REPORT OF THE CHIEF OF THE SECTION OF FOREIGN MARKETS. 



U. S. Department of Agriculture, 



Section of Foreign Markets, . 

 Washington, D. C, September 1, 1901. 

 Sir : I have the honor to submit herewith the report of the Section 

 of Foreign Markets for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1901. 

 Respectfully, 



Frank H. Hitchcock, 



Chief. 

 Hon. James Wilson, Secretary. 



WORK OF THE YEAR. 



As the publications of the Section of Foreign Markets grow in 

 number and receive a wider circulation, bringing the object of this 

 office more generally to the attention of the public, the inquiries 

 received regarding our agricultural export trade continue to increase. 

 The large correspondence now required to meet the demands for 

 information that come through the mail forms an important part of 

 the work of the Section. 



INQUIRIES REGARDING TRADE WITH THE ORIENT. 



Many of the inquiries received during the past fiscal year, like 

 those of the year before, had reference to the Orient, the possibilities 

 of commercial extension in that direction apparently being upper- 

 most in the minds of those looking for foreign- trade opportunities. 



COMPUTING MACHINES. 



The work of preparing statistics in response to inquiries and for 

 use in publications was greatly facilitated, as in prior years, by the 

 utilization of the modern computing machines with which the office is 

 now provided. Without the assistance of these machines a much larger 

 clerical force would have been required to perform the necessary com- 

 putations. The machines have proved to be an exceedingly important 

 factor in the operations of the office. 



NEW QUARTERS. 



The removal of the Section during the latter part of the year to the 

 more commodious quarters now occupied has been of great advantage. 

 As previously quartered, the office was seriously hampered by lack 

 of space and had to perform its duties under trying conditions. The 

 rooms now occupied permit a more convenient distribution of the 



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