448 ANNUAL EEPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



During the year a branch office was established at San Francisco, 

 and the service was extended temporarily to Jacksonville, Fla., In- 

 dianapolis, and Cincinnati. By these additions the number of branch 

 offices with leased-wire service was increased to 20. The daily re- 

 ports on meat trade conditions were continued with the addition of 

 price quotations on wholesale pork and veal cuts. These reports 

 were expanded to include trade conditions and prices at Chicago and 

 San Francisco and a " flash wire " indicating the trend of early trad- 

 ing also was added. Both the daily and Aveekly reports were im- 

 proved by condensing the text, which made them more readily useful 

 to the trade. Approximately 3,500,000 copies of each of the various 

 daily reports and 750,000 copies of the Aveekly reports were dis- 

 tributed during the year. 



Early in the fiscal year arrangements Avere made to issue the report 

 on liA^e-stock loadings from Chicago instead of Washington in order 

 to expedite the receipt of the information and to reduce operating 

 costs. It also Avas found desirable to condense and combine certain 

 reports whicli are noAV issued as the " Daily Live Stock and Meat 

 Trade News," more than 20,000 copies of which are being distributee! 

 each Aveek. This report includes estimated live-stock receipts at 

 8 to 10 markets for the day on which the report -is released, actual 

 receipts of the previous day at the market from whence the report 

 i-s issued, the disposition of stock received at this market, and meat 

 ti-ade and live-stock conditions and prices at various markets. 

 Monthly receipts and disposition of live stock at public stockyards 

 are compiled and published and arrangements have been made for 

 more comi:)lete and uniform reports from stockyards companies. Ee- 

 ports are noAv received from 79 stockyards in 71 cities. 



Reports concerning the " in " and " out " moA^ement of live stock 

 in grazing and feeding districts Avere continued, and the liA^e-stock 

 feeders in the districts of Lancaster, Pa., northern Colorado, and 

 the Arkansas Valley of Colorado were furnished current information 

 relative to the movement of live stock from their districts. 



OAving to urgent demands the telegraphic reporting service, which 

 was begun during the previous year at Chicago, Avas extended to 

 include the liA^e-stock markets at ivansas City, Omaha, and East St. 

 Louis. This service consists of a series of telegraphic reports issued 

 at intervals during each market day. The early reports giA^e esti- 

 mated receipts and the later reports giA^e actual market conditions 

 and prices on all classes of \i\e stock. Through the commercial news 

 departments of telegraph companies, the press associations, and 

 other agencies in addition to the Bureau's branch offices, this service 

 is mad-e available to interested persons both at market centers and 

 country points throiighout the United States. 



Following the armistice there was a general demand that the 

 monthly surA'ey of stocks of hides and skins which was conducted 

 dui-ing the war by the Tanners' Council be continued by this Bureau. 

 In January, 1919, this work Avas undertaken. In the course of this 

 siu'A^ey information is collected regarding the supply of domestic 

 and foreign hides and skins on hand and in transit at the close of 

 business on the last day of each month as reported by packers, deal- 

 ers, importers, and tanners. Summaries of these reports are com- 

 piled and distributed. 



