Page:U.S. Department of the Interior Annual Report 1880.djvu/63

Rh In but three cases has it been found necessary to use the authority conferred by the twenty-third section of the act of March 3, 1879, for the removal of supervisors and the appointment of their successors, and in neither of these cases were the causes requiring removal such as to reflect upon the personal or official integrity of the supervisor so removed.

Attention is respectfully invited to the remarks of the Superintendent of the Census on the necessity of promptness in the publication of the census reports, and also to his recommendation as to their publication by special contract. It appears highly desirable that this subject should have early consideration in Congress.

The United States Entomological Commission had a prolonged session immediately after the adjournment of Congress, and perfected plans for carrying to completion the work with which it is charged. As during the previous year, the labor was divided so that Professor Riley had charge of that part of the work in which the cotton planter is concerned, while Doctor Packard and Professor Thomas had charge of the work in the West, relating to the Rocky Mountain locust. Professor Thomas made an exploration of those parts of Dakota and British America which embrace some of the most important regions in the permanent breeding- grounds of the locust. Dr. Packard visited Wyoming and Utah, collecting information regarding the locust; and his assistant traveled over two months in different parts of Montana, ascending the Yellowstone River, crossing the country to Bozeman and Helena, and returning through Eastern Idaho. Other agents of the commission collected locust data in Utah. All this region, usually affording the most favorable breeding-grounds for the locust, was remarkably free from them this season, so that the commission believe that there is little likelihood of injury from locusts in the West in 1881.

The second report of the commission is now just ready for distribution, and treats very fully of the locust problem, especially as to the future prospects in the great Northwest, the best means of averting locust injury there, and preventing migrations therefrom into the more fertile States to the east and south; also how the government can best aid in obtaining beneficial results.

Professor Riley, with a corps of able assistants, has conducted the investigation of the cotton-worm, and the results of his work will doubtless tend to lessen the destruction of the cotton-plant.

In addition to the second report, the commission has issued three special bulletins during the year, one by Professor Riley, on the cotton-worm; one by Professor Thomas, on the chinch-bug; and one by Doctor Packard, on the Hessian-fly. They are illustrated summaries of all that is known of these injurious insects, and have been in such demand that Congress ordered extra editions of the two first mentioned, and all three are exhausted, so that further demands cannot be supplied. The third