The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-04-16
STATE SNOW OBsEHTER.
duties % . colorado Man vino Holds
Thla Unique Position.

Iha Unique fuhuohs
So far as know, Colorado has the only
snow observer In tho world, writes Ehos
A. Mills Ia the Denver Republican. The
duties of the snow observer are mostly
confined "a measuring snow aocumulatiOns
nt the head waters OF the streams. Most
Of these measurements are made In spring
time, after the snowfall on the range IL
practically over.
At the source OF mountain streams, snow
commonly falls through nine months Of the
year. BY the beginning Of June the SHOWS
Of the preceding months are for the most
part found In lrregulRrly shaped deposlts OF
various sizes and depths. These deposits
are found either where the snow accu-
mulated most deeply or whore the snow
was best protected from the melting sun
OF the evaporating winds.
Irrigation int ests are greatly Affected
by the quantity Of snow. II has become
important TO know In advance the guam
tity Of snow available for the water sup
ply. The water supply may be approTi-
mately estimated by measuring the snow
deposits, and by making melting tests OF
the snow TO find out the quantity Of water
II contains, When the snow acCumula-
lions at the source Of a stream are meas
ured and tested for water. and then com
pared with measurements and tests OF
preceding years, the quantity Of water
which summer will release from these
acoumulations may be approximately
estimated.
For several years Prof Carpenter, State
Engineer, has been trying TO find out the
chief factors which conserve the water
supply. About three years ago he sent
me to the watershed Of the Platte with
instructions 70 measure. test. photograph
and to note the location Of the snow de-
posts. The writer has made similar in
vestigations Of the snow deposits at scores
Of other places in the State, During leO3-0A
investigations were carried on during
autumn, winter and spring. l rambled
the snowy range" from Wyoming TO New
Mexico. During these rambles / observed
the wind and weather, watched snow fan,
drift and disappear looked at the soil
conditions, saw the living forests and the
burned areas, and made pages OF notes
concerning natural phenomena.
On these trips ] wear medium weight
woollen underwear. overalls and canvas
coat While on snowshoee have my
feet in German socks and arctic over
shoes. I carry a camera, barometer,
Thermometer, compass and folding axe.
The only food carry Is either raisins OF
peanuts. eat lightly while on the go
and can il necessary live for a week upon
a pound Of raisins. / have many times
travelled for three days in succession with
out eating bite.
The result Of measurements thus far
made suggests that the area OF deepest
snow fall Is not far from II 900 feet above
sea level. In other words, ascend or de.
soend from timber line and the quantity OF
snow grows lese.
March seems 10 be the month Of great
est snowfall. and the snows Of this month
generally are very wet. Sometimes dur
ing spring SHOWS the summit peaks are
above the storm clouds and do not receive
any snow. Crested Butte and surround
ings seem 10 have the most snow. In
this region an annual fall Of thirty feet is
not uncommon, and Fifty feet has fallen
In q single winter. The normal snowfall
at Swandyke is eighteen feet, and during
the snowy winter Of 1900 snow fell on III
consecutive days,
There Is a common belief concerning
the water supply which ! believe erno-
neous. and 1t is that early SHOWS make
late water" Very few Of those who have
had much experience with mountain SHOWS
will agree with this, The longer snow
lies upon the ground, the greater will be
the loas OF It's moisture by evaporation.
matter how firmly a nowdrift may be
packed its Arm condition viii not prevent
the winds from sucking much Of the mols-
ture out Of Il. have aasayed hundreds OF
snowdrifts-melted a portion TO find the
percentage Of wRter-and invariably
in drifts which were best protected from
wind. or which were not old. In time
evaporation will change compacted snow
drift 70 a crystal cavern.