Chapter 140. Making appropriations for the Department of Agriculture for the fiscal year ending June thirtieth, eighteen hundred and ninety-seven
6,366 words·~29 min read·
/statutes-at-large/vol-29/chapter-140·A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
CHAP. 140.— An Act Making appropriations for the Department of Agriculture for the fiscal year ending June thirtieth, eighteen hundred and ninety-seven.April 25, 1896. *Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,*Agricultural Department appropriations. That the following sums be, and they are hereby, appropriated out of any money in the Treasury of the United States not otherwise appropriated, in full compensation for the fiscal year ending June thirtieth, eighteen hundred and ninety-seven, for the purposes and objects hereinafter expressed, namely:
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. Office of the Secretary: For compensation of Secretary of Agriculture,Pay of Secretary, Assistant, clerks, etc. eight thousand dollars; Assistant Secretary of Agriculture, four thousand five hundred dollars; Chief Clerk, who shall be superintendent of the Department buildings, two thousand five hundred dollars; private secretary to the Secretary of Agriculture, two thousand dollars; stenographer to the Secretary of Agriculture, one thousand four hundred dollars; private secretary to the Assistant Secretary of Agriculture, one thousand six hundred dollars; one librarian, one thousand eight hundred dollars; one assistant librarian, one thousand four hundred dollars; one appointment clerk, two thousand dollars; one chief of supply division, two thousand dollars; one telegraph and telephone operator, one thousand two hundred dollars; one clerk class four, one thousand eight hundred dollars; three clerks class three, four thousand eight hundred dollars; four clerks class two, five thousand six hundred dollars; ten clerks class one, twelve thousand dollars; ten clerks atone thousand dollars each, ten thousand dollars; six clerks at eight hundred and forty dollars each, five thousand and forty dollars; one engineer, who shall be captain of the watch, one thousand six hundred dollars; one fireman, who shall be steam litter, nine hundred dollars; one assistant fireman, seven hundred and twenty dollars; one assistant fireman, six hundred dollars; four night watchmen, at seven hundred and twenty dollars each, two thousand eight hundred and eighty dollars; messengers, laborers, mechanics, four day watchmen, and charwomen, twenty thousand dollars; in all, ninety-four thousand three hundred and forty dollars.
Division of Accounts and Disbursements: Chief of divisionSalaries.Division of Accounts and Disbursements. and disbursing clerk, two thousand five hundred dollars; one assistant chief of division, two thousand dollars; one cashier, one thousand eight hundred dollars; two clerks class three, three thousand two hundred dollars; four clerks class two, five thousand six hundred dollars; one clerk class one,one thousand two hundred dollars; in all, sixteen thousand three hundred dollars.
Division of Publications: Chief of division, two thousand fiveDivision of Publications. hundred dollars; assistant chief of division, one thousand eight hundred dollars; one editorial clerk, one thousand six hundred dollars; one proof reader and indexer,one thousand four hundred dollars; one clerk, one thousand dollars; in all, eight thousand three hundred dollars. 100FIFTY-FOURTH CONGRESS. Sess. I. Ch. 140. 1896. Document and Folding Room: Document and Folding Room. One superintendent, one thousand eight hundred dollars; two chief folders, atone thousand dollars each; one folder, at eight hundred and forty dollars; four folders, at six hundred dollars each; in all, seven thousand and forty dollars.
Division of Statistics: Division of Statistics. One statistician, who shall be chief of division, three thousand dollars; one assistant statistician, two thousand two hundred dollars; one clerk class four, one thousand eight hundred dollars; three clerks class three, four thousand eight hundred dollars; five clerks class two, seven thousand dollars; five clerks class one, six thousand dollars; seven clerks atone thousand dollars each, seven thousand dollars; four clerks at eight hundred and forty dollars each, three thousand three hundred and sixty dollars; in all, thirty-five thousand one hundred and sixty dollars.
Division of Botany: Division of Botany. One botanist and curator of the herbarium, who shall be chief of division, two thousand five hundred dollars; assistant botanist, one thousand eight hundred dollars; assistant botanist, one thousand four hundred dollars; assistant curator, one thousand two hundred dollars; one botanical clerk, one thousand dollars; one botanical clerk, nine hundred dollars; in all, eight thousand eight hundred dollars. Division of Entomology: Division of Entomology.
One entomologist, who shall he chief of the division, two thousand five hundred dollars; one assistant entomologist, one thousand eight hundred dollars; one assistant entomologist or clerk, one thousand six hundred dollars; one assistant entomologist or clerk, one thousand four hundred dollars; one assistant entomologist or clerk, one thousand two hundred dollars; one clerk, one thousand dollars; in all, nine thousand five hundred dollars. Division of Biological Survey: Division of Biological Survey.
One biologist, who shall be chief of division, two thousand five hundred dollars; one assistant biologist, one thousand eight hundred dollars; one assistant biologist, one thousand five hundred dollars; one assistant biologist, one thousand four hundred dollars; one clerk, class one, one thousand two hundred dollars; one clerk, one thousand dollars; one clerk, six hundred and sixty dollars; in all, ten thousand and sixty dollars. Division of Pomology: Division of Pomology. One pomologist, who shall be chief of division, two thousand five hundred dollars; one assistant pomologist, one thousand eight, hundred dollars; one clerk, class one, one thousand two hundred dollars; one. clerk, one thousand dollars; in all, six thousand five hundred dollars.
Division of Vegetable Physiology and Pathology: Division of Physiology and Pathology. One pathologist, who shall be chief of division, two thousand five hundred dollars; assistant pathologist, one thousand eight hundred dollars; assistant pathologist, one thousand two hundred dollars; one clerk, one thousand dollars: in all, six thousand five hundred dollars. Division of Chemistry: Division of Chemistry. One chemist, who shall be chief of division, two thousand five hundred dollars; one assistant chemist, one thousand eight hundred dollars; one assistant chemist, one thousand six hundred dollars; one clerk, class one, one thousand two hundred dollars; employment of additional assistants in division of chemistry, when necessary, ten thousand dollars: in all, seventeen thousand one hundred dollars.
Division of Soils: Division of Soils. One chief of division, two thousand five hundred dollars; one assistant chief, one thousand eight hundred dollars; one clerk, one thousand dollars; in all, five thousand three hundred dollars. Division of Agrostology: Division of Agrostology. One agrostologist, who shall be chief of division, two thousand five hundred dollars; one assistant chief, one thousand eight hundred dollars; one assistant, one thousand five hundred dollars; one assistant, one thousand four hundred dollars; one histologist, nine hundred dollars; in all, eight thousand one hundred dollars.
Division of Forestry: Division of Forestry. Chief of division, two thousand five hundred dollars; assistant chief of division, one thousand eight hundred dollars; one clerk, class two, one thousand four hundred dollars; oneFIFTY-FOURTH CONGRESS. Sess. I. Ch. 140. 1896.101 clerk, class one, one thousand two hundred dollars; one clerk, nine hundred dollars; one clerk, seven hundred and twenty dollars; in all, eight thousand five hundred and twenty dollars. Experimental Gardens and Grounds:
Experimental Gardens and Grounds. One superintendent, two thousand five hundred dollars. Museum: Museum. One curator, one thousand four hundred dollars; one assistant curator, one thousand dollars; in all, two thousand four hundred dollars. Salaries, Bureau of Animal Industry: Bureau of Animal Industry. One chief of Bureau, four thousand dollars; one assistant chief, two thousand five hundred dollars; one chief clerk of Bureau, two thousand dollars; one chief of inspection division, two thousand five hundred dollars; one assistant chief of inspection division, one thousand eight hundred dollars; one chief of dairy division, two thousand five hundred dollars; one assistant chief of dairy division, one thousand eight hundred dollars; one chief of pathological division, two thousand two hundred and fifty dollars; one assistant in pathological division, one thousand two hundred dollars; one assistant in pathological division, eight hundred and forty dollars; one chief of bio-chemic division, two thousand two hundred and fifty dollars; two assistants in bio-chemic division, at one thousand two hundred dollars each, two thousand four hundred dollars; one assistant in bio-chemic laboratory, seven hundred and twenty dollars; one chief of miscellaneous division, two thousand dollars; one zoologist, two thousand dollars; two veterinary inspectors, at one thousand eight hundred dollars each, three thousand six hundred dollars; two veterinary inspectors, at one thousand four hundred dollars each, two thousand eight hundred dollars; one assistant at veterinary experiment station, one thousand dollars; one clerk, class four, one thousand eight hundred dollars; one clerk, class three, one thousand six hundred dollars; one clerk, class two, one thousand four hundred dollars; five clerks, class one, six thousand dollars; seven clerks, at one thousand dollars each, seven thousand dollars; one clerk, at eight hundred and forty dollars; two firemen, at seven hundred and twenty dollars each, one thousand four hundred and forty dollars; four messengers, at seven hundred and twenty dollars each, two thousand eight hundred and eighty dollars; two skilled laborers, at six hundred and sixty dollars each, one thousand three hundred and twenty dollars; for employment of artists, laborers, and charwomen, five thousand dollars; in all, sixty-seven thousand four hundred and forty dollars.
Collecting Agricultural Statistics, Division of Statistics: Investigations and expenses.Division of Statistics. Collecting domestic and foreign agricultural statistics, compiling, writing, and illustrating statistical matter for monthly, annual, and special reports; special investigations and compilations; subscriptions to and purchase of statistical publications containing data for permanent comparative records, maps and charts, stationery supplies, blanks, blank books, circulars, paper, envelopes, postal cards, postage stamps, freight, and express charges, and necessary traveling expenses: *Provided,**Provisos.*Monthly crop reports.
That the monthly crop report issued on the tenth day of each month shall embrace a statement of the condition of the crops, by States, in the United States, with such explanations and comparisons with other months and years as may be useful for illustrating the above matter, and that it shall be submitted to and officially approved by the Secretary of Agriculture before being issued or published: *Provided also,* That ten thousandExtending demands of foreign markets. dollars of the amount hereby appropriated, or so much thereof as the Secretary of Agriculture may deem necessary, may be expended in continuing the investigations concerning the feasibility of extending the demands of foreign markets for the agricultural products of the United States, and to secure as far as may be a change in the methodsTobacco, etc. of supplying tobacco and other farm products to foreign countries, one hundred and ten thousand dollars.
Botanical Investigations and Experiments, Division of Botany: Division of Botany. Investigations relating to medicinal and other economic plants, the collection of plants, traveling expenses, and express charges; the102FIFTY-FOURTH CONGRESS. Sess. I. Ch. 140. 1896. purchase of specimens, paper, and all other necessary supplies, materials, and apparatus for the herbarium, and labor necessary in preparing the same; subscriptions to and purchase of botanical publications for use in the division, and the preparation, illustration, and publication of reports, fifteen thousand dollars.
Entomological Investigations, Division of Entomology: Division of Entomology. Promotion of economic entomology; investigating the history and habits of insects injurious and beneficial to agriculture, horticulture, and arboriculture; ascertaining the best means of destroying those found to be injurious; chemicals, insecticide apparatus, and other materials, supplies, and instruments required in conducting such experiments and investigations; freight and express charges and necessary traveling expenses: compensation of additional temporary assistants, investigators, and agents, and preparing, illustrating, and publishing the results of the work of the division, twenty thousand dollars.
Vegetable Pathological Investigations, Division of Vegetable Physiology and Pathology: Division of Physiology and Pathology. Investigating the nature of diseases injurious to fruits, fruit trees, grain, cotton, vegetables, and other useful plants; experiments in the treatment of the same; chemicals, gas, and apparatus required in the Held and laboratory; necessary traveling expenses; the preparation of reports and illustrations; the rent of a building, not to exceed six hundred and sixty dollars per annum, and for other expenses connected with the practical work of the investigation, twenty thousand dollars; of which so much thereof as may be directed by the Secretary of Agriculture may be applied to the investigation of peach yellows, California grape disease, root rot, and blight of cotton, pear blight, and the diseases of citrus fruits, and remedies therefor.
Biological Survey, Division of Biological Survey: Division of Biological Survey. For biological investigations, including the geographic distribution and migrations of animals, birds, and plants, and for the promotion of economic ornithology and mammalogy, an investigation of the food habits of North American birds and mammals in relation to agriculture, horticulture, and forestry; for preparation and publication of reports thereon, and for illustrations, field work, and traveling, and other expenses in the practical work of the division, seventeen thousand five hundred dollars.
Pomological Investigations, Division of Pomology: Division of Pomology. Investigating, collecting, and disseminating information relating to the fruit industry; the collection and distribution of seeds, shrubs, trees, and specimens; traveling, and other necessary expenses, six thousand dollars. Laboratory, Department of Agriculture, Division of Chemistry: Division of Chemistry. Chemical apparatus, chemicals, laboratory fixtures, and supplies, repairs to engine and apparatus; gas and electric current, purchase of samples and necessary expenses in conducting special investigations, including necessary expenses. labor and expert work in such investigations, four thousand dollars; for rent of laboratory building, nine hundred dollars; in all, four thousand nine hundred dollars.
To investigateFoods, drugs, and liquors adulterations, etc. the adulteration of foods, drugs, and liquors, when deemed by the Secretary of Agriculture advisable; employing such assistants, clerks, and other persons as the Secetary of Agriculture may consider necessary for the purpose named; preparing, illustrating, and publishing reports and exhibiting the results of such investigations, and to enable the Secretary of Agriculture to continue an investigationSoil characteristics. relative to the various typical soils of the United States to determine their chemical characteristics, and especially the nature of the nitrifying organisms contained therein; the preparation of reports thereon; apparatus and materials required in conducting such investigations; employment of the necessary investigators; freight and express charges, and necessary traveling expenses, seven thousand five hundred dollars; in all, for division of chemistry, twelve thousand four hundred dollars.
FIFTY-FOURTH CONGRESS. Sess. I. Ch. 140. 1896.103 Forestry Investigations, Division of Forestry: Division of Forestry. To enable the Secretary of Agriculture to experiment and continue an investigation and report on the subject of forestry and timbers, for traveling and other necessary expenses in the investigation, and for the collection and distribution of valuable economic forest-tree seeds and plants, twenty thousand dollars. Experimental Gardens and Grounds, Department of Agriculture, Division of Gardens and Grounds:
Experimental Gardens and Grounds. Cultivation and care of experimental gardens and grounds, including the keep of the lawns, trees, roadways, and walks; management and maintenance of the conservatories, and seed-testing and plant and fruit propagating houses; employment of foremen, gardeners, laborers, carpenters, painters, plumbers, and other mechanics; machinery, tools, wagons, carts, horses, harness, plows, lawn mowers, sprinklers, hose, watering cans, tubs, pots, and other implements required in cultivation; lumber, hardware, glass, paints, tin, stone, gravel, and other material required for repairs; fertilizers, insecticide apparatus, and chemicals; blacksmithing, horseshoeing, and repairs to implements and machinery; seeds, plants, and bulbs for propagating purposes; labels, potting, and packing materials, feed for horses, freight and express charges, twenty thousand dollars.
Soil Investigations, Division of Soils: Division of Soils. Investigation of the relation of soils to climate and organic life; for the investigation of the texture and composition of soils in the field and laboratory; the location of the stations and the rent of a building, not to exceed six hundred and sixty dollars per annum, for office and laboratory purposes; the employment of local and special agents, and other labor required in conducting experiments; the preparation of drawings and illustrations; for materials, tools, instruments, apparatus, gas, and supplies, and for traveling expenses, freight and express charges, ten thousand dollars.
Grass and Forage Plant Investigations, Division of Agrostology: Division of Agrostology. Field and laboratory investigations relating to the natural history, geographical distribution, and uses of the various grasses and forage plants, and their adaptability to special soils and climates; establishment and maintenance of experimental grass stations; employment of local and special agents and assistants; collection of seeds, roots, and specimens for experimental cultivation and distribution; materials, tools, apparatus, supplies, and labor required in conducting experiments; freight and express charges and traveling expenses; the preparation of drawings and illustrations for special reports, and the preparation of illustrated circulars of information, bulletins, and monographic works on the forage plants and grasses of North America, ten thousand dollars.
Fiber Investigations: Fiber investigations. To enable the Secretary of Agriculture to continue the investigations relating to texfile fibers indigenous in, or adapted to, the United States, including their economic growth, cleansing, and decorticating, preparatory to manufacture; the testing machines and processes for said cleansing and decorticating; for the purchase of material for said tests; for the purchase of fiber plants and seeds for distribution, propagation, and experiment, and for the labor and expenses incident thereto; and for traveling expenses in connection with said duties, five thousand dollars.
Agricultural Experiment Stations, Office of Experiment Stations: Agricultural experiment stations.Vol. 24, p. 440. To carry into effect the provisions of an Act approved March second, eighteen hundred and eighty-seven, entitled “An Act to establish agricultural experiment stations in connection with the colleges established in the several States under the provisions of an Act approved July second, eighteen hundred and sixty-two, and of the Acts supplementary thereto,” and to enforce the execution thereof, seven hundred and fifty thousand dollars, thirty thousand dollars of which sum shallForms, etc.Vol. 24, p. 441. be payable upon the order of the Secretary of Agriculture, to enable him to carry out the provisions of section three of the said Act of March second, eighteen hundred and eighty-seven; and the Secretary of Agriculture shall prescribe the form of the annual financial statementAnnual statements.104FIFTY-FOURTH CONGRESS.
Sess. I. Ch. 140. 1896. required by section three of said Act of March second, eighteen hundred and eighty-seven, shall ascertain whether the expenditures under the appropriation hereby made are in accordance with the provisions of the said Act, and shall make report thereon to Congress; and the Secretary of Agriculture is hereby authorized to employ such assistants, clerks, and other persons as he may deem necessary, and to incur such other expenses for office fixtures and supplies, stationery, traveling, freight,Experiment Station Record, etc. and express charges, illustration and publication of the Experiment Station Record, bulletins, and reports, as he may find essential in carrying out the objects of the above Acts, and the sums apportioned to the several States shall be paid quarterly in advance.
And the Secretary of Agriculture is hereby authorized to furnish to such institutions or individualsIndex of agricultural literature. as may care to buy it, copies of the card index of agricultural literature prepared by the office of experiment stations, and charge for the same a price covering the additional expense involved in the preparation of these copies, and lie is hereby authorized to apply the moneys received toward the expense of the preparation of the index. Geological Survey:
Gauging water supply To enable the Director of the United States Geological Survey to continue gauging the streams and determining the water supply of the United States, including the investigation of underground currents and artesian wells in arid and semiarid sections to June thirtieth, eighteen hundred and ninety-six, four thousand five hundred dollars, to be immediately available. Nutrition Investigations: Food-nutrition investigation. To enable the Secretary of Agriculture to investigate and report upon the nutritive value of the various articles and commodities used for human food, with special suggestions of full, wholesome, and edible rations less wasteful and more economical than those in common use, fifteen thousand dollars; and the agricultural experiment stations are hereby authorized to cooperate with the Secretary of Agriculture in carrying out said investigations in such manner and to such extent as may be warranted by a due regard to the varying conditions and needs of the respective States and Territories, and as may be mutually agreed upon; and the Secretary of Agriculture is hereby authorized to require said stations to report to him the results of any such investigations which they may carry out, whether in cooperation with said Secretary of Agriculture or otherwise.
Public Road Inquiries: Road-making inquiries. To enable the Secretary of Agriculture to make inquiries in regard to the system of road management throughout the United States; to make investigations in regard to the best methods of road making, and the best kinds of road-making materials in the several States; for labor, traveling, and other necessary expenses, and for preparing and publishing bulletins and reports on this subject for distribution, and to enable him to assist the agricultural colleges and experiment stations in disseminating information on this subject, eight thousand dollars.
Library, Department of Agriculture: Library. Purchase of necessary books, periodicals, and papers, and for expenses incurred in completing imperfect series, and for library fixtures, shelving,postage,library cards, and other material, seven thousand dollars. Publications, Department of Agriculture, Division of Publications: Division of Publications. For the preparation, printing, illustration, publication, and distribution of bulletins and reports, seventy thousand dollars, as follows:Farmers’ bulletins.
Farmers’ bulletins, which shall be adapted to the interests of the people of different sections of the country, an equal proportion of two-thirds of which shall be supplied to Senators, Representatives, and Delegates in Congress for distribution among their constituents, fifty thousand*Proviso.*Distribution, etc. dollars: *Provided,* That the Secretary of Agriculture shall notify Senators and Representatives of the character and number of each bulletin and each other publication of the Department of Agriculture (not sent to the folding rooms of the Senate and House) to which each Senator and Representative may be entitled for distribution on the basis herein provided; for the distribution of bulletins, illustrations, and engravings; for the pay of artists, draftsmen, engravers, and additionalFIFTY-FOURTH CONGRESS.
Sess. I. Ch. 140. 1896.105 proof readers when necessary; the purchase of tools, instruments, paper, ink, pencils, paints, and other necessary materials; for labor, printing, printing proofs, necessary traveling expenses, and for drawings, engravings, lithographs, paintings, other illustrations, and electrotypes, fifteen thousand dollars; for distribution of documents; for the purchase of paper, envelopes, gum, twine, and other necessary materials, five thousand dollars; in all, seventy thousand dollars.
For the publication of seventy-five thousand copies of Special ReportDiseases of the Horse, report. on Diseases of the Horse, of which there shall be twenty five thousand copies for the Senate and fifty thousand copies for the House, forty-two thousand five hundred dollars, to be immediately available, and to be disbursed by the Public Printer. For the publication of sixty thousand copies of the Special ReportCattle Report. on Diseases of Cattle and Cattle Feeding, of which there shall be twenty thousand copies for the Senate and forty thousand copies for the House, forty thousand dollars, to be immediately available, and to be disbursed by the Public Printer.
Animal Quarantine Stations: Quarantine stations for animals. To establish and maintain quarantine stations, and to provide proper shelter for the care of neat cattle and domestic animals imported, at such ports as may be deemed necessary, twelve thousand dollars. That whenever the Secretary of Agriculture shall certify to the PresidentCertifying countries free from animal diseases. of the United States what countries or parts of countries are free from contagious or infectious diseases of domestic animals, and that neat cattle, domestic animals, and hides can be imported from such countries without danger to the domestic animals of the United States, the President of the United States may suspend the prohibition of the importation of neat cattle, domestic animals, and hides, in the manner provided by law.
That the President be, and he is hereby, authorizedGreat Britain.Negotiations to change cattle regulations. to cause correspondence and negotiation to be had, through the Department of State or otherwise, with the authorities of the Kingdom of Great Britain, for the purpose of securing the abrogation or modification of the regulations now enforced by said authorities which require cattle imported into Great Britain from the United States of America to be slaughtered at the port of entry, and prohibiting the same from being carried alive to other places in said Kingdom.
That the Secretary of Agriculture shall determine and certify to theCertifying pure-bred animals.Vol. 38, p. 536. Secretary of the Treasury what are recognized breeds and pure-bred animals, under the provisions of paragraph three hundred and seventy-three of the tariff Act of eighteen hundred and ninety four. Museum, Department of Agriculture: Museum. Collecting, classifying, and naming cereals; collecting and modeling fruits, vegetables, and other plants; for labor and material for preparing same for museum, and other necessary expenses and supplies, three thousand dollars.
Postage, Department of Agriculture: Postage. Postage on return letters, circulars, and miscellaneous articles for correspondents, and foreign mail, three thousand dollars. Furniture, Cases, and Repairs, Department of Agriculture: Furniture, cases, and repairs. Repairing and improving buildings, heating apparatus, furniture, carpeting, matting, water and gas pipes, new furniture, and all necessary material and labor for the same, including lumber, hardware, glass, and paints, twelve thousand dollars: *Provided,* That not more*Proviso.*Preserving records, etc. than three thousand dollars of this amount maybe used for the erection of a fireproof building or vault for the protection and preservation of the public records of the Department of Agriculture and certain valuable specimens.
Contingent Expenses, Department of Agriculture: Contingent expenses. Stationery, purchase of blank books, twine, paper, gum, dry goods, soap, brushes, brooms, mats, oils, paints, glass, lumber, hardware, ice, fuel and lights, freight, express charges, advertising, telegraphing, purchasing supplies, and washing towels; the purchase, subsistence, and care of horses; the purchase and repair of harness; the purchase and repair of vehicles; expenses of sales of old material; payment of duties on106FIFTY-FOURTH CONGRESS.
Sess. I. Ch. 140. 1896. imported articles, and the Department of Agriculture’s proportionate shareDispatch agent. of the dispatch agent in New York, not to exceed four hundred dollars; actual traveling expenses while on business of the Department, and other miscellaneous supplies and expenses not otherwise provided for and necessary for the practical and efficient work of the Department, twenty-five thousand dollars. Division of Seeds, Purchase and Distribution of Valuable Seeds:
Division of Seeds.Purchase, distribution, etc. For the purchase, propagation, and distribution of valuable seeds, bulbs, trees,-shrubs, vines, cuttings, and plants, and expense of labor, transportation, paper, twine, gum, printing, postal cards, and all necessary material and repairs for putting up and distributing the same, and to be distributed in localities adapted to their culture, one hundred andAmount to be expended.*Post,* p. 467. fifty thousand dollars. And the Secretary of Agriculture is hereby authorized, empowered, directed and required to expend the said sum in the purchase, propagation and distribution of such valuable seeds, bulbs, trees, shrubs, vines, cuttings and plants, and is authorized, empowered, directed and required to expend not less than the sum of one hundred and thirty thousand dollars in the purchase at public or private sale of valuable seeds the best he can obtain and such as shall be suitable for the respective localities to which the same are to be apportioned and in which same are to be distributed as hereinafter stated, and such seeds so purchased shall include a variety of vegetable and flower seeds suitable for planting and culture in the various sections of the United States.
That section five hundred and twenty-seven of the Revised Statutes be amended so that it will read as follows: " “Sec. 527. ThatVarieties to be obtained, etc.R. S., sec. 527, p. 88, amended. purchase and distribution of vegetable, field, and flower seeds, plants, shrubs, vines, bulbs and cuttings shall be of the freshest and best obtainable varieties and adapted to general cultivation.” " An equalAllotment. proportion of two-thirds of all seeds, bulbs, trees, shrubs, vines, cuttings, and plants shall, upon their request, after due notification by the Secretary of Agriculture that the allotment to their respective districts is ready for distribution, be supplied to Senators, Representatives, and Delegates in Congress for distribution among their constituents or be directed and mailed by the Department upon their request; and the person receiving such seeds shall be requested to inform*Provisos.*Uncalled-for seeds, etc. the Department of results of the experiments therewith: *Provided,* That all seeds, bulbs, plants, and cuttings herein allotted to Senators, Representatives, and Delegates in Congress for distribution remaining uncalled for on the first of May shall be distributed by the Secretary of Agriculture, giving preference to those persons whose names and addresses have been furnished by Senators and Representatives in Congress, and who have not before during the same season been suppliedReport of purchases. by the Department: *And provided, also,* That the Secretary shall report, as provided in this Act, the place, quantity, and price of seeds purchased, and the date of purchase; but nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to prevent the Secretary of Agriculture from sending seeds to those who apply for the same.
And the amount herein appropriatedDiversion forbidden. shall not be diverted or used for any other purpose but for the purchase, propagation, and distribution of valuable seeds, bulbs, trees,Distribution adapted to locality. shrubs, vines, cuttings, and plants: *Provided, however,* That the Secretary shall not distribute to any Senator, Representative, or Delegate seeds entirely unfit for the climate and locality he represents, but shall distribute the same so that each Member may have seeds of equal value, as near as may be, and the best adapted to the locality he represents:Early delivery to southern section. *Provided, also,* That the seeds allotted to the Senators and Representatives for distribution in the districts embraced within the twenty-fifth and thirty-second parallels of latitude shall be ready for delivery on the tenth day of January or at the earliest practicable time thereafter.
Salaries and Expenses, Bureau of Animal Industry: Bureau of Animal Industry.Vol. 23, p. 31. For carrying out the provisions of the Act of May twenty-ninth, eighteen hundred and eighty-four, establishing the Bureau of Animal Industry,FIFTY-FOURTH CONGRESS. Sess. I. Ch. 140. 1896.107 and of the Act of August thirtieth, eighteen hundred and ninety, providingVol. 26, p. 414. for an inspection of meats and animals, and also the provisions of the Act of March third, eighteen hundred and ninety-one, providingVol. 26. p. 1089. for the inspection of live cattle, hogs, and the carcasses and products thereof which are the subjects of interstate and foreign commerce, and for other purposes, the sum of six hundred and fifty thousand dollars; and the Secretary of Agriculture is hereby authorized to use any part of this sum he may deem necessary or expedient, in such manner as he may think best, in the collection of information concerning live stock, dairy, and other animal products, and to prevent the spread of pleuropneumonia,Preventing diseases among animals. tuberculosis, sheep scab, glanders or farcy, and other diseases of animals, and for this purpose to employ as many persons as he may deem necessary, and to expend any part of this sum in the purchasePurchase, etc., of diseased animals. and destruction of diseased or exposed animals and the quarantine of the same whenever in his judgment it is essential to prevent the spread of pleuropneumonia, tuberculosis, or other diseases of animals from one State into another, and for printing and publishing such reports relating to animal industry as he may direct; and the Secretary is hereby authorized to rent a suitable building in the District of Columbia, at an annual rental of not exceeding one thousand two hundred dollars, to be used as a laboratoryLaboratory. for said Bureau of Animal Industry. weather bureau.Weather Bureau.Pay of chief, assistant, professors, clerks, etc.
Salaries of the Weather Bureau: Office of Chief of Weather Bureau: One chief of Bureau, four thousand five hundred dollars; two professors of meteorology, at three thousand dollars each, for service in the city of Washington, or elsewhere, as the exigencies of the Bureau may demand, six thousand dollars; three professors of meteorology, at two thousand five hundred dollars each, for service in the city of Washington, or elsewhere, as the exigencies of the Bureau may demand, seven thousand five hundred dollars; three forecast officials, at two thousand dollars each, for service in the city of Washington, or elsewhere, as the exigencies of the Bureau may demand, six thousand dollars; one chief clerk, two thousand two hundred and fifty dollars; three chiefs of division, at two thousand dollars each, six thousand dollars; three clerks of class four, five thousand four hundred dollars; one assistant chief of division of supplies, one thousand six hundred dollars; five clerks class three, eight thousand dollars; fifteen clerks class two, twenty-one thousand dollars; twenty-five clerks class one, thirty thousand dollars; fifteen clerks at one thousand dollars each, fifteen thousand dollars; one telegraph operator in the city of Washington or elsewhere, us the exigencies of the Bureau may demand, one thousand dollars; six clerks, at nine hundred dollars each, five thousand four hundred dollars; three copyists or typewriters, at eight hundred and forty dollars each, two thousand five hundred and twenty dollars; one copyist or typewriter, seven hundred and twenty dollars; one chief mechanician, one thousand two hundred dollars; one captain of the watch, one thousand two hundred dollars; one engineer, nine hundred dollars; one batteryman, eight hundred and forty dollars; four skilled artisans, at eight hundred and forty dollars each, three thousand three hundred and sixty dollars; two skilled mechanicians, at eight hundred and forty dollars each, one thousand six hundred and eighty dollars; three assistant messengers, at seven hundred and twenty dollars each, two thousand one hundred and sixty dollars; two firemen, at seven hundred and twenty dollars each, one thousand four hundred and forty dollars; three watchmen, at seven hundred and twenty dollars each, two thousand one hundred and sixty dollars; one carpenter, eight hundred and forty dollars; five laborers, at six hundred and sixty dollars each, three thousand three hundred dollars; eight messengers or laborers, at six hundred dollars each, four thousand eight hundred dollars; five messengers or laborers, at four hundred and fifty dollars each, two thousand two hundred and fifty dollars; three charwomen, at two108FIFTY-FOURTH CONGRESS.
Sess. I. Ch. 140. 1896. hundred and forty dollars each, seven hundred and twenty dollars; for temporary employment of messengers and laborers as may be necessary in the office of the Chief of the Weather Bureau, eight hundred dollars; in all, one hundred and fifty thousand five hundred and forty dollars. Fuel, Lights, and Repairs, Weather Bureau: Fuel, light, etc. For fuel, lights, repairs, labor, and other expenses for the care and preservation of the public buildings and grounds on the corner of Twenty-fourth and M streets Northwest, in the city of Washington, eight thousand dollars.
Contingent Expenses, Weather Bureau: Contingent expenses. For stationery, blank books, furniture, and repairs to same, freight, express charges, subsistence, care, and purchase of horses, repairs to harness, advertising, dry goods, twine, mats, oils, paints, glass, lumber, hardware, ice, washing towels, and other miscellaneous supplies and expenses not otherwise provided for. and necessary for the practical and efficient work of the Weather Bureau in the city of Washington, eight thousand dollars.
General Expenses, Weather Bureau: General expenses. General expenses of the Weather Bureau, under the direction of Secretary of Agriculture, for the benefit of agriculture, commerce, navigation, and other interests, as provided by law, namely: SalariesInspector, forecast officials, etc. of one inspector, at a salary not to exceed two thousand dollars, thirty local forecast officials, observers, operators, repair men, messengers, laborers, and other necessary employees, outside of the city of Washington, three hundred and fifty-two thousand one hundred and ninety-five dollars.
All otherMaps, bulletins, etc. expenses, itemized as follows: Maps, bulletins, and stationery for stations, and the maintenance of a printing office in the District of Columbia for printing the necessary circulars, weather maps, bulletins, and monthly weather reviews (including the hire of printers,Transportation, etc.Instruments, telegraphing, etc. lithographers, and other necessary working force); for traveling expenses; for freight and express charges; for instruments and shelters therefor; for telegraphing or telephoning reports and messages, the rates to be fixed by the Secretary of Agriculture by agreement withRents, etc. the companies performing the services; torrents and other incidental expenses of offices maintained as stations of observation; for maintenanceCoast telegraphs, storm signals, etc.Cotton, corn, and wheat reports.Aerial reports.Hurricane reports. and repair of seacoast telegraph lines, for river observations and reports, for storm and other signals, for cotton-region observations and reports, for corn and wheat observations and reports, for aerial observations and reports, for special observations and pay of observers of West India, Mexican, and Central American stations during theSupplies, etc. hurricane season, for supplies for climate and crop services, and for investigations on climatology, including assistance and all necessary expenses, three hundred and sixty-five thousand and thirty-seven dollars.
Any personPunishment for counterfeiting forecasts, etc. who shall knowingly issue or publish any counterfeit weather forecasts or warnings of weather conditions, falsely representing such forecasts or warnings to have been issued or published by the Weather Bureau, United States Signal Service, or other branch of the Government service, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and on conviction thereof, for each offense, be fined in a sum not exceeding five hundred dollars, or imprisoned not to exceed ninety days, or be both fined and imprisoned, in the discretion of the court.
That theSignals on mail trains. Secretary of Agriculture, in cooperation with the Postmaster-General, may arrange a plan by which there shall be displayed on all cars and other conveyances used for transporting United States mail, suitable flags or other signals to indicate weather forecasts, cold-wave warnings, frost warnings, and so forth, to be furnished by the Chief of the Weather Bureau. Received by the President, April 14, 1896. [Note by the Department Of State.— The foregoing act having been presented to the President of the United States for his approval, and not having been returned by him to the house of Congress in which it originated within the time prescribed by the Constitution of the United States, has become a law without his approval.] Chapter 141:
To grant to railroad companies in Indian Territory additional powers to secure depot grounds. 29 Stat. 109 1896-04-25 Chapter 141 United States Government Publishing Office text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain. Digitization Vendor 2025-10-30 54 2 public FIFTY-FOURTH CONGRESS. Sess. I. Ch. 141. 1896.109
Connections1 off-index
1 reference not yet in our index
- 29 Stat. 109
Citation graph
cites case law
Chapter 140
Making appropriations for the Department of Agriculture for the fiscal year ending June thirtieth, eighteen hundred and ninety-seven
Stat.29 Stat. 109
Cites 1Cited by 0 across 0 sources