268 HEARINGS BEFORE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE. 
The CuatrMan. Does this change involve a general increase—are 
you going to get the Secretary to raise all these salaries under a lump 
sum ? 
Mr. Howarp. No. I want him to employ a number of new men, if 
this plan is adopted; and it will be necessary to pay fairly good sala- 
ries in order to attract the best men. We want to get the best men 
that can be obtained for the investigation work of the Department. 
The Cuarrman. You are asking an increase in a lump sum of 
$25,000, are you not! 
Mr. Howarp. Yes, sir, $25,000. 
The Cuarrman. $25,950 or $26,000, practically ? 
Mr. Howarp. Yes, sir. 
The Cuarrman. At the end of the paragraph you say: ‘‘Of which 
amount not to exceed $15,000 may be expended for silk investigations 
and $5,000 for apicultural investigations.” Now, go on in your own 
way, Doctor, and tell us what you propose to do with this increase, 
and the pressing need of the increase. 
Mr. Howarp. One of the principal things which I hope to do is to 
get started a thoroughly systematic investigation of the subject of 
insects injurious to forest trees. We have begun that to some extent, 
at the request of the various forestry people in the lumbering sections 
of the country, but we have not had sufficient means. I would like to 
keep my present man, Doctor Hopkins, who is one of the most effi- 
cient men in his line anywhere, at the head of the work, and employ 
three or four assistants. The scheme that has been outlined is sub- 
stantially this—I will read from « little memorandum which I have 
had prepared, and which I have here with me: 
Section of forest insect investigation. 
The extent of depredations of insects on the principal kinds of forest trees in dif- 
ferent sections of the country, and the earnest demand for information on the causes 
and remedies, has rendered it necessary to employ a specialist to take charge of this 
line sa investigation and to organize and equip a section of the Division for this 
work. 
The problems which demanded immediate attention and are now the subject of 
special investigations are: 
1. Bark-beetle depredations on the spruce forests of the northeastern States, 
involving a great annual loss of the best matured timber. 
2. The pine-destroying beetle of the Black Hills which is threatening the total 
destruction of the pine timber of the Black Hills Forest Reserve, and the mining 
and other interests of the State of South Dakota which are peculiarly dependent 
upon this timber. 
3. Bark-beetle ravages on the limited supply of matured pine timber in Arizona, 
New Mexico, and Colorado. 
4. Destruction by insects in the forests of spruce, hemlock, and fir in western 
Washington and Oregon; and the redwoods, Monterey cypress, pine, and tan-bark 
oak in California. 
5. A threatened outbreak in the southern States of the destructive pine-bark 
beetle, which in 1891-1893 threatened the total destruction of the pine and spruce 
forests and shade trees of West Virginia and adjacent States, thus demonstrating its 
ability to devastate the pine forests of the South. 
“ 6. A sae trouble affecting the cypress industry of the southern States caused 
y insects. 
7. Destruction of chestnut timber in the Appalachian region, and a widespread 
trouble affecting the hickories in the entire eastern United States, due to insect 
ravages. 
8. Losses to importers of mahogany logs, caused by insects introduced with the 
logs, and from injuries to the lumber by native insects. 
9. Ravages by insects on hard-wood lumber, stave bolts, seasoned handles, and tan 
bark, causing great losses to the manufacturers of forest products. 
