Evening star., 1907-09-03
THE VALUE OF GLACIERS
FRENCH LEARNING HOW THEY
ADD TO WATER SUPPLY.
Work of the Agricultural Department.
Of France-Springs From Alpine
Ice Fields.


From the New York Sun.
The French government began last spring
a novel and interesting study. 1t has long
been recognized that the melting ice OF
| the glaciers among the Alpine regions of
southern France contributes in the summer
months very important part of the water
supply required by the towns and manufac-
turing interests. 1t is proposed to obtain
scientific knowledge of the economic value
| of these glaciers.
For this purpose the section of glacial
studies has been organized In the agricul-
trral department and a considerable force
in charge Of seven men specially trained in
the scientific service has been detailed to
survey the glaciers and make a thorough
study of their regime. The work is to cover
the entire mountain region between Swift
zerland Italy and the Mediterranean.
The purpose Is first to obtain exact In.
formation as to the size of the glaciers and
til, area covered by them and then to ex-
anime the entire glacier area every spring
and report upon the quantity of water II
may be expected TO yielo during tne lneIt-
ing season. This amount varies, of course,
with the precipita tion. and II VIII De or
great economic value to know months In ad-
vance approximately how much water from
the snow and ice of the mountains the
mills towns and irrigated lands may ex-
pect to receive during the season
The Durance River.
The studies oi the engineer Imbeaux,
though confined to one particular water
systaro have thrown considerable light
unon the Importance of this source OF water
sunnlv He has proved that from April to
August about one-half of the water In the
Durance river is derived from the glaciers
that feed its head streams. The Durance
supplies power TO scores or mills. It's waters
irrieate many valley farms and Msrseilles
derives It's entire supply of potable water
from it.
IT is expected this year to make great
nropress with the survey of the glaciers.
rbev will be mapped on the basis OF these
News on the very large scale of about
81 inches to the mile. These maps VIII De
,,erv helpful in all future study OF these
vast accumulations OF Ice, ana In iact thS
work that the French have undertaken VIII
he a very important |oh'i' ~ "
science of glacioiogy'
Glaciers Of Mont Blanc.
Amone the scores of glaciers that will be
survaved this season will be those of Mont
plane still larger undertaking this sum-
mer will be the mapping of the glaciers In
the mountain group of which Pelvoux Is the
most conspicuous feature; and the survey
of the glaciers in the upper valley OF the
Neste among the Pyrenees, is also a part
of the summer program.
Some OF these glaciers are retreating and
this Is especially noticeable among the
mountains of the Pelvoux region. Tne
study that has been given to this matter in
the last few years In various parts of the
world seems to show that glaciers have
their periods of advance and retreat Some
of the Canadian glaciers that have been
diminishing a little for years are beginning
again to push their fronts little lower
into the valleys
The French government has given to
Pierre Claimant the task of searching the
archives of the department of Isere for old
documents concerning the climatic and gla-
cial conditions in order to study the varia-
tions for hong periods of the different pne-
nomena that influence the quantity OF
water supply from the glaciers.