Evening star., 1937-03-28

costs money The answer is yet to
come.
The current issue contains q dou-
ble-page spread OF pictures showing
how electricity is revolutionizing
things down on the farm. The cows,
1t is demonstrated, not only are MIXED
b. electricity nowadays, but are
groomed by vacuum cleaners, fed from
electric-feed mixers and kept on the
home pasture by electrically-charged
fences.
One Of the principal articles is by
Morris L. Cooke, who retired recently
as r. E. A. administrator. He tells
how rural identification is succeeding
'in spite of the experts" who told
us it couldn't be done"
One of the older of the Govern
ment magazines-and still one of the
circulation leaders-S Reclamation
Era, put out monthly by the Interior
Departments Bureau of Reclamation
and distributed to more thin $1,000
subscribers-free and pay"
AScPAoS 40 AoA Sc NAASuAotioL anu
its expensive appearance Git is printed
on slick paper and contains many
fine cuts), the Era costs only about
$4,000 year. This is Lecause the
free list OF subscribers is supplemented
by a large list of subscribers who
pay IS cents per year
For Administrative Information.
Another Interior Department peri
odical is the Park Service Bulletin,
which contains this note: by Di-
rection Of the Secretary of the Inte-
rior, the matter contained herein is
published as administrative informa-
ton and is required for the proper
transaction Of public business" 1t
is free to all Park Service employees
Since its subject matter deals solely
with the Park Service, it's contents
get quite intimate and personal at
times. Occasionally a contributor
bursts into poetry. Example:
Where is the cold and ice and snow?
Begad. I'm man and want to go.
The grass is green where I should ski
And water flows where snow should be.
More sun. and little buds will bloom
While sit boiling in my room.
Where is the cold and ice and snow?
Begad, I'm vexed and want to 60"
The masthead of the Bulletin ex-
plains that the contents are not for
publication"
Indians at Work is third In
terror periodical, officially described
as "a news sheet for Indians and the
Indian Service" 1t is in mimeographed
pamphlet form. illustrated by line
drawings and some photographs.
A recent issue carried a strong edi-
torial blast by John Collier, Indian
commissioner. against critics of the
Presidents Supreme Court enlarge
ment plan.
The Interior Departments ONCE of
Education publishes a Well-nade- up
magazine, School Life, which goes 10
months Of the year to about 1000
subscribers interested in education.
The price is 81 per year and the
annual cost of publication is about
S6,0Oo
The February issue contains articles
describing the recent Inauguration
ceremonies, ancient pottery, American
schools abroad and sundry other
topics of interest to students; an edi-
torial on the difficulties of learning
geometry and a feature contribution
on the subject Does Life Begin at
Forty?"
A newcomer to the field of Federal
publications is the Child, a monthly
news summary sponsored by the
Children's Bureau, Department of
Labor. 1t has circulation of over
5000 and the subscription price is
81 per year. 1t contains illustrated
articles and other data on social well
fare, child health, child labor and
related topics.
Other Labor Department periodi-
Gals include the Labor Information
Bulletin, distributed free monthly to
15,600 subscribers, and the Monthly
Labor Review, statistical volume
that costs its serious-minded sub
scribers 50 so year.
In addition to the Consumers
Guide, the Department of Agriculture
publishes the Extension Service Re-
view, with 5000 subscribers, most Of
whom pay so cents a year for it;
Public Roads, an attractive maga-
zine issued monthly by the Bureau
OF Public Roads, with a circulation
of 5000 and a subscription rate of
81 per year; Soil Conservation, with
5000 circulation and 81 per year
subscription rate, and the Journal of
Agricultural Research-a scientific
publication-with 1000 circulation
and 1925 subscription fee.
Most Are Rather Technical.
Most of these agricultural publica-
tions are rather technical in subject
matter and their circulation is lin
tied chiefly to organizations and OFF,
cials interested in the particular field
they cover
Many other Government agencies
have official organs that are issued
periodically. Some of them do not
come within the magazine field.
All of them classify themselves as
public information" necessary to the
proper conduct of the Governments
business.
And despite sporadic attacks by
those who would class many of them
as "propaganda" sponsored by "bu-
reaucrats" who desire to perpetuate
themselves in Office. Uncle Sans
periodicals continue to roll from the
presses with increasing speed and in
mounting numbers. It's grand busi-
ness and 1t doesn't cost q cent-that
Is, the good old taxpayer foots the
bill, whether he reads the magazines
or throws them away.
q present vocabulary OF about $50
words. H. G. Wells, in his book,
NyxyorJde to rouon suorasts that this