Fiscal Regulations. 11 



Such items must not be averaged at the end of the month, and the 

 amomit for each member of the party must be shown as a separate 

 item. 



Telegrams. — Telegrams sent at Government rates should refer 

 only to official business. The Treasury Department has ruled, 

 however, that chiefs of parties who are responsible for the accounts 

 of the party may telegraph in regard to salary checks or expense- 

 account checks which have been delayed, when the money 

 is needed for use in defraying the expenses of the party. Such 

 telegrams, however, should not be sent except when the delayed 

 check has been awaited a reasonable time. Telegrams regarding 

 leave should not be sent at Government rates or charged to the 

 Department. 



The Chief of the Bureau should be informed by telegraph of 

 every change in address of the party in the field. In sending tele- 

 grams to the Bureau, address "Soils, Washington, D. C," and 

 sign the telegrams by last name only. 



Location of headquarters while in field. — The attention of the 

 assistants of the Bureau of Soils is directed to the advisability 

 and real necessity of keeping as near as possible to their field of 

 operations. In no case where it can be avoided should a man 

 be located at a greater distance than 6 miles from the area to 

 be surveyed, as 12 miles distance there and back, added to the 

 day's work, is a material hardship on the team, and reduces 

 considerably the amount of work that can be done in the course 

 of the day. 



For the most part the field work of the Bureau is carried on in 

 well-settled districts, where it should be possible to obtain board 

 and lodging, for a few days at least, in farmhouses, provided there 

 are no hotels or lodging houses convenient to the area to be sur- 

 veyed. 



There is no objection to obtaining rates by the week, and this is 

 advisable where the place is conveniently located for the work, and 

 will be found cheaper than paying by the day, but no longer term 

 should be provided for, except in certain circumstances, as in most 

 cases a field party should be able to survey a sufficient area in one 

 or two weeks to warrant a removal to some more convenient place. 

 It happens at times, however, that for lack of accommodations a 



