REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE. 17 



had increased to such an extent as practically to prohibit their use 

 by the individual canncr. At the suggestion of the Departments of 

 Commerce and Agriculture manufacturers agreed to restrict the 

 canning of nonperishable foods for several months in order to con- 

 serve the supply for perishable products. The States Kelations Serv- 

 ice also, in cooperation wdth the Bureau of Chemistry, the Council 

 of National Defense, railroads, and manufacturers of tin cans, per- 

 fected an arrangement by which more than 10,000,000 cans were 

 shipped in carload lots from certain factories direct to counties in 

 the South and sold at cost, plus freight and handling charges. The 

 net saving through this activity alone is estimated at more than a 

 quarter of a million dollars. 



MARKETIIVG ACTIVITIES. 



The work of the Bureau of Markets was greatly expanded. The 

 market news service for fruits and vegetables, inaugurated during 

 the fiscal year 1915, as well as that for live stock and meats, which 

 was begun in the fiscal year 1917, was developed as rapidly as pos- 

 sible with available funds. Many of the projects of the Bureau were 

 redirected in order to deal more effectively with emergency problems. 

 The reports were particularly valuable in connection with the ship- 

 ment of perishable products, and large numbers took advantage of the 

 timely information furnished by them. During the fiscal year 1917 

 approximately 3,000,000 bulletins regarding car-lot shipments and 

 jobbing prices of fruits and vegetables were distributed to over 52,000 

 individuals, including shippers, jobbers, distributors, and receivers. 

 Market reporting stations were opened during the year at several 

 important points, and the number of commodities covered was greatly 

 increased. The first quarterly report of the supply of wool was 

 issued on July 30 and represents the most complete inventory ever 

 compiled of the wool supply in the United States. The reporting 

 service for cold-storage holdings was rapidly enlarged and now in- 

 cludes 43 commodities. 



From representatives stationed at important transfer points dur- 

 ing harvest periods the Bureau of Markets secured telegraphic infor- 

 mation on the car situation. These reports made it possible to place 

 before the Commission on Car Service accurate information regard- 

 ing the prospective movement of different crops and the need for 

 cars. The Bureau also, through all available channels, has endeav- 

 33382°— AGR 1917 2 



