The Lewiston teller. (Lewiston, Idaho) 1900-1905, 1902-04-17
FACTS ON WATER QUESTION
Ms.surins Underground Flow BY Electricity
Water Power-lrisatioN


The following paragraphs are taken
from the reports Of the United States
geological survey
A recent and interesting development
in the work of the Division of Hydro
yraphy Of the United States Geological
Survey is the study Of the flow of water
underground. In many localities the
water which finds its way beneath the
surface-as for example in the sands and
pravels Of dry river beds, or the seepage
from irrigated lands in the VESTS of
considerable economic value, but little
has hitherto been known regarding its
speed and the manner of its flow.
During the last season the Geological
Survey has been engaged in series of
preliminary studies under Prof. {. S.
Slichter, of the university of Wisconsin,
of the underfiow in the sands of the
Arkansas river. The method of investi-
CATION is entirely new; two test wells are
driven and electrically connected. Into
the upstream we'll is placed an electrolyte.
or ulSSOlVdOlC SuOSS0nNCl WuACA ouCCtS
the electric current. The electrolyte
enters the underground water at the first
we'll and gradually passes down stream
to the second. In the electrical circuit
between the two wells the needle of an
instrument records its approach, and is
strongly affected by its final arrival. BY
watching the increasing detection of the
needle it is possible to trace the move
ment Of the water from the beginning of
the experiment and to study the varia-
tons of its flow. In the experiments on
the Arkansas river the rate of the under
flow was found to be from 3 TO IS feet
per day.
One of the interesting and important
irrigation projects recently recommended
to Congress by the secretary Of the in-
terror is the St. Mary Diversion Canal.
This project contemplates taking water
from St. Mary river, in northern Mon.
tana, which would otherwise pass north
ward into Hudson Bay, and carrying it
over a low, intervening ridge to the
headquarters of Milk river. Milk river
is tributary of the Missouri. Its lower
basin is gently rolling country we'll
adopted to raising hay. oats. wheat and
barley. Owing to the aridity of the
climate, irrigation is necessary for sue.
cessful farming, but Milk river, the only
source of supply, is extremely low in
summer when water is. most needed, By
the construction of an earth embankment,
so feet in height at the outlet of St. Mary
Lake, sufficient water to irrigate 40, 900
acres of land can be saved. BY the build
ing of a canal 27.4 miles long this water
can be turned into the upper Milk river
basin and used on the irrigable lands
below.
The cost of these works will be less
than IS per acre, and the value of the
land reclaimed, at $25 an acre, will be
100000 and will sustain population
of 10000. For the complete develop
ment of the main irrigation system for
the Milk river valley, it is estimated that
an expenditure of S3,5oo,ooo will be
necessary, and that over 10000 acres Of
land, which is now only fit for grazing
purposes, can be brought to high state
of cultivation, and have a total value o.
$4,000, 900. The land thus provided
with water will be capable Of sustaining
population Of 1870 900.
The photographer of the U. S. Geo
logical Survey in New York State, Robt
f. Horton, has taken up the interesting
question Of determining the volume o.
water flowing in the streams IN the
winter. When the swamps and springs
usually contributing to the rivers, are fol
the most part frozen and the sources o
supply Of many of the streams are thu!
in part cut of.
Users of water power have hitherto re
quire6 chiefly to know the least amour
of water the streams would furnish il
dry seasons in the summer time, befor'
building their dams. 1t is coming to b.
realized that water power is of great o
even greater value in winter than il
summer, partly because coal is usual.
higher in price in winter. Anothe
reason for the demand for infoi matiol
regarding the winter flow of stream
arises from the increased use of waite
power for generating electricity. Eletri
light and street car companies requir
more power and use it through longe
hours in winter than in summer. Meas
urements of the volume OF flow of stream
for water power companies are usual