. 100000 cattle. 5000 horses.
400 hogs. less than 100000 sheep and
$1,000 goats.
In the care of the national forests much
sales numbered nearly $500 and embraced
SCO,O0O,U0O board feet, from which the re-
ceipts were over 81 ,O0O,OOO The area of
the national forests June so. 1912. was
over 1S5.OO0,O0O acres.
In closing the long review, the Secre-
tary says:
1.-The record Of sixteen years has been
written. 1t begins with yearly farm
production worth $1,000. 900, 90 and ends
with 1852, 100000. Then farmers were
loaded with debts that were a painful
burden; prosperity followed. and grew
with unexampled speed. Then the farmer
was joke Of the caricaturist now he is
like the stone that was rejected by the
builder, and has become the headstOne
OF the corner. Beginnings have been
made in production per acre increasing
faster than the natural increase of popu-
lation. There has been an uplift of agri-
culture and Of country life.
In this movement the department has
been gradually equipped to occupy a
foremost plate. 1t came to learn and it
remained to teach. Its influence pene-
trates the remotest neighborhood 1t
performs mission of welfare and han
piness to farmers and to the whole ma
ton. The millions of dollars that it
costs are returned in tens of millions of
wealth saved and wealth produced