114 



DErARTMENTAL RKP( )KTS. 



The following table shows the niinibei- of i)ublicHti()iis, both original 

 and reprints, the aggregate nnniber of ])ages and copies in each class, 

 for the tlscal years TSOO and 1900: 



Number of puhlicationH, original and reprint, iiiiniber vf pa(jen and cojnes of caeJi. 



class, fiscal years 1S9'J and 1900. 



Original and reprint. 



Original ... 

 Reprint ... 



Total 



1899. 



Number 

 of pub- 

 lications. 



297 

 306 



603 



Number 

 of pages. 



14,095 

 12,325 



26,420 



Number 

 of copies. 



4,797,675 

 2,278,300 



7,075,975 



1900. 



Number 

 of pub- 

 lications. 



320 



148 



468 



Number 

 of pages. 



12,016 

 5,983 



17, 999 



Number 

 of copies. 



5,147,978 

 3,0I)4,50(J 



7,152,478 



From the above table, it will be seen that the iinmber of original 

 pnblieations was greater in 1900 than in 1S99, bnt the reprints were 

 only 118 in 1900 as against 30(i in 1899. This shows a remarkable 

 concentration of demand in the former year on a comparatively 

 limited number of publications, for, although the reprints in 1900 were 

 so much fewer than in 1899, the total numl)er of reprinted copies was 

 not much less. The aggregate number of copies issued in 1900 of 

 all publications was in excess of the number issued in 1899, and the 

 average cost per pul^lication was considerably greater. The year 1900 

 was the first since this Division was established in which the number 

 of publications issued did not show an increase. Of course, this Divi- 

 sion can not in any way control the number of publications printed, 

 as this is a matter regulated solely by the conditions controlling the 

 preparation of reports, etc., in other Divisions and by the limitations 

 of the publication funds. 



INADEQUACY OF THE PRINTING FUND. 



The printing fund, although equal to that for the current year, was 

 found quite inadequate last j^ear, being practically exhausted early in 

 April.. We therefore began the present year with a veiy large amount 

 of matter for pi'inting on hand, much of it long and unfortunately 

 delayed. Among the causes which resulted in this early exhaustion of 

 the printing fund, two may be speciall}' mentioned : First, a preponder- 

 ance in the proportion of the more costly publications, and second, the 

 large propcjrtion of illustrations defrayed from the printing fund. On 

 the other hand, the amount paid from the several divisional funds for 

 this purpose was ver}' small; so also with the illustration fund of this 

 Division. The latter fund, being a part of the appropriation for art- 

 ists and laborers, which has not grown apace with the growtli of the 

 Department, is sadly overburdened, and, as far as illustration work is 

 concerned, is practically crippled. This is unfortunate for many rea- 

 sons. It is, among other things, extremely desii-able in many cases that 

 the contracts for illustrations be made directly with the concern doing 

 the work, and that the work be done as fai- as possible under the direct 

 su])ervision of this Division and of the authors, which is hardly pos- 

 sible when the work is the subject of a contract, not with this Dei)art- 



