REPORT OF THE CHIEF OF THE BUREAU OF ANIMAL INDUSTRY. 



U. S. Department of Agriculture, 



Bureau of Animal Industry, 

 Washington^ D. 6'., Novemher 19, 1912. 

 Sir : I have the honor to transmit herewith a report of the opera- 

 tions of the Bureau of Animal Industry for the fiscal year ended 

 June 30, 1912. 



Kespectfully, A. D. Melvin, 



Chief of Bureau. 

 Hon. Jajvles Wilson, 



/Secretary of Agriculture. 



ORGANIZATION AND ADMINISTRATION. 



The work of the Bureau of Animal Industry durinor the fiscal year 

 ended June 30. 1912, has been of the same general character as in 

 recent j^ears. While fostering and promoting the live-stock industry 

 in its various aspects, the highest mission of the bureau is to aid the 

 people of the country in obtaining a plentiful and wholesome supply 

 of food of animal origin, such as meat, dairy products, and eggs. 



The organization remained as heretofore throughout the year. 

 Effective July 1, 1912, however, the Inspection Division, owing to 

 the growing volume and the varied nature of its work, was divided 

 into two new divisions, to be known as the Meat Inspection Division 

 ond the Field Inspection Division, with Drs. R. P. Steddom and R. A. 

 Ramsay as the respective chiefs. Dr. Steddom was previously chief 

 and Dr. Ramsay associate chief of the Inspection Division, The 

 work of the Meat Inspection Division is sufficiently indicated by its 

 name. The work of the new Field Inspection Division consists in 

 the suppression and eradication of contagious diseases of live stock 

 and the inspection of animals and the supervision of their movement 

 in interstate commerce. 



The number of employees in the service of the bureau at the 

 beginning of the fiscal year (July 1, 1911) was 3,284. During the 

 year there were 638 resignations and terminations, including 28 dis- 

 missals for cause. The accessions by appointment, reinstatement, and 

 transfer numbered G65. The force on July 1. 1912, numbered 3,311, 

 of whom 2,410 were engaged in the work of meat inspection. 



Owing to the rapid increase of the work of the bureau, the funds 

 from which promotions are ordinarily made are consumed in provid- 

 ing for this extension of the work. It is only natural that employees 

 entering the service under the impression that they are to receive 



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