REPORT OP THE SECRETARY. 207 



tries involved, as well as to the consiimino- public. No longer do 

 the honest manufacturer and dealer have to compete on uneven terms 

 with the misbranded and cheapened product of the dishonest com- 

 petitor. The law prevents misbranding on the one hand and adul- 

 teration on the other. The product of low grade must be sold for 

 Avhat it is, and can not pass under the colors of a higher grade to the 

 deception of the buyer and unfairness to the competitor. 



As an illustration of the benefits derived from proper branding 

 may be mentioned the use of medicines that contain cocaine, mor- 

 phin, alcohol, and other habit-forming drugs. 



The adulteration feature of the law protects the consumer from 

 added injurious substances, from any manipulation that lowers the 

 strength or quality, and from carelessness in manufacturing, packing, 

 or shipping that results in the contamination of the product. The 

 better element in all the industries affected have cooperated with 

 the department in bringing about a strict enforcement of the law, 

 and the bureau is now making preparations to still further aid the 

 industry in solving the technical jDroblems involved in the improve- 

 ment of the products. 



OFEICE OF PUBLIC ROADS. 



PROGRESS IN USEFULNESS. 



During the past 16 years the Office of Public Roads has grown 

 froni a small organization with an annual appropriation of $8,000 

 and employing 7 persons to a thoroughly developed organization 

 with 165 permanent and temporary employees and an annual ap- 

 propriation of $202,120. There is also an appropriation for the 

 current year of $500,000, made by Congress to be expended under 

 the direction of this department on post roads. It is provided that 

 in order to avail themselves of this appropriation the States or 

 localities interested shall contribute $2 for every $1 contributed by 

 the National Government. The Department of Agriculture, through 

 its Office of Public Roads, will thus direct the expenditure of 

 $1,702,120 this year. 



During the fiscal vear 1806-97 the office directed the construe- 

 tion of 7 object-lesson experimental roads, while during 1911-12 

 there were built 31 object-lesson roads involving 400,775 square 

 yards of surfacing. From 1897 to 1912, inclusive, 313 object-lesson 

 and experimental roads have been constructed. It has been found 

 that object-lesson roads built under the direction of engineers from 

 the office are a most effective method of carrying information con- 

 cerning standard construction to the various localities. The cost of 

 construction is borne by the localities in which roads are built. The 



