STATES RELATIONS SERVICE. 457 



dences must be provided for the permanent members of the staff and 

 in some cases for hiborers as well. In the earlier days of the stations 

 buihiinirs were erected from the sales' fund or from the ref^ular ap- 

 j)r()priation whenever that was possible. In some instances Terri- 

 torial assistance was secured for the construction of buildin;L;s, but 

 this can no lono'er be counted upon. As a result of the limited funds 

 tlie number and character of the buildings were restricted to the 

 minimum recpiirements. In Alaska many of the buildings were con- 

 structed of green or only partly seasoned logs. These are now in 

 such a condition of decay that modern cottages and barns are needed 

 for housing tlie men and their families and for properly protecting 

 the stock, forage, grain, and implements. At the Hawaii and Porto 

 Rico stations extensive repairs are urgently needed. The (Tuam sta- 

 tion requires additional cottages and adequate housing for the stock 

 and grain. The Virgin Islands station has only the old buildings 

 of a former sugar estate and extensive remodeling is needed to adapt 

 them to the station's use. Two new cottages are required for mem- 

 bers of the staff, as the present equipment is not sufficient in number, 

 convenience, or sanitary equipment. In order to properly man the 

 stations and keep up the morale of the personnel and thus avoid 

 frequent changes some concession must be made to counterbalance 

 the remoteness and isolation of the stations. 



It is believed that more adequate provision should be made for 

 extension work in connection with the insular stations. Work of 

 this character is carried on in a limited way in Hawaii, Porto Rico, 

 and Guam, but it is thought that more attention should be given to 

 its development, not only by the stations noAv engaged in it, but also by 

 those Avhich are not undertaking such work on account of a lack of 

 funds. All the stations have information of great practical value to 

 impart, but are prevented from doing so by a lack of funds to carry 

 the work to the farmers at their homes. None of the regions served 

 by the insular stations enjoys the benefit of the legislation which 

 provides for the extension work in the States, and it is hoped that 

 this omission will be compensated by increased appropriations to 

 the stations w^hich are the only competent bodies to carry on this 

 work. 



No changes were made in the executive heads of the stations, 

 though there were many resignations of the investigational staff. 



The stations continue to enjoy the hearty cooperation of various 

 bureaus and divisions of the department and most hearty acknowl- 

 edgement is made for the aid thus received. 



The administrative and financial review of the affairs of the sta- 

 tions in connection with the State Relations Service continued as 

 formeily under the supervision of Walter H. Evans and the account- 

 ing office of the service. 



ALASKA STATIONS. 



The Alaska stations reported a very successful year. The con- 

 struction work at the Kodiak and Matanuska stations was nearly 

 completed and purchases of live stock for the Matanuska station wore 

 made. After considerable investigation it Avas decided lo uudortake 

 the introduction of milking Shorthorn cattle, and fi\'e head wei'e 

 purchased for the Matanuska station and two for the Fairbanks 



24435— AGR 1020 30 



