428 ANNUAL REPOETS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



Between the time of the signing of the armistice and the close of 

 the fiscal year, the Bureau reduced its forces greatly and this process 

 of curtailment has continued steadily through the first months of the 

 present fiscal year. In addition, a large turnover in personnel has 

 taken place. The number of separations in the period indicated ex- 

 ceeded 800, and this added much to the difficulty of performing our 

 work. 



As stated in the report for the fiscal year 1918, the regulation of 

 stockyards and live-stock dealers was undertaken by the Department 

 of Agriculture in response to the proclamation of the President 

 issued on June 18, 1918. The Chief of the Bureau of Markets was 

 designated by the Secretary to administer the supervision of licensees 

 under this proclamation. Supervisors have been stationed in 26 of 

 the most important live-stock markets and in 121 additional stock- 

 yards. In the course of this work it has been possible to recommend 

 and bring about many specific economies and improvements, and the 

 mere fact that the regulations were being enforced caused the volun- 

 tary elimination of many irregularities and injurious practices. 



The data gathered in the food supply investigations, which have 

 been carried on for the last two years, have been arranged in a series 

 of reports dealing with various phases of the processes of marketing 

 live stock and grain, and several of these reports have been sent to 

 the Federal Trade Commission to be used in connection with their 

 reports on various phases of the food supply situation. The further 

 prosecution of this w ork should lead to additional A^alua'ble results. 



The distribution of nitrate of soda, originally undertaken in the 

 1918 season, was continued during the spring and summer of 

 1919. On the basis of prevailing retail prices, as reported to 

 the Department, it is estimated that this work saved to the farmers 

 of the country approximately $2,000,000 during the last year 

 alone. Nearly 153,000 tons of nitrate were distributed this year at 

 the price of $81 per short ton f . o. b. shipping point. 



Butter was added to the commodities upon which the Bureau ren- 

 dered an inspection service during the past year, though such inspec- 

 tions were instituted on a very modest scale, on account of the lack 

 of funds. This service was conducted in New York, Philadelphia, 

 Chicago, and Minneapolis and will be extended to other important 

 markets when increased appropriations become available. 



By Executive order dated December 31, 1918, the work of the 

 domestic wool section of the AYar Industries Board was transferred 

 to the Bureau of Markets for completion. The accounts received 

 from dealers are being audited, and the excess profits made by them 

 will be collected and distributed to the producers. It is antici- 

 pated that this work will be virtually completed during the fiscal 

 year ending June 30, 1920. 



On March 4, 1919, the cotton futures act was amended so as to 

 limit the grades deliverable on future contracts to 10 ; to provide for 

 the classification by the Department of Agriculture of all cotton 

 delivered on future contracts on the exchanges at New York and 

 New Orleans, entered into after March 4, 1919; and to give the 

 Secretary of Agriculture additional authority to conduct investiga- 

 tions as to the purchase and sale of spot cotton in order to secure 

 accurate quotations of the prices of the various grades. This legisla- 



