REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 195 



bureau's regular monthly reports, it contains the results of such 

 special inquiries and studies as can be contained therein. It is 

 supplied gratuitously to all who request it. Its principal circulation 

 is among the farmers, and 175,000 copies of each number are now 

 issued. 



Prior to 16 years ago, bulletins and circulars on different agricul- 

 tural statistical subjects had been issued by the then Division of 

 Statistics; but during the 16 years the former division and present 

 bureau have prepared 91 bulletins and 28 circulars. 



The increase in the quantity of work accomplished by the Bureau 

 of Statistics during the past 16 years is difficult to arrive at, but it 

 has been very great. The growth of the domestic crop-reporting serv- 

 ice, the large number of special inquiries and studies made, the enor- 

 mous increase in the statistical correspondence of the office, and the 

 preparation of bulletins and circulars may be conservatively regarded 

 as having resulted in a net increase of not less than 400 per cent in 

 the work of the bureau as compared with the volume of work at the 

 beginning of the 16-year period, with an increase of only 21.8 per 

 cent in the office force. 



AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS. 



The Division of Production and Distribution has developed a scope 

 of work in directions heretofore little, if at all, explored. It has 

 created a general survey of agricultural conditions and accomplish- 

 ments in the United States composed of the more important elements 

 of production in quantity and value; of national surplus, deficiency, 

 and consumption; of farm wealth and labor; and of economic 

 achievement and agricultural progress. 



The production of important agricultural commodities by the prin- 

 cipal countries of the world below and above their respective require- 

 ments for consumption, the sources of the suppl}'' of such commodi- 

 ties to deficient countries, and the destination of the surpluses of 

 exporting countries, together constitute a subject of unceasing popular 

 interest which is receiving much attention in this division. 



The historical aspect of the agricultural production of the United 

 States in particular products and of the surplus or deficiency with 

 regard to domestic consumption has occasioned much painstaking 

 and original work. 



The transportation of agricultural products from farm to con- 

 sumer by wagon, rail, and water, and the costs and methods of mar- 

 keting are subjects which have been productive of much original 

 work. The division is accumulating nnich information relating to 

 farmers' associations on the cooperative plan for production, selling, 

 and buying; for fire, live stock, and other insurance; for warehous- 



