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conducting the correspondence relative to subjects requiring searches in the historical archives and in the files of the International Claims Commissions, and the indexing of the archives.

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A list of such [books] as are thought, from time to time, to be needed is sent to the Assistant Secretary for approval, and such as meet with his approval are then ordered of the dealer by letter. When the books are received each volume is stamped with the date of its receipt, a number assigned to it, and the volume entered in a register of accessions. The full title of the work is then copied upon cards under an author, title and subject, a separate card being used for each. The size, place, and date of its publication, the publisher, number of its pages and illustrations, the date of its receipt, from whom purchased and the price paid for it, such price when in foreign money being converted into the American equivalent, are also recorded upon the cards. The volumes are then arranged in the library, each being assigned its proper alcove and shelf. The cards, when made, are added to the card catalogue, strict alphabetical order being preserved in their arrangement. ***

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The original invoices of the dealers are carefully preserved in the library for record, an itemized voucher for their payment being made out in the library, approved by the Assistant Secretary, sent to the dealer by letter for sig

nature and then turned over to the Bureau of Accounts for payment.

In building up the Library, the aim has been from the beginning to make it as complete a collection of publications on international law, American history, and foreign countries as possible. The law creating the Department of State prescribed that the Secretary should procure copies of the laws of the different States, and this Act has never been repealed. The Library has therefore endeavored to preserve as complete sets of the session laws of the States as possible. The constant purchase for years of works on international law has resulted in the largest and most complete collection in this country, both historically and in the sense of current publications.

In 1887 was published the first number of a "Catalogue of the Works Relative to the Law of Nations and Diplomacy in the Library of the

It must be admitted, however, that this object has never been fully attained. The Library does not contain complete sets of these laws, nor is it believed that they are to be found in the archives of all the States themselves.

Department of State," which was followed by "A List of Books Received at the Library of the Department of State, July 1-October 30, 1886, with References to International Treaties and Articles on Subjects Relative to the Law of Nations and Diplomacy in Magazines Received During the Same Period." The third, fourth, and fifth issues of these lists included indexes of the publications of the second session of the Forty-ninth Congress which concerned the Department of State. These publications were discontinued, owing to the insufficient clerical force at the library's disposal. A new series has, however, been recently inaugurated, the title of the first number being “A List of Books and Pamphlets Received at the Library of the Department of State, by Purchase, Exchange, and Gift, during the Period from May 27, 1892, to October 1, 1892, Supplemented by a List of Periodicals and Newspapers Now Currently Received." The first issue appeared in October, 1892.

It was known as the "Labor Circular," and was sent to the consular officers in Great Britain, France, Germany, Belgium, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Sweden and Norway, and Denmark. It read as follows:

GENTLEMEN: With reference to the circular addressed to you in August, 1877, in respect to the trade of the United States with foreign countries, it is now deemed desirable that you should make inquiries and report in regard to the following points, viz:

Ist The rate of wages usually paid to laborers of every class, but with more especial reference to agricultural laborers, mechanical laborers, and those upon public works and railways.

2d The cost of living to the laboring class, or the prices paid for what may be termed the necessaries of life.

3d So far as practicable, a comparison of the present rates with those prevailing during the past five years, both as to wages and cost of living.

4th Such information as may be obtainable touching the present state of trade, whether prosperous or otherwise; the amount and character of paper money, if any, as circulation; and the amount and character of coin, with the relation borne by paper and coin to each other.

5th And lastly, such information as may be obtainable as to the business habits and systems of your districts.

It is desired that the information which may come to your knowledge on the foregoing points should be embraced in a report to the Department, to be made as soon as may be practicable.

I am, etc.,

F. W. SEWARD,
Assistant Secretary.

The result of this circular was the publication, by order of Congress, the following year, of the volume known as "Labor in Europe," the precursor of the exhaustive report in three volumes which appeared in 1884. Since the organization of the present Bureau of Statistics numerous other special reports, following the same plan, have been printed, the largest and most elaborate of which are the volumes, profusely illustrated, entitled "Cattle and Dairy Farming of the World."

The volumes of "Commercial Relations" issued by this Bureau were authorized by the Act of August 18, 1856.

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