Page:U.S. Department of the Interior Annual Report 1879.djvu/53

Rh It is not my expectation to be obliged to present to Congress any request for a deficiency appropriation under the law as it stands, and I am satisfied that the Superintendent, in all his plans, is legally observing the conditions thus imposed by the law creating his office and providing for the approaching census.

In the preparations for the enumeration which is to be commenced on the first of June, progress has been made to the point of apportioning among the States and Territories the aggregate of 150 supervisorships, authorized by the act of March 3, and dividing the States to which supervisorships in excess of the minimum were assigned into districts of a corresponding number. The duty which the law imposes on the department, of fixing the rates of compensation to be paid to enumerators, is one of great nicety and difficulty.

The conditions, geographical and other, of each section of the country which bear on the facility of enumeration are being thoroughly and systematically studied, in order that the greatest economy and efficiency of service may be combined with the highest attainable equity toward the agents of the government performing this arduous and responsible work.

The United States Entomological Commission has continued its investigations into the habits of the Rocky Mountain locust or grasshopper, in the permanent Northwest breeding-grounds of the species. The principal aim of the commission has been to get more accurate knowledge of the limits and extent of those breeding-grounds, with a view of preventing the migrations of the winged insects therefrom.

Congress at its last session enlarged the field of the co1nmission’s labors by requiring an investigation into the habits of the cotton worm, and of, other insects injurious to the cotton-plant and to agriculture. The work in the West and Northwest is being continued by Dr. Packard and Professor Thomas, while Professor Riley has taken charge of the work in the Southern States, and has been industriously pursuing it. Some of the discoveries and practical results have already been embodied in a special bulletin. The losses which insects inflict on the crops of the country amount to many million dollars annually, and the well-directed efforts of intelligent entomologists in endeavoring to prevent these losses have already resulted in much good.

The Southern States have suffered severely from the cotton-worm alone, and are directly interested in this branch of the work of the commission.

A sufficient sum is asked for, to complete in a satisfactory manner the investigations now being prosecuted, and to publish a report thereon for distribution among those interested in the success of the work.