BUREAU OF CHEMISTRY. 481 



Trade wastes in relation to agriculture. — These studies of the 

 relation of the disposal of harmful wastes to agricultural operations 

 and to the purity of streams are of great economical importance. 

 Particular attention has in the past been given to a study of the effect 

 of smelter wastes on agricultural products, forests, animals, and irri- 

 gation streams. 



This work involved the examination of 2-10 samples during the 

 year, about GOO determinations being made. A study of the effect of 

 copper salts on certain grain crops was necessary to determine the 

 effect of tailings from smelters on farm crops irrigated with water 

 containing same. At the request of the Department of Justice the 

 chief of the Miscellaneous Division visited Ducktown, Tenn., to in- 

 spect the improvements made in local conditions by the installation 

 of sulphuric acid plants at the two Ducktown smelters, such acid 

 plants being erected for the purpose of condensing the sulphur dioxid 

 and trioxid fumes from the smelter operations. A study was also 

 made of the process of sulphuric acid manufacture as conducted at 

 these smelters. The results of the two investigations were trans- 

 mitted to the Department of Justice. 



An investigation of the effect of smelter fumes on forests and 

 ranges in the vicinity of Anaconda, Mont., with special reference to 

 the United States Government forest and ranges, was completed 

 during the year, and the results, together with certain previous work 

 on smelter fumes, were published as Bulletin 113, revised, of the 

 Bureau of Chemistry. 



investigations of the leather and paper laboratory. 



The routine work of testing government supplies, notably papers, 

 for the several branches of the federal service has continued to 

 increase ; but more especiallj^ is this true of the researches concerning 

 leather, paper, and turpentine. The following summary shows the 

 number and kind of samples that have been examined : 



Papers and paper-making materials: 



Washington 3,587 



Dayton laboratory 2, 177 



Leather and leather-making materials 117 



Turpentine, rosins, oils, and wood products 142 



MisceUaneous 71 



Total 6, 094 



Some indication of the usefulness of the laboratory to other 

 branches of the service is afforded by the fact that, of the total 

 number of samples examined, about 5,000 were for other departments. 



Paper tests have been regularly made at Washington and at Day- 

 ton, C)hio, for the Post-Office Department, and also for the Govern- 

 ment Printing Office, General Supply Committee, Bureau of Engrav- 

 ing and Printing, Isthmian Canal Commission, and other branches 

 of the Government. Special investigations have been made of the 

 postal-card paper at the request of the Post-Office Department, and 

 of blueprint papers at the request of the Navy Department. Speci- 

 fications for papers of maximum durability have been prepared at 

 the request of the Census Office, and assistance has been rendered the 

 American Chemical Society, as well as several of the departments, on 



73477°— AGB 1910 31 



