440 AGRICULTURAL. APPROPRIATION BILL, 1924. 



Mr. Marquis. That was maintained for about a year and a half 

 and was (Hscontinueil when the appropriations were readjusted at 

 the end of the war. Here is a statement which shows the amounts 

 carried for the work. It readied its maximum development in 

 1919, when the omer*^encv funds amounted to Sl,114,0U(), combined 

 with the reguhir funds of S254,580, making a grand total of $1,368,580. 

 In 1920 there was a reduction to S497,920; in 1921 another reduction 

 to 8103,920: then in 1922 to 8390,100, and last year there was an 

 increase of 820.000 to 840.5.000. and then this year it is the same 

 The ligures represented in this appropriation are 83,000 less, due to 

 changes in the statutory roll. 



DEMAND FOR NEWS SERVICE. 



Mr. Anderson. Is there any demand for the extension of the leased 

 wire service ? 



Mr. Marquis. During the past year there has been a strong demand 

 for the market-news service. As we have observed, the demand for 

 market news is greatest when prices are low or falling. Farmei-s are 

 not particularly concerned about prices as long as they are high and 

 satisfacto y. They are not searching for a market, and they are not 

 so much interested in the choice of markets witli reference to which 

 will pay the best pric s, but when prices begin to go down, then comes 

 tne call for more market information. The result is that we have 

 had a greater call for infomiation of this cliaracter during the past 

 12 months than in the past, due to the Ioav prices. The farmers 

 seeking markets wished to Know the difference in prices at various 

 markets, the. best time to s 11, and the danger of gluts; also to know 

 the r.lative prices for various fjualities of products. All of these 

 tilings have tremendously increased the call for tliis sort of informa- 

 tion, with the result iiiat we have had frequent reriuests to extend 

 tnis service into areas that are removed from our regular lines of 

 communication. 



Mr. Anderson. Is this service maintained with respect to all these 

 various commodities —live stock, fruits, and vegetables — or only as 

 t) so. lie of tliem i 



aL-. AlvRLiLTS. A-ll of t;i3 four principal lines, live-stock meats, 

 fruits and Vv.>g3ta)les, d dry and poultry products, and hay, feeds and 

 sjeds, are in luded, and t.iat includes a variety of reports which go 

 all tae way iro.ii tne spread hi price quotations to market movements, 

 tie entire range oi various Kinds, grades, and qualities, and any other 

 nows tn.it bears upon tiie mar .vet situation. 



Tne leased wire furmsnes tne most reliable means of connecting 

 our o.licos lOr tne coUectioa oi" inforiUation, and 1 would like to sliow 

 you tne way tuat is us.hI most eil'ectively. On the leased wire con- 

 necting tiiese points, wnicii now amounts to 3,300 miles, 2,000 up to 

 SeptcMiher 1 and tnen 700 added for going into Texas, we have 32 

 br.mcii oiliccs. Tnesi' ollices are in constant com.nunication for 12 

 houi-s; .)3 tch'graphers are on tiiese circuits, and messages go over 

 tnesc wires by code in tne most contlensed form possible. Here is a 

 record showing ttiat from o o cIock in tne morning until (i p. m., and 

 every minute during tne day, tnere is a series of code messages of 

 various .sorts going tlirougli. vV'e maue the best pi>ssible use of the 

 ti ne. These messages are not sent in mil but in code letter and 





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