The state herald., 1915-04-23

number of publications and to the increased
population but making all allowances II seems 10
be plain that the public was much better In
formed about the existence Of the bulletins and
much more interested in them than ever It had
been before.
While the department extends the usefulness
OF the Farmers Bulletins among the people by
famillarzing them with the publications con-
tents and value Il also TO II that stories are
prepared for publication that are much more
strictly news from the point of view OF the news
paper editors These stories are usually warn
ings OF frauds or OF pestilence. or decisions and
announcements connected with the enforcement
OF the meat inspection law and food and drugs
act and other statutes OF regulation which are
administered by the department of agriculture.
In the days before the creation OF the office OF
information the only organized method OF spread
Ing news of this character. which Is almost al
ways OF considerable and even great commercial
importance, was to send II out through the malls
In the form of circulars The delay frequently
was costly TO the people and the interests con
cerned and II was necessarily unsatisfactory,
Under the present system information Is sent
out at once from the departments oifcc by tele
phone or messenger to the press associations and
TO Representatives OF newspapers which like
ly TO be interested In the matter and who are
within reach
The usefulness OF this work is shown In the
affecting the footandmouth disease This sub
ieet. however. had attained such proportions that
II Is likely the newspapers themselves would
have secured the information through their own
representatives. but there are other cases and
many OF them. where the stories could not be
covered because II the department, did not give
out the information voluntarily nothing would be
known Of Il. In point which may be cited
was an elaborate attempt to palm on on the
farmers In the corn belt region preparation
alleged 10 cure hog cholera. The sellers pre-
tended that the preparation was recommended
by the department OF agriculture, This fraud
was suppressed when through the Office Of In
formation the newspapers In the territory con
cerned received a full statement Of the facts
In the case.
Many of the departments activities moreogor
have to do. not with the farmer but with those
who manufacture farm products into food or
handle. store, or market them The departments
specialists are constantly making discoveries fof
preventing losses, doyislDg methods for manu-
featuring new products or improved methods for
handling manufacturing old products. Here
toforc I, frequently happened that one progrcs
alye manufacturer would learn Of these things
and thus gain an advantage over others In the
same trade who had no knowledge that the In
formation was available. Under the present
system the office OF information quickly com
municnteh the details OF these discoveries or Inn.
provomenis to all trade papers In the class nf
fected and To all Important dailleA In the ter.
rliorlcs whore such manufacture In n prominent
industry,
The ONCE Of Information In nddlion TO the
service Of the character outlined prepares
Weekly News Letter" TO crop correspondents
which has taken the place of the Crop Report.
or This Weekly News Letter II sent TO all
the voluntary crop correspondents serving the
department, to Inspectors. agricultural colleges.
correspondents. and 10 other pcrfonH In posi-
tion TO make use OF the material II has cir.
culation approximately Of 10000 weekly
IN nil the work Of the ofieo of information the
offort II simply 10 place nt tho disposal ~ the
people the Information ,hich the department II
agriculture primarily was organized 10 obtain for
their bcnent In none Of the material Ia there any
attempt TO rain prominence for any Individual or
branch Of government or 20 praise or 10 criticize
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