84 ANNUAL EEPOETS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



are familiar with the property and its possible utilization and sale; 

 also realtors haying a large clientele who are familiar with the prop- 

 erty. In addition, supplementing such inquiries at Washington, a 

 representative of the bureau has visited the reservation and the vil- 

 lages and towns in its vicinity for the purpose of bringing the pos- 

 sible sale of the property to the attention of interested parties who 

 might be prevailed upon to make a preliminary proposal or offer for 

 the purchase of this propert3\ Although prosecuting these inquiries 

 diligently throughout the year, no definite proposals have yet been 

 received, and efforts are still being made to secure some preliminary 

 proposal in more or less definite form in regard to the property. 



The buildings and grounds have been inspected by officers of the 

 bureau and repairs necessary for their maintenance in good con- 

 dition are being made or are planned for in the near future. The 

 property and buildings are in good condition and keepers liave 

 been placed in charge of the reservation and buildings for their 

 protection and care. All such expenses of upkeep and necessary re- 

 pairs amounting to about $2,000 annually constitute an unprofitable 

 charge upon appropriations and no further delay should occur in 

 the enactment of necessary legislation to authorize the sale and 

 disposal of this property substantially as recommended by the com- 

 mission appointed to report on the disposition thereof. 



Weather Bureau quarters in Federal huildinr/s —Upon completion 

 of new Federal buildings at Santa Fe,' N. Mex., and Honolulu, 

 Hawaii, Weather Bureau offices at those places were removed from 

 rented quarters, April 1 and May 1. 1922, respectively, thus effecting 

 a saving of $1,920 per annum in rentals heretofore paid, part of 

 rented quarters at Honolulu being retained temporarily for special 

 comparative observations. 



By reason of expiration of existing leases June 30, 1922, for rented 

 quarters at Weather Bureau field stations, consideration was given 

 changes affecting in all 23 stations at which $24,179 was paid for 

 rentals during last fiscal year. Of these, Santa Fe. N. Mex., and 

 Honolulu, Hawaii, were moved from rented to free quarters as 

 stated above. At 12 stations no increases were asked in rentals now 

 and heretofore paid, while at the 9 remaining stations the increase 

 demanded was $4,880 on a total rental involved of $9,280, or an aver- 

 age of about 53 per cent. Such exorbitant increase could not be paid 

 with limited funds available, and the situation was met by curtail- 

 ment of needed space at Atlanta, Ga., and Asheville, N. C., and other 

 compromises. The total increased rental required for next fiscal year 

 for the entire field station service of the Bureau was finally reduced 

 to an increase of $1,077. 



New stations. — To meet increasing needs for Weather Bureau in- 

 formation, especially during the hurricane season, a first-order sta- 

 tion was established June 1. 1922, at Apalachicola, Fla. Quarters 

 were obtained in the Grady Building, No. 200 Water Street. 



In July, 1921, in compliance with instructions from Bureau of the 

 Budget, there was set aside the sum of $26,000 from the appropria- 

 tions for the Weather Bureau, 1922, as a "reserve," to be held, if pos- 

 sible, as a minimum unexpended amount to the end of the fiscal year. 

 This was done, notwithstanding urgent demands for the extension of 

 Weather Bureau activities in various directions and for the main- 

 tenance and upkeep of existing stations, with result that a further 



