BUREAU OF MARKETS. 459 



Considerable information has been secured regarding the operation 

 of chain stores, independent "cash-and-carry" stores, concerns 

 operated under the segregated-charge-for-goods-and-service plan, 

 and "self -serve" stores. 



More detailed information in regard to the newer methods of food- 

 stuff merchandizing is being collected and will be made the basis of 

 suggestions for improving marketing methods. 



TRANSPORTATION AND STORAGE. 



The Transportation Division of this bureau is directed by Mr. 

 G. C. White. Its great value lies in the fact that it acts as a traffic 

 department for the entire bureau and, since the present emergency 

 began, for the entire department as well. 



As was the case in previous years, the greater part of the work of 

 this project consisted in making arrangements with common carriers 

 to render reports of shipments to be used in connection with the 

 various market news services of this bureau. As a result of this 

 work these reports were secured with greater regularity, promptness, 

 and accuracy. The enactment by Congress of the food production 

 act (Public No. 40, approved Aug. 10, 1917), which gave the Secretary 

 of Agriculture authority to require the carriers to furnish certain 

 information, together with the creation of the United States Railroad 

 Administration, has aided this bureau greatl}^ in its negotiations with 

 the carriers. 



In the performance of this work 11 men spent during the fiscal year 

 an aggregate of 1,065 days in the field and traveled an aggregate of 

 159,093 miles. Under tfie head of "Service" a description will be 

 found of the emergency traffic assistance rendered by this project to 

 shippers and others. 



Five hundred and eighty-one common carriers made reports of 

 this kind. These carriers control 258,709 miles of the total railroad 

 mileage in the United States — i. e., 265,000 miles. The term ''common 

 carrier" as used in this connection includes railroads, express com- 

 panies, and boat lines. 



During the year there was prepared for the use of Federal reserve 

 banks a chart showing suitable storage conditions for 11 com- 

 modities usually held in storage. This chart was intended to provide 

 information in ready reference form for the use of bankers in making 

 loans on the security of stored commodities. 



Investigations also are made regarding storage rates, and the 

 economic phases of the storage question. On behalf of the Quarter- 

 master Corps of the United States Army a survey was made to de- 

 termine the amount of storage space available in the United States. 



DIRECT MARKETING. 



This work, which is under the supervision of Mr. Lewis B. Flohr, 

 was broadened as much as possible with emergency funds, although 

 great difficulty was experienced in getting competent men. The 

 increased usefulness of direct marketing under emergency conditions 

 became apparent at once, because the high prices received for food- 

 stuffs now make it profitable to seU in this manner certain products 

 which could not be so marketed under normal conditions. It is also 

 possible to sell in this way small quantities of food products which 



