DIVISION OF PUBLICATIONS. 635 



The g:rowth of the photographic work shown in hist year's report 

 has continued and with no increase of force, the total amount of the 

 output showing 99,122 pieces as against 44,989 in the preceding year. 

 The accompanying tables give in detail the drafting and photo- 

 graphic w^ork, but can not convev an adequate idea of the constantly 

 increasing demand upon this onice from the other Bureaus of the 

 Department, nor do they show the amount of labor and skill neces- 

 sarily required to produce such technically and artistically correct 

 illustrations. Field work in the production of illustrations was 

 done for the Bureaus of Animal Industry, Entomology, and Plant 

 Industry. 



The additional space secured during the last two years, now com- 

 prising the entire attic floor of the old main building, made it possible 

 to increase the output of the force, but there is still need of additional 

 apparatus and conveniences and quarters better adapted to the class 

 of work performed. Proper ventilation and cooling of the dark 

 rooms are imperative and would result in a still more satisfactory 

 showing. The output of tliis office is primarily intended to illus- 

 trate reports of investigations conducted by the Department's scien- 

 tific statf, and must be of the highest order, and as demands are 

 constantly made upon the Department for photographic prints, lan- 

 tern slides, etc., prepared from illustrations appearing in the Depart- 

 ment's reports, negatives and original drawings of all such should be 

 filed in this Division. While some progress has been made in this 

 direction, a great majority of the Department's negatives are still 

 scattered among the offices in the difl'erent Bureaus, and in the effort 

 to comply with the increasing demands from miscellaneous appli- 

 cants for photographic prints, lantern slides, etc., it frequentl}^ be- 

 came necessary to devote much time to searching the files of the differ- 

 ent Bureaus of the Department in order to locate and secure the 

 negatives from which the prints or slides desired could be made. In 

 many cases it was imjoossible to secure the original negative because 

 of the unclassified condition of those in the possession of the Bureaus 

 and of the authors of the documents. 



These conditions emphasize the desirabilitj^ of concentrating as far 

 as possible all negatives and original drawings used in illustrating 

 the Department's publications in this office. A conference in advance 

 of the submission of illustrations with the expert in charge would re- 

 sult in securing the greatest possible volume of work for the least 

 outlay of time and money. 



