The record-union., 1899-11-16

keep record of the flow of the princi-
pal streams and to compile data there
on. and his lecture was extensively il
Illustrated with stereopticon diagrams
showing the results of these measure
ments. They were startling exhibits
of the economic insanity that allows to
go to waste every winter and spring
the water for which the earth is thirst
ing in the summer and autumn. A
more forcible argument for storage OF
the flood waters could not have been
presented than was set forth on those
simple maps.
1t was shown, for instance, that the
Kings River, which had during the
summer of 1898 a minimum flow of but
800 cubic feet per second, discharged
during the May and June periods %,
600 and 10000 cubic feet per second
respectively.
"Of a total output of this stream for
the year of 1.S71 900 acre-feet of wat
en-" said Mr.. Lippincott, Il, 465, 600
acre-feet were discharged in the spring
floods during the months of April, May,
June and July, or 7S per cent. of the
entire annual output Where the mid
4
ic feet per second, the average annual
! flow is 2,5S2 cubic feet per second By
complete storage system ON this
stream, which would permit of the
holding of flood waters and winter wat
er for use during the irrigation months,
the capacity of Kings River to main
tain summer irrigation would be in
creased about hundred fold.
THE streams in Southern California
are still more erratic, between 80 and
80 per cent. of the annual discharge
occurring in winter floods, and The
summer flow being exceedingly small.
During the past season observations
on stream flow have been maintained
on the Sacramento, the Stanislaus, the
Tuolumne, the San Joaquin and the
Santa Ana. On the Kern, Little Rock
Creek, the San Gabriel, Lytte, the
Sweetwater and the lower Santa Ana,
corporations and individuals have as
ISOLATED themselves with the Geoloei-
cal Survey in compiling data for pub
lie information, which is published by
the Geological Survey.
Especial credit is given to William
Hood, Chief Engineer of the Southern
Pacific Railroad, for the extensive as
sistance which he has rendered to this
survey. Practically all the station
agents of this railroad company have
been furnished with rain gauges by
that company, and are keeping accur-
ate records of precipitation The bridge
watchmen of the principal stream
crossings are instructed to observe the
night OF water on the gauge rods at
their places, and to aid in this worl.
OF the study of streams in every way
possible Much other assistance has
been rendered generally by the South,
ern racine and Santa Fe Railway sys-
tens.
The topographic maps which are pre-
pared by the Geological Survey, ana
which are familiar to most people. are
considered as a necessary and funda-
mental basis for all the subsequent in
vestlsatlons These maps now cover
an area OF about two-fifths of the en-
tire State of California Upon them
the areas and slopes of drainage basins
OF the various streams can be comput-
ed, the elevation of all interesting
points in the basins determined. ele-
vations necessary for points of diver
sions and underlying irrigable lands
and many other features of this char
acter The maps are also used bv the
biologists in preparing what are known
as the geological folios, which are Of
such interest and value to the mining
industries OF the State. A land and