American Official Publications

I BEG leave to direct attention to the lack of facility for obtaining the official scientific publications of the various departments of the United States Government. If it is desired to obtain a copy of one of these, it is necessary to write to Washington, enclosing the anticipated and approximate sum for payment, and in due course the publication arrives. Such a procedure necessitates a delay of about a fortnight at the very least, and the accredited agents of the U.S.A. Government in this country inform me that more than a month may elapse before the information is received.