BEPOET OF THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE. 39 



tion of the President, the War Industries Board made arrangements 

 for the purchase of the nitrate and the Secretary of Agriculture for 

 its sale and distribution. The Bureau of Markets was designated as 

 the agency to handle the work for the Department. 



Contracts were made for the purchase of about 120,000 short tons 

 of nitrate, and arrangements were effected through the Shipping 

 Board to secure tonnage for transporting it from Chile. A selling 

 price of $75.50 on board cars at port of arrival was announced in 

 January, 1918, and farmers were given an opportunity to make 

 applications through the county agents and committees of local busi- 

 ness men appointed for the purpose. Applications for amounts 

 totaling more than 120,000 tons were received from 75,000 farmers, 

 who asked for lots ranging from one-tenth of a ton to more than 100 

 tons. On account of the lack of available shipping it was possible to 

 bring in, up to June 30, 1918, only about 75,000 tons, practically all 

 of which actually was sent to farmers by that date. 



Some of the nitrate was shipped direct to farmers, but the greater 

 part was consigned to county distributors in the counties requiring 

 large quantities. These distributors were appointed when it be- 

 came evident early in the year that, on account of the lack of 

 vessels, sufficient nitrate would not arrive in time to make complete 

 delivery during the period of greatest need. Through them it was 

 possible to make quick and equitable distribution and to save farmers 

 the interest on 'deposits required for payments, since shipments for 

 the countj^ were made to the distributors on sight draft with bill of 

 lading attached and distribution was made by them to the farmers. 

 On June 30, there remained in Chile between 39,000 and 40,000 short 

 tons of nitrate for which the Department had been unable to secure 

 transportation to this country from the Shipping Board. 



HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTIOX. 



Considerably in advance of the highway construction season of 

 1918 steps were taken to conserve money, labor, transportation, and 

 materials in highway work and at the same time to facilitate the 

 progress of really essential highway projects. 



In connection with the Federal aid road work, a letter was ad- 

 dressed to each State highway department asking that a program of 

 Federal aid construction be submitted at the earliest possible date, 

 in which would.be included only those projects which the State 



