476 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



During the year local representatives stationed at Lancaster, Pa., 

 and Rocky Ford, Colo., collected information on the ''in" and "out" 

 movement of live stock in the Lancaster and Arkansas Valley feeding 

 districts. This information, which is extremely valuable in indicat- 

 ing the potential meat supply, was published in the mimeographed 

 weekly sheet entitled "Live Stock and Meat Trade News, "issued by the 

 bureau. This bulletin publishes items of interest to the live-stock 

 and meat trade and is used very extensively by local papers and in- 

 dividuals throughout the country. It has proved to be one of the 

 most useful reports issued by this project. Approximately 340,000 

 copies were distributed during the year. 



At the urgent request of the live-stock trade and of stockmen, both 

 through their organizations and individually, this bureau, on June 1, 

 1918, took over the work of furnishing all telegraphic market reports 

 on live-stock receipts and prices which are distributed daily from the 

 Chicago Union Stock Yards, including not only the reports regularly 

 sent over the leased wire of the Bureau of Markets but all reports 

 used by the commercial news agencies and press associations. This 

 service consists of a series of four reports furnished to the telegraph 

 companies at different hours of each market day; two additional re- 

 ports, which are sent to those cities reached by the bureau's leased wdres ; 

 and two reports which are furnished to the press associations for the 

 daily papers. The early reports give the estimated receipts and the 

 later reports the market conditions and prices on all classes of live 

 stock. At those markets in which the bureau maintains local offices, 

 these reports are posted on bulletin boards and are made available to 

 anyone who calls or telephones for them. Through the commercial 

 news departments of the telegraph companies and the press associa- 

 tions, this service is made available to interested persons both at 

 market centers and country points throughout the United States. 



WOOL REPORTS. 



Beginning with the report of June 30, 1917 (issued July 28, 1917), 

 reports have been issued quarterly showing the stocks of foreign and 

 domestic wool, as well as tops and noils, segregated by classes and 

 grades, held by manufacturers and dealers in the United States. 



The first monthly report of the bureau sho^ving the amount of wool 

 consumed in manufacture during the preceding month was issued on 

 February 23, 1918, showing the consumption for January, 1918, and 

 these reports have been issued regularly since that date. The wool 

 reports issued by the Bureau of Markets furnish the most complete 

 and rehable information available to the public with respect to this 

 commodity and have proved a valuable aid in conserving and utiliz- 

 ing the wool supply oi the country to the greatest advantage in the 

 present emergency. 



REPORTS REGARDING THE SUPPLY OF ANIMAL HAIR. 



At the request of the War Trade Board arrangements have ])een 

 made to furnish periodical reports regarding the stocks of animal hair 

 held by dealers and manufacturers. Schedules were sent to approxi- 

 mately 7,000 firms, requesting reports of stocks on hand June 30, 

 1918, These data will be published at an early date. 



