Part I.] REPORT OF SECRETARY. 35 



in other State departments and institutions salaries have been 

 largely increased. 



That new laws or rather new work by this Department 

 should be undertaken is very apparent, but that the present 

 system of adding new work without extra compensation will pro- 

 hibit securing a high-grade staff is also apparent. For this reason 

 the secretary recommends that he be empowered to employ 

 assistants and that to cover the cost of this and of a new 

 stenographer who is imperatively needed the appropriation for 

 clerks be increased to $9,000, and be known as the appropriation 

 for office assistance. 



Market Law. 



The Legislature of 1915 passed a law in relation to cities and 

 towns of over 10,000 inhabitants establishing public market 

 places before INIarch, 1916. The approval of such sites was left 

 to the Board. In connection with this law the Board, as soon 

 as possible after its passage, sent out notices to all towns and 

 cities coming within the scope of the law, quoting the law and 

 requesting that sites be named as soon as possible. Twenty 

 cities responded, but owing to the slow process usually taken 

 by correspondence, it was decided, in order to get a report 

 before the time limit expired, namely. May 1, 1916, to visit all 

 cities and towns not already complying with the law. The 

 marketing committee undertook this work and employed Mr. 

 John B. INIoore of Concord and David T. Barnard and N. B. 

 Flood of the committee to do 'this work. Fifty-three cities and 

 towns were visited, and now practically all of the cities and 

 towns of the State which come under this law have market 

 places set aside. Comparatively few of these places are used, 

 however, and no doubt in many cities and towns they will not 

 be used for years. However, their establishment gives the first 

 step in a program for bettering the market conditions of the 

 State. 



In connection with the work of these agents, many interesting 

 points were brought out^ generally showing that while many 

 places would like to do something in relation to markets, there 

 is so little known about the whole question that it is impossible 

 to get started right. All of this proves more and more con- 



