Evening star., 1916-08-20
WHAT THE GOVERNMENT IS DOING

division of naval records and library
This division Of the department possesses
some $4,000 volumes on naval matters.
Royal Academy at Greenwich. England
Almost every question that the curious
or inquiring mind can conceive Is asked
OF this office during the course Of the
year. Each question is thoroughly investi-
gated and either an answer is given or
the inquirer told where he can obtain the
information. Not SO long ago the office
ters of the Mississippi river between two
cities on certain date in 1862. The
question was answered.
The many tho1sands of answers that
have been made during the past years are
now all indexed so that no new researches
are required for old questions. Strangely
enough. many people are constantly ask
ing the same questions. The majority Of
these concern naval affairs. naval history
and records of officers
The office is now compiling the official
records Of both the Union and Confeder-
ate navies. In the library are kept the
Secretary's records of officers reports. or
ders and correspondence prior to 1890. at
which time a card index and document
system of filing was adopted by the navy
The muster rolls of the United States
library. and many of the revolutionary
naval rolls are also there, due to the per-
sistent effort made to collect and pre-
serve them. 1t is said that the Treasury
Department informed the Navy Depart
ment at one time that these navy rolls
were stacked in the corridors OF their
building and asked what to do with them
The Navy replied that they should be de-
stroyed For years afterward. according
to tradition. the fires in tho Treasury De-
partment were lighted with the names Of
our revolutionary naval heroes.
Uncle Sans officials in the ONCE of
drainage Investigations. Department of
Agriculture, believe ah-
Agricultural soluteiy in the economy
Drainage Of farm drainage.
The area of farm land
In the United States needing drain
age is not accurately known, but 1t
has been estimated that there are 100
to 15o million acres now classed as
cultivated land that could be drained
with profit under present conditions of
market facilities and cultural methods
This estimate. tho experts say, does
not include seventy-five to eighty mil
lion acres OF swamp and overlooked
land and some millions of acres of
tidal marsh that could be reclaimed
with profit.
Experiments with drainage systems
are being carried on by this division
ing things are being learned each year
1t is the observation of the experts
that American farmers are trying to
get as large an income as possible from
fcient amount of capital, because every
expense appears to be merely a re-
duction of profits. This Is often mis-
placed economy as in the case of drain
age.
Masters of this work say that the
effect Of an excess Of moisture is readily
apparent in farming a wet area, al
though persons not acquainted with
drainage do not always recognize the
presence of too much water in soils
of the field is not ready for blowing
and planting as early in the spring
as the higher parts, hence, un-
less the spot is to be abandoned, tho
another day or leave the whole until
such a time as the wet place can be
worked. Planting on all or part OF the
field is then delayed frequently seven
to ten days later than on land better
drained. 1t is said that the difference
in temperature may be as much as six
to ten degrees between the drained and
undrained soil. On a field not uni
formly well drained the crop will ma
ture unevenly and Will be impaired in
amount and value
Actual value of farm drainage is in
dicated, the departmental officials think.
in no better way than by the testl-
mony of owners who have done this
enthusiastically that drainage has
doubled and trebled their crops, and
has increased the value of the land all
the way from SO to 900 per cent The
In the coastal plain of North Caro-
lima about twenty-five acres that were
producing nothing were drained at
cost Of about $3.50. since which time
the land has been producing bale OF
cotton per acre. Again. a field Of six
acres was drained for about $3.50, and
the owner now makes good crops on
the soil which had been worthless up
to the time Of tho drainage.
While complete figures have not yet
been tabulated, It is understood that
receipts collected by the
Revenue United States customs
service for the fiscal year
hecelpts. ending June 80. 1915,
were approximately s213.ooo,o0o. This
shows a slight increase over the re-
cefpts for the fiscal year 1915, which
were s212,146, 900, which. in turn. showed
great IdilIHs oh Ioi ehS
fiscal year, taking in the duties before
the European war.
While a part of the decrease in op-
Grating expenses of the customs service,
which have fallen off during the past
year or so, was due to the decreased
imports on account of the European
war the greater part results from the
adoption of improved and more efficient
methods now in use in the customs
service Although the European war
has resulted IN the lessening of a
number OF activities of the customs
service, at the same time IT has re-
ouired various Increased and new
activities, such as the increased super
vision of the expectation of merchan-
disc for drawback and the payment of
drawbacks thereon. the inspection of
of outward manifests, together with
the work incident to a greater increase
in exports.
Oficfals of the service are of the
opinion that the work of the customs
efficiency board has aided materially
in Increasing the efficiency Of the Gus
toms service. During the past year
committees of the board have visited
many of the customs districts ana
made numerous recommendations, with
a view to standardizing the procedure
and adjusting the personnel OF such
offices to the best methods adaptable.
These committees have had the cor
DIAL cooperation, It Is said, OF tho
collectors, appraisers, naval omcers
ana surveyors of customs. who have
assisted the department in every way
in improving the service.
fy,oproyed nrocedure in the receipt.