REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE. 37 



plans previously formulated for the establishment of five aerological 

 stations in addition to the one already maintained at Drexel. The 

 rapid development of this work is, of course, a matter of great im- 

 portance in connection with the aircraft production program. The 

 Bureau also has made arrangements for furnishing accurate weather 

 information at the various cantonments, and it has assisted the 

 War Department in the organization of its aerological observation 

 work and of a regiment for the gas and flame service. 



NEED OF \VATER-PO^VER LEGISLATION. 



For several years attention has been directed to the necessity of 

 enacting proper legislation relating to the development of the water 

 power of the Nation. It becomes increasingly urgent that amend- 

 ments to existing law be made and that a* well-rounded policy be 

 decided upon. The present industrial situation, and particularly the 

 scarcity and high cost of fuel and construction materials, have in- 

 creased the cost of steam power and make it highly important that 

 action be taken at the next session of Congress. Legislation which 

 will make it possible to safeguard the public interests, and at the 

 same time to protect private investors, should result in securing 

 cheaper water power and in conserving the coal and fuel-oil supply. 

 Since three departments of the Government are vitally concerned in 

 water-power legislation and its possible terms and would be vitally 

 affected by the administrative handling of matters under such legis- 

 lation, it would seem desirable to consider whether it is feasible to 

 devise an executive body on which the three departments will be 

 represented and which will be able to utilize to the best advantage 

 all their existing agencies. 



THE FEDERAL AID ROAD ACT. 



In the administration of the Federal Aid Road Act of July 11, 1916, 

 very satisfactory progress has been made. The Office of Public Roads 

 and Rural Engineering, which is intrusted with the burden of admin- 

 istering the act, has expanded its organization to provide the requisite 

 machinery. Ten district offices with an engineer in charge have been 

 established in as many areas. The work in the Washington office has 

 been divided into two branches, management and engineering. The 

 management branch deals with all administrative, fiscal, legal, statis- 

 tical, and economic questions, while the engineering branch has charge 



