562 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



In California the State superintendent of weights and measures 

 has expressed his desire to cooperate with this bureau in its work in 

 his State. He has made chan<i;es in the State form of weigher's certifi- 

 cate and wareliouse receii)ts to eliminate a conflict which previously 

 existed with the requirements for forms of this kind used under the 

 United States warehouse Act and has agreed to cooperate with this 

 bureau in the use of warehouse inspectors. 



In Idaho the officers of the largest farmers' cooj)erative grain 

 elevator organization in the State have undertaken to have their 

 warehouses licensed under the warehouse act and to take active steps 

 to procure legislation in that State which will make the operation of 

 the warehouse act more effective. 



Influential persons in North Dakota and Arizona have thoroughly 

 investigated the operation of the act and have agreed to cooperate in 

 the work. 



Wool. — Public hearings on the tentative regulations for wool ware- 

 houses were held throughout the country during the month of February, 

 1920. On June 18, 1920, final regulations for wool warehouses were 

 promulgated. The necessary application and inspection forms have 

 been completed and inspections will be made as applications are re- 

 ceived. On account of the critical situation in the wool market many 

 inquiries in regard to the act were being received at the close of the 

 fiscal year. 



Tobacco. — Regulations for tobacco warehouses have not been com- 

 pleted on account of the resignation of the man in charge of this part 

 of the work and the unavoidable delay in filling his position. At the 

 end of the fiscal year, however, the tentative regulations for tobacco 

 warehouses were nearing completion and public hearings were con- 

 templated. 



COTTON WAREHOUSING INVESTIGATIONS. 



After publication of the last annual report it was found necessary 

 to make additional tests to determine the extent of damage to baled 

 cotton from exposure to the weather. It is hoped that the results of 

 these and the tests which were mentioned in the last annual report 

 as having been concluded will be ready for publication at an early 

 date. 



The standard cotton warehouse designs have been brought to the 

 attention of interested persons in an effort to promote the building 

 of warehouses in accordance with the most advanced ideas regarding 

 construction, fire protection, etc. Models of the various types of 

 standard warehouses have been prepared for educational purposes. 

 It is believed that this work, which was supervised by Mr. R. L. 

 Nixon, will result in savings in insurance costs and in better ware- 

 house service. 



COLD STORAGE INVESTIGATIONS AND REPORTS. 



As Mr. I. C. Franklin was detailed to the War Department during 

 the emergency period, investigations of cold-storage problems have 

 necessarily been held in abe^'^ance. Mr. Franklin has now returned 

 to the bureau and the investigations will be resumed. 



The cold-storage reports issued by the Bureau of Markets cover 

 certain food commodities handled by cold-storage warehouses and 



