DIVISION OF PUBLICATIONS. 319 



more equitable mode of distribution conceivable than one which 

 attaches a small charge sufficient to merely cover the paper, printing, 

 and binding, the proceeds from which should be set aside to the credit 

 of the Department for use exclusively in reprinting such publications 

 as might still be called for. 



farmers' bulletins. 



The great increase in the number of Farmers' Bulletins allotted to 

 the use of Members of Congress resulted in a Congressional distribu- 

 tion of these useful publications aggregating 4,289,126 copies out of a 

 total of 0,150,000 copies. It has not been found necessary to increase 

 the appropriation for this purpose this year, inasmuch as Senators and 

 Representatives have drawn considerably less than the total amount 

 allotted to them. The demand upon the Department for these publi- 

 cations is unceasing, but the proportion allowed the Secretary is 

 restricted to one-fifth of the whole number, which is not at all ade- 

 quate to meet the requests addressed directly to the Department. 

 The same remark applies in even greater degree to the Yearbook, of 

 which the Department receives no more than it did ten years ago of 

 the old Annual Report, for which the Yearbook has been substituted. 



UNNECESSARY ILLUSTRATIONS. 



There is a growing tendency in nearlj' all the Bureaus, Divisions, 

 and Offices toward extravagance in the number of illustrations in the 

 bulletins submitted for publication. Objection is not made to illus- 

 trations of any kind which are absolutely necessary to convey infor- 

 mation that can not well be imparted by words, but protest is made 

 against the too frequent use of illustrations for the purpose of mak- 

 ing the book attractive. This remark is particularl}' directed toward 

 full-page plate illustrations, and still more especially to colored plates, 

 the number of which should be restricted to absolute requirements, 

 because of the expense involved, not only in the making of the plates, 

 but in the separate printing and extra quality of paper and the insertion 

 of the same in the publication. The more frequent use of text illus- 

 trations is earnestlj" recommended, because they are effective and 

 inexpensive, and the Division is prepared to assist in making the 

 necessarj' drawings and engravings. 



This subject has now become sufficientlj" important to attract the 

 attention of the President, who, on October 6 last, called the atten- 

 tion of the heads of Departments to the present tendency to increase 

 the number and size of printed reports and documents and to include 

 many unnecessary and expensive illustrations. The following order 

 was subsequently (October 14) issued by the Secretary: 



The President has directed the attention of the heads of Departments to the 

 present tendency to increase the number and size of printed reports and docu- 

 ments, expressing the belief that there is much useless matter and a large number 

 of unnecessary and expensive illustrations included in many of the reports pub- 

 lished, thus invol\T.ng a great expense which accomplishes no practical good. 



I am strongly of the impression that as regards unnecessary illustrations there 

 is in this Department an opportunity for reform in the line of the President's 

 expressed wish. Your attention is therefore called to this matter with the earnest 

 mjtmction that in the future you will rigidly exclude from the articles submitted 

 by you for publication all unnecessary illustrations. By rmnecessary. 1 mean all 

 such as are not required to enable the reader to fully apprehend the meaning of 

 the text. 



Please give this matter yqur careful consideration and attention. 

 Respectfully, 



James Wilsox, Secretary. 



