free-air temperatures and relative humidities for each station and monthly freeair wind resultants for a selected number of key stations are published regularly in the Monthly Weather Review. Sounding-balloon observations are made at only one or a relatively few stations in connection with special investigations of particular weather conditions and during international programs.

Commercial airway forecast investigations.-With the accumulation of observational data obtained since the inauguration of intensive airway weather service subsequent to the passage of the Air Commerce Act of 1926, studies have been made with a particular view toward determining average flying weather conditions along the airways. Such studies are valuable in laying out new airports and airways and for determining regular flight schedules. Investigations under this project are conducted at the central office at Washington, D. C., and at stations where qualified personnel and the necessary data are available.

Upper-air surveys and investigations.-Numerous aerological surveys have been made determining average temperatures, pressures, humidities, densities, winds, etc., at various elevations for different sections of the country, as well as special studies and investigations of upper-air conditions. Upper-air observations are classified and correlated with surface conditions in order to determine significant relationships which may be useful in forecasting or aid in a better understanding of the mechanics of the atmosphere. All observational data are forwarded to the central office of the Weather Bureau in Washington, where they are summarized and classified. These data are then used for making special studies and investigations leading toward improvements in general and airway forecasting, both as regards accuracy and length of time covered; meterological conditions favorable for the formation of ice on aircraft; improvements in methods of pressure reductions to sea level and to the 5,000-foot plane; and in increasing our knowledge of the mechanics of the atmosphere.

COMMERCIAL AIRWAYS METEOROLOGICAL SERVICE

We are requesting an increase of $288,600 for the commercial airways meteorological service.

I should like to draw attention to a map here, which indicates the organization of stations at the present time, and on that map also are shown the airways which are being served, amounting now to 31,000 miles.

The black dots represent stations which are now in operation, and the red dots indicate those that are needed in addition to the existing stations. They are needed principally in order to enable the forecasters to watch the trend of weather as it approaches from off the airways to and across the airways.

This proposal is based on the actual experience of the past 2 or 3 years, and is considered essential to safety as well as efficiency in the operation of the flying activities along all of those airways.

COST OF AIRWAYS STATIONS

Mr. THURSTON. Are those the ones that cost less than $100 annually to maintain?

Mr. GREGG. No. That is in the river and rainfall service. These observers are paid, on the average, about $20 a month.

Mr. THURSTON. About $240 or $250 a year?

Mr. GREGG. Yes. At some of the stations, however, where they make hourly observations, they are paid considerably more than that. It varies according to the extent of the activity on those airways.

On about 13,000 miles, for example, there is continuous flying, and it is necessary to have hourly observations for them. In some other cases flights are made only four or five times a day, and less frequent observations are required in those cases.

COOPERATION WITH BUREAU OF AIR COMMERCE

This, as you know, is conducted in cooperation with the Bureau of Air Commerce of the Department of Commerce, and our own service has been organized and is maintained in harmony with the expansion of flying activities organized by that Department, which provides all other navigational aids, such as lights, landing fields, communications, and so forth, and also which takes care of the issuance of regulations for flying.

UPPER-AIR SOUNDINGS

Mr. TARVER. The next increase, $52,000, is for the same general purpose, is it not?

Mr. GREGG. That is for the same general purpose, but it has other applications also, in that it aids in the general forecasting program of the entire Bureau.

The airplane observations are made daily at about 25 stations now and reach a height of about 17,000 feet, providing records of temperature, pressure, humidity, and other conditions which have been found of great aid in analyzing the structure of the air in the vertical.

Mr. THURSTON. Does that mean that you have to have a plane go to that height to get those soundings?

Mr. GREGG. Yes; once each day.

You will notice on this map that there are large areas that are not covered, and the purpose of this increase is to fill in some of those areas, as indicated by the stations marked in red, one at San Francisco, one at Salt Lake, one at Sault Ste. Marie, and one at La Cross, Wis., which would give a fairly even network or distribution of stations throughout the entire country.

I might add that these observations will supplement the observations made of wind conditions only by means of pilot balloons. There is a very good distribution of these latter stations throughout the country, and no request is made for extending that program at the present time.

Mr. THURSTON. Is this observation service conducted under your office?

Mr. GREGG. Yes, sir.

Mr. THURSTON. At places where they have Army stations and Army balloons, could they not furnish that service and thus eliminate that duplication?

ARMY AND NAVY AIR SERVICES MAKE AIRPLANE OBSERVATIONS

Mr. GREGG. When I said under our own office, I meant under the supervision of our own office. As a matter of fact, both the War Department and the Navy Department make observations at a number of their air fields. They furnish the personnel and the equipment, but coordinate their programs with our own work so that there is no duplication. It is, however, carried under the instruction and supervision of the Weather Bureau.

Now, as to these airplane observation stations, about 16 of them are at Army and Navy air stations which use their own equipment, and the data are furnished to us.

Our stations are so selected as to fit in with the others, but in no case, of course, are they near the points where these other Departments make observations.

Mr. THURSTON. As much as possible, you avail yourselves of the cooperation of the military and naval branches of the Government? Mr. GREGG. Yes, sir. We not only use their data, but also we make available to them all of our data, by radio principally.

Their meteorological services, as you know, are quite skeletonized, simply supplementing locally the service that the Weather Bureau provides.

Mr. THURSTON. Do you have a trained corps of pilots to make these observations at the points where you do make them?

OBSERVATIONS MADE THROUGH CONTRACTS WITH PRIVATE
COMPANIES

Mr. GREGG. No. In the case of the stations operated by the Weather Bureau, the observations are made through contracts with private companies, at a certain amount per flight.

Mr. THURSTON. In view of the fact that both the Army and the Navy have air corps, and that we are making very generous appropriations, could they not get some practical experience out of doing all of this work if they had their personnel and equipment stationed at these points?

Mr. GREGG. I doubt if it would be feasible, because some of the points from which the data are most needed are not near any of the Army posts that are operated by the War Department. We do take advantage of all of the fields where they are located and where they have equipment and personnel available to make the flights. The whole program was outlined and developed as a result of the deliberations of an interdepartmental committee, composed of representatives of those Departments, the Weather Bureau, and the Bureau of Air Commerce.

Mr. TARVER. These two items that we have just gone over constitute an increase of more than 25 percent in the amount of the appropriation for aerology.

Mr. GREGG. Yes; that is true; but, even so, the amount does not equal what was available in 1932..

Mr. TARVER. But that was the peak year.

Mr. GREGG. Yes; that was the peak year, but the mileage has increased 28 percent since then, and the amount of flying about 50 percent.

Mr. TARVER. But we will never accomplish any reductions in governmental expenditures if we set as our mark the highest amount that any bureau ever received in any appropriation bill.

Mr. GREGG. No; and it was not at all with the purpose of getting back to that figure, but on a conscientious consideration and study of the needs as they exist at present that these requests for increases are based.

Mr. TARVER. Are there any further questions of Mr. Gregg? I believe that he has completed the discussion of the subject matter of his bureau.

Mr. THURSTON. I have no question, but I was going to make this brief observation, that what I said in regard to increases did not particularly apply to his bureau, but to the entire Government.

MONDAY, JANUARY 13, 1936.

BUREAU OF ANIMAL INDUSTRY

STATEMENTS OF DR. JOHN R. MOHLER, CHIEF OF BUREAU, AND DR. HUGH C. MCPHEE, CHIEF, DIVISION OF ANIMAL HUSBANDRY

GENERAL STATEMENT

Mr. TARVER. The committee will be glad to hear from you, Doctor, with reference to the appropriations sought for the Bureau of Animal Industry.

Dr. MOHLER. Mr. Chairman, the work of the Bureau of Animal Industry dealt, during the last year as formerly, with the prevention control, and eradication of animal diseases and parasites, the enforcement of Federal livestock laws and regulations, inspection work, and research. None of the more serious diseases prevalent in various parts of the world but not existing in the United States gained access to this country. Consequently, it has continued to be free from footand-mouth disease, rinderpest, contagious pleuropneumonia, surra, and other dreaded diseases that exact heavy tribute in many foreign countries.

In dealing with maladies present in the United States, the Bureau has concentrated its efforts on several major activities of wide public interest, notably the suppression of tuberculosis and Bang's disease. At the same time it continued its usual regulatory and research functions.

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

Mr. TARVER. The first item is the introductory paragraph, which is as follows:

For carrying out the provisions of the Act approved May 29, 1884 (U. S. C., title 7, sec. 391; title 21, secs. 112-119, 130), establishing a Bureau of Animal Industry, and the provisions of the Act approved March 3, 1891 (U. S. C., title 45, secs. 75, 76), providing for the safe transport and humane treatment of export cattle from the United States to foreign countries, and for other purposes; the Act approved August 30, 1890 (U. S. Č., title 21, secs. 101-105), providing for the importation of animals into the United States, and for other purposes; and the provisions of the Act approved February 2, 1903 (U. S. C., title 21, secs. 111113, 120-122), to enable the Secretary of Agriculture to more effectually suppress and prevent the spread of contagious and infectious diseases of livestock, and for other purposes; and also the provisions of the Act approved March 3, 1905 (U. S. C., title 21, secs. 123-128), to enable the Secretary of Agriculture to establish and maintain quarantine districts, to permit and regulate the movement of cattle and other livestock therefrom, and for other purposes; and for carrying out the provisions of the Act of June 29, 1906 (U. S. C., title 45, secs. 71-74), entitled "An Act to prevent cruelty to animals while in transit by railroad or other means of transportation"; and for carrying out the provisions of the Act approved March 4, 1913 (U. S. C., title 21, secs. 151-158), regulating the preparation, sale, barter, exchange, or shipment of any virus, serum, toxin, or analogous products manufactured in the United States and the importation of such products intended for use in the treatment of domestic animals; and for carrying out the provisions of the Packers and Stockyards Act, approved August 15, 1921 (U. S. Ĉ., title 7, secs. 181-229); and to enable the Secretary of Agriculture to collect and disseminate information concerning livestock and animal products; to prepare and disseminate reports on animal industry; to employ and pay from the appropriation herein made as many persons in the city of Washington or elsewhere as he may deem necessary; to purchase in the open market samples of all tuberculin, serums, antitoxins, or analogous products, of foreign or domestic manufacture, which are

sold in the United States, for the detection, prevention, treatment, or cure of diseases of domestic animals, to test the same, and to disseminate the results of said tests in such manner as he may deem best; to purchase and destroy diseased or exposed animals, including poultry, or quarantine the same whenever in his judgment essential to prevent the spread of pleuropneumonia, tuberculosis, contagious poultry diseases, or other diseases of animals from one State to another, as follows:

GENERAL ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES

Mr. TARVER. This is followed by the appropriation for administrative expenses, which reads:

General administrative expenses: For necessary expenses for general administrative purposes, including the salary of chief of bureau and other personal services in the District of Columbia, $178,220.

Dr. MOHLER. The following statement is presented for the record: This appropriation is used for activities concerned with the general direction of the research, service, and regulatory work of the Bureau, including the expense of the chief of bureau's office, accounting, personnel, library, editorial activities, etc. Mr. TARVER. Apparently no increase is sought there.

Dr. MOHLER. No increase is sought there, and the activities are precisely the same as they have been for a number of years past. The next appropriation is "Animal husbandry." I would like to have this item go over for the moment. It will be discussed later by Dr. McPhee.

DISEASES OF ANIMALS

Mr. TARVER. The next item deals with diseases of animals and is as follows:

Diseases of animals: For all necessary expenses for scientific investigations of diseases of animals, including the construction of necessary buildings at Beltsville, Maryland, the maintenance of the bureau experiment station at Bethesda, Maryland, and the necessary expenses for investigations of tuberculin, serums, antitoxins, and analogous products, $437,775. Provided, That of said sum $78,182 may be used for researches concerning the cause, modes of spread, and methods of treatment and prevention of the disease of contagious abortion of animals. Dr. MOHLER. The following justification is presented under this item:

These allotments are being carried forward as transfers in the estimates for 1937 in order to conform to the uniform project system of the Department.

WORK DONE UNDER THIS APPROPRIATION

General. The basic research work on animal diseases and parasites, which each year cause tremendous losses to livestock producers, is conducted under this appropriation. It is essential to know the causes of diseases, their mode of dissemination, and the life histories of parasites and their resistance to atmospheric conditions and chemicals before any effectual control or eradication methods may be devised and applied. This essential knowledge is gained only through research and experimentation.

Investigations of nonparasitic diseases of animals.-This project consists of research into methods of diagnosis, cause, mode of transmission, and methods of prevention, treatment, and control of the more important infectious and non