560 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



assisted by Mr. J. G. Cross. Since the beginning of the war this 

 bureau has been called upon to an increasing extent for assistance in 

 the solution of traffic problems. Appeals for assistance in securing 

 better transportation service come not only from producers and dis- 

 tributors of agricultural products but from manufacturers of agri- 

 cultural machinery, and the commodities used in agricultural pro- 

 duction, and others. Besides the assistance given to the public the 

 other bureaus in the department have received help in connection 

 with their work. The correspondence arising in connection with 

 these matters has been so heavy that practically the entire time of 

 one of our transportation assistants has been required to handle it. 



As in previous years, a great deal of attention was necessary to 

 keep on a satisfactory basis our arrangements with the carriers, who 

 cooperated most willingly in furnishing the reports which are used 

 in connection with the market news service. Five hundred and 

 ninet3^-two common carriers made reports to the bureau in the year 

 covered by this report. These carriers control 248,722 miles of rail- 

 road or boat lines, which, for practical purposes, constitutes the 

 entire mileage of the United States. To insure the prompt, accurate, 

 and satisfactory transmission of these reports involves a large amount 

 of travel on the part of our transportation staff. 



Transportation men were detailed to certain producing sections to 

 assist in moving heavy crops of fruits and vegetables at time of 

 harvest. These men worked in close cooperation with shippers and 

 carriers to bring about the best possible utilization of transportation 

 equipment. Work of this sort is of practical and direct value to 

 producers and carriers and of indirect value to the entire country. 



DIVISION OF WAREHOUSING. 



The Division of Warehousing was formed so that problems related 

 to this important phase of marketing might be properly correlated. 



At present the work which would naturally fall under this divi- 

 sion includes that done in connection with the enforcement of the 

 United States warehouse Act and the issuance of the cold-storage 

 reports. 



During the past year a project entitled cotton warehousing investi- 

 gations was also maintained and, therefore, will be included in this re- 

 port although it has been discontinued on account of decreased funds. 



ADMINISTRATION OF THE UNITED STATES WAREHOUSE ACT. 



During the fiscal year covered by this report, this work was di- 

 rected by Messrs. D. S. Murph, Chester Morrill, and R. L. Nixon. 



Cotton. — At the close of the fiscal year licenses had been issued 

 to 24 warehousemen. Two of these licenses, however, have expired, 

 so that 22 cotton warehouses are now operated under the United 

 States warehouse Act. Twelve persons have been licensed to classify 

 cotton and five persons have been licensed to weigh cotton under the 

 act. During the year applications were received from 106 cotton 

 warehousemen. Prior to this 34 applications had been received, mak- 

 ing a total of 140. As indicated, 24 of these applicants have been 

 licensed ; other applications have been approved and licenses will be 

 issued when bonds are received. Increasing interest in the licensing 



