REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE. CI 



ROAD MATERIAL LABORATORY. 



The laboratory for testing the chemical and physical properties of 

 road materials, operated with the collaboration of the Bureau of 

 Chemistry, has been in successful operation during the year. By 

 determining in advance the character and suitability of the material 

 to be used in a road, this laboratory saves taxpayers the loss and dis- 

 couragement resulting from mistakes in selecting materials. This 

 work is important and practical. It will be continued and if possible 

 enlarged. 



OTHER PRACTICAL WORK. 



The dividing of the United States into four divisions, with a special 

 agent appointed for work in each, has proved advantageous. The 

 work done by these special agents consists principally in the study of 

 conditions, the delivery of lectures, correspondence, and preparation 

 of matter for publication. In the Eastern Division no field work has 

 been done because the special agent assigned to that work was placed 

 in charge of the road-material laboratory. In the other divisions — 

 Middle, Western, and Southern — much better results might have been 

 secured if the Department could have kept these special agents 

 employed all the time. This was impossible owing to the inadequate- 

 ness of the sum — only $1,500 for each division — available for the pay- 

 ment of all expenses. 



A great amount of valuable field work has been done by the Director 

 and his assistants during the year. They have traveled thousands of 

 miles, attended conventions, delivered lectures, and directed the 

 building of sample roads. Their work has reached into 23 States. 



The work of this Office is of great and growing importance. Pop- 

 ular appreciation of its efforts has greatly increased, as shown by 

 press comments and resolutions adopted by many popular gatherings. 

 The demand for the services of the Director and his assistants far 

 exceeds the limits of their time and energy. There is an unmistak- 

 able popular demand that the Office of Public Road Inquiries be given 

 a largely increased appropriation, a demand with which I am in hearty 

 sympathy. If a larger sum should be appropriated for this purpose 

 I believe it would be profitably expended in carrying on and extend- 

 ing the work of this Office. 



DIVISION OF PUBLICATIONS. 



In the performance of its duty to diffuse the information acquired 

 through its several Bureaus, Divisions, and Offices the Department 

 depends mainly upon the issue and distribution of publications. The 

 work of the Division of Publications affords, therefore, a fair reflex 

 of the activity and intelligence characterizing the investigating 



