DmSION OF PUBLICATIONS. 



287 



and the use of improved methods. The totals given do not take 

 into account some thousands of pa^os of the Congressional Record 

 indexed nor of some 3,000 cards written for Yearbook illustrations. 



There is urgent need, as at the close of last year, for binding the 

 department publications for permanent preservation in a fireproof 

 room; also the indexing of the second 500 Farmers' Bulletins, bring- 

 ing it up to an index for the first 1,000, together with an index of 

 the next period of Yearbooks, 1911-1915. It will not be possible to 

 bring the indexing to the required point without the help of more 

 ind oxers. 



Better protection should be given to the sets of books maintained 

 by this section. 



ILLUSTRATIONS SECTION. 



During the year 1,840 drawings were prepared by the draftsmen. 

 The majority of these drawings were of a nature requiring special 

 skill and an exceptional amount of time and care. 



Photographic ivork done for the different bureaus, divisions, and. offices of the department 

 and for the public during the fiscal year 1917. 



In the photographic laboratory a total of 127,907 pieces were pre- 

 pared, compared with 118,441 pieces during the preceding year. 



A gratifying feature of the work is the growing tendency of the 

 scientists of the various bureaus and offices to avail themselves of the 

 facilities of this laboratory for producing the original negatives used 

 in their researches. Tliis item shows a large increase over previous 

 years. A complete outfit for photomicrographic work has been added 

 to the equipment and is being extensively used. 



One hmadred and seventy requests for photographic work were 

 received from persons outside the department, for which a total of 

 $598.74 was collected and turned over to the disbursing office. In 

 addition a large number of cuts used in illustrating the ciepartment's 

 publications were taken from the files and sent to electro typei-s, who 

 furnished duplicates to the applicants at their expense, tnese cuts 

 being afterwards returned to the files. 



