Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-12-20
DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE.

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Leo Smith of the division of publ
cations was held up while passing be-
meath the X street viaduct on his way
home Tuesday night The colored
highwayman who accosted him asked
for his money. but Mr. Smith prompt
ly knocked the negro down and went
on his way. after directing the police
after the highwayman.
The internal arrangement of the main
building is undergoing quite change
these days. A visitor who thinks he is
familiar with the location of the chle1
clerks office. for instance. will nave
to look twice before he finds it moved
from one side of the staircase to the
other. Even the office of Secretary
Houston is considerably torn up, I'M
dergoing repairs.
Two large doors, or gates, greet one
at the top of the steps leading into
the rooms on the second and third
floors, occupied by the bureau OF crop
the largest internal gates" to be seen
in any building in Washington. They
are imposing affairs. which at hrst
sight seem almost too large 10 pc
swung open by the hand of man. let
alone the slight hand of any woman
clerk. On trying the gates, however,
one finds that they swing open very
easily, despite their formidable APP
pearance.
J. L. Monarch, chief clerk of the in
secticide and fungicide board. left the
city with his wife and little daughter
Wednesday for Boston, where they will
spend the holidays.
H. B. Cramer of the bureau of crop
estimates returned to the department
Monday after several days leave of
absence.
Harry D. Ruddiman of the bureau of
crop estimates is away on vacation
for the rest of the year
Mrs NJ L. Wood of the bureau Of crop
estimates returned to the department
Tuesday from New York after three
weeks leave of absence.
]. r. Covert is still on the sick list.
The bureau of animal industry will all
most have to go out of business at the
end of the week because all the money
is gone, according to officials of the bu-
reau. The foot and mouth disease has
played havoc with the bureaus funds,
and as yet no money has been voted the
bureau to replace the loss occasioned by
fighting the cattle plague and paying for
slaughtered cattle OF course, those who
declare the bureau will have to go out
of business are only joking. but by such
expressions they voice the seriousness
of the situation as perhaps no milder
wording would
The bureau since the outbreak Of the
foot and mouth disease has been the
recipient of all sorts Of "cureS" for the
epizootic. 1t is needless to state that all
these so-called cures prove quite worth
knows to date for the disease is slaugh-
ter of the animals affected. The only
way to kill the disease is to kill the suf-
fering animal and bury 1t. The depart
ment, of course, has received many pro-
tests against this treatment of cattle
from those who naturally have not liked
to see their stock done away with in
such summary fashion. The only de-
parture the department has seen fit to
make from the general order to kill and
of particularly high-bred animals. Some
OF these. which contracted the disease.
are being held in the strictest quaran-
tine. but are not to be killed on account
of their almost irreplaceable value to the
breeding interests of the country. 1t
is to be seen If these cattle get well and
are as good after their recovery as be-
fore they were attacked. II SO. the fact
will be an argument, it is admitted. for
those who protest the slaughter of less
valuable stock.
Inspector Ernest Virgins of the in
secticide and fungicide board reported to
the office Tuesday after having been gone
all year collecting samples of insecticides
and fungicides. Inspector Virgins COW
cred the entire Atlantic seaboard on his
long tour.
Sidney Sherwood, chemist in the sugar
laboratory of the bureau of chemistry,
will address the Vermont Maple Sugar
Makers Association early in January.
Leo Schlenther, a messenger in the
office of the executive officer of the in
secticide and fungicide board. left Mon
day for vacation of two weeks.
Oscar l.. Evenson Of New York has
been appointed junior chemist in the
dairy laboratory Of the bureau Of chem
istry.
Miss Annie V. Birthright. a clerk in
the bureau Of chemistry. is to spend her
Christmas holidays in Nashville. Tenn.
J. B. Abbott. in charge of cooperative
work of the bureau Of chemistry, is visit
ing a number of food commissioners of
the southern states.