HEARINGS BEFORE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE. 227 
quests from Senators and Members of Congress who think that we 
should distribute the information. 
The Cuatrman. The Congressmen have just simply referred the re- 
quest to your Bureau; they have not recommended the establishment 
of the service. 
Mr. Haucen. How are they supplied with these cards; do you tele- 
graph to the post-office and then does the postmaster mail cards? 
Professor Moorg. If the rural free-delivery carrier leaves from a 
city in which we have an office, our observer stamps the forecast on a 
certain number of cards, and he delivers them to the carrier. If we 
have no office in a city we telegraph to the postmaster, and he sends 
out the cards. 
The CuatnmMaNn. Then you have a bill from the postmaster for 
increased compensation ? 
Mr. Bowrz. What proportion of the service can be reached by the 
8 o’clock forecast in the morning? 
Professor Moorr. We are reaching all that can be reached by the 
morning forecast now. 
Mr. Bowrs. Throughout the country ? 
Professor Moore. Yes, sir. 
Mr. Haucen. Do I understand that wherever they make an appli- 
cation for the service it is granted, if the carrier starts out later than 
10 o’clock? 
Professor Moors. I think we are sending the information out over 
every route where the carrier leaves after our forecast is made in the 
morning. 5 
The Cuarrman. How much is that costing? 
Professor Moorr. About 100,000 slips. 
The CuarrMan. In money—give us that estimate offhand. 
Professor Moors. I presume, probably, $10,000 a year. 
Mr. Bowrr. Those are the only people actually benefited? 
Professor Moorr. Those are farmers. 
Mr. Bowre. Farmers on the rural free-delivery service? 
Professor Moors. Yes, sir. 
Mr. Haugen. How much does a set of flags cost? 
Professor Moorr. <A set of flags costs about $5; there is no use to 
buy cheap ones. 
Mr. Bowie. And there are about 20,000 carriers? 
Professor Moore. I think so. 
Mr. Bowrs. That would be an expenditure of $100,000? 
Professor Moors. Yes, sir. 
Thereupon, at 2 o’clock p. m., the committee adjourned to meet 
Monday, January 11, 1904, at 2 o’clock p. m. 
Monpay, January 11, 1904. 
The committee met at 2 o’clock p. m., Hon. James W. Wadsworth 
in the chair. 
Dr. H. W. Wiley appeared before the committee. 
The CHarrman. We have before us this afternoon the Chief of the 
Bureau of Chemistry of the Agricultural Department. 
