Evening star., 1915-02-07
WHAT THE GOVERNMENT IS DOING

lmental metallurgy laboratory. which
will be operated by the government in
industries. Beneath the floor of this
laboratory a third exhibit, which will
be a demonstration mine, will be
shown. The government will also be
which will be operated by the bureau
OF mines in cooperation with the Pc
troleum industry.
| Every phase Of the work of the bu-
shown. The phases Of Uncle Sans ac-
tivities will include the scientific and tech
nologic Investigations concerning min
ing. preparation. treatment and utiliza-
ton OF mineral substances. with a view
! to improving health conditions and in
| creasing safety. efficiency, economic
development and methods OF conserv-
| ing the natural resources through the
prevention of waste in the mining,
mineral industries.
Particular attention will be paid
| to the governments work In the study
OF methods to prevent the loss of life
in mines. Various kinds of apparatus
| used in the exploration of gas-filled
| mines and apparatus for improving
| health conditions in the mine will be
shown. There will also be a demon
stration of flrst-aid work. The gov
i y
| hint of what Uncle Sam is doing in
| Investigations relating to sanitation,
| water supply. sewerage. good housing
| and other welfare subjects in connec-
| ton with the mining industry.
one OF the most interesting features
Of the mining exhibit will relate to
what the government is doing in the
development of the radium supply of
| the mines of carnotite. on which the
radium supply of the world is de-
pendent. are located in the western
part Of the United States.
Il X
''The farmers clearing house" is the
| newest institution which has been es-
tablished on the gov
Clearing House ernment's irrigation
projects in the west.
AVA Cd AeAs' According to one of
| Uncle Sans engineers who has observ-
ed its working, this so-called clearing
house will put an end to the accumu-
| lation of old agricultural machinery
| and other unused articles around the
farm. as well as assist the farmer in
finding a market for any of his prod
ucts which he has not managed to sell
| by other means.
Farm advisers are detailed by the De-
ers in the development Of their work.
| The plan Is that each of the farm ad-
visers should. by telephone or other
means. learn from the Individual farm
| er on the reclamation project just
| what products or farm machinery he
has on hand and wishes to sell or ex-
| change. The various items are then
listed. whether they be in terms of
boxes Of apples. registered hogs or
pieces of farm machinery which have
| been replaced by other equipment.
Each farmer is expected to make re-
turns once q month, and the monthly
lists are posted at reclamation service
headquarters for the information of
each man on the project.
Although the farmers clearing houses
have been working only a little while.
! they have accomplished much good, and
farmers have managed to supply them
cles without having to leave the prof.
ect or to send an order for new equip
ment to the nearest city. The result is
| that everything is put to the very best
and widest use. and farmers are ena-
bled to save money by purchasing that
! which is nearest at hand and which is
| not needed by some other settler.
The plan of placing farm advisers on
all the projects will be pushed as
| quickly as the Department of Agricul-
| ture can obtain satisfactory men to fill
these Important positions. The farm
ers' clearing houses will be in charge
! Of these farm advisers. and 1t Is be-
lieved by officials of both the Depart
ment of the Interior and the Depart
ment of Agriculture that the assist
ance given farmers In selling their sur
plus products and unused pieces of ma
| chinery will bring about better feeling
between the men on all the projects
and in the end will save them many
! thousands of dollars.
| The farmers clearing house plan is
based on the idea that "it pays to ad-
| vertise," but, inasmuch as the projects
| in most cases, do not have local news
paper mediums, with their 'miscel-
| laneous for sale" columns, it is neces-
sary that the articles which are offer
| ed as bargains must be listed at some
! central place, SO that farmers may
| learn of the opportunities to make a
purchase at home and to save money.
y X
Americans have less reason to fear a
timber famine than they had ten years
ago, according to How
| Diminishinp ard F. Weiss, di-
| rector of the govern
| LUMBER use. ment's forest products
| laboratory at Madison. Wis. This forest
service expert believes that as the United
States becomes more densely populated
the per capita consumption OF timber
will decrease, and this country will ap-
proach more and more the conditions
abroad He reports that the maximum
lumber output in the United States has
already been passed.
| Mr.. Weiss thinks that the decreasing
per capita use of lumber and the de-
velopment in recent years OF better
methods Of utilizing timber will work TO-
eether to prevent timber famine in the
next fifty or one hundred years. If this
country is to maintain Its lead in Itaa certain
| of the great industries which are depend
Vent on a plentiful supply of wood, he
adds that it will be absolutely necessary Siry
| to exercise extreme caution in handhns
| the timber resources which remain.
ITO prevent I'll timber .,a1 famine os+tn6s through 81
the DEVELOPMENT OF eh a,ona e,nodi three
lines" says Mr.. Weiss. I'VE must first
find practical uses for those kinds of trees
which are now left standing in the forest
because they at present possess little or
no commercial value. Our manufacturers
are now finding uses for many Of the
trees which were formerly left in the
forest Fifteen years ago red gum, for
| LOFT t1yt tha 1y,Ypherrnen who