REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 



19 



In order to effect the change contemplated, that is, to collect in a 

 single item the entire appropriation for international exchanges and 

 at the same time to make allowance for a needed compensation to the 

 ocean steam-ship companies for freight and for like necessary expenses, 

 tending to secure to the United States a return of many times what 

 they now receive from foreign governments, with a prompt delivery, 

 an estimate of $27,500 was submitted for the fiscal year 1889-'90. 



It should be premised that only about one-third of the Government's 

 publications are actually received from the office of the Public Printer 

 and elsewhere for transmission abroad, and that while special applica- 

 tion on our part might call out the remainder, we can not undertake to 

 do this while only partly paid the actual outlay for the portion we 

 carry already, while a sufficient appropriation to justify the employ- 

 ment of a special exchange agent in Europe, as has been frequently 

 and earnestly recommended by the Librarian of Congress, would bring 

 back in return probably about eight times what we now receive. Ac- 

 cordingly, in the subjoined estimate of what could be done if Con- 

 gress paid the actual cost of efficient service (the services of the officers 

 of this Institution being given without charge), more packages appear 

 under the new plan than under the old. 



■Statement of exchanges during the fiscal year ended June 30, 1889, together 

 with estimates for proposed neic departure. 



I. Amount of exchanges sent abroad. 



Congressional 



Departmental 



Society and private 



105, 000 



The receipts from abroad would then probably be more than double. 



II. Time. — Average time in transit to western Europe. 



Slow freight. 



Extremes.' Average 



Fast 

 freight. 



K^- 



England. 

 Germany 

 France .. 



Days. Daijs. Days. 



47 to 21 37 16 



47 to 30 I 36 15 



47 to 24 I 36 17 



