Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1908-10-01
AMOUNT OF WATER
IN OUR RIVERS
INTERESTING INQUIRY STARTED
BY THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT
RAILWAYS TO ESTABLISH CAGES
ON BRIDGES AND Gull
VERTS.

Washington, Sept. Director
George Otis Smith of the United
States geological survey has invited
officers of the leading railroads of the
country to conference ON a coopera-
tive plan by which it is expected the
railroads viii be able to save thou
sands OF dollars year. The plan
also contemplates most effective as
sistance of the government on the
part of railroads The time and place
of the proposed conference is to be
agreed on later.
The scheme. which has been ap
proved by a mum Der of the engineers
OF the big lines, is one for the gather
ing of facts as to the amount of wa
ter flowing in the rivers of the coun-
try under certain conditions and in
different periods of the year Natur.
ally, the railroads have been chief sui
terers from floods in the basins where
their tracks lie. They have suffered
not only from damage to their own
~
other corporations and private citl-
zens ON the ground that their bridges
and culverts were the causes of flood
damage. The railroad authorities
have felt that many judgments against
the roads might not have been rem
dered if they had been able to produce
authentic figures on floods. But they
have not been able to do this. The
national conservation commission has
been advised of the proposed plan and
whatever results come from it will be
considered by the commission at its
Joint meeting with the governors OF
the states or their representatives
here next December.
The survey suggests that the ran
road companies establish cages on
their bridges and culverts and appoint
some of their employees to take daily
readings. The survey agrees 10 have
these stations and take actual current
meter measurements so that a rating
table of each channel will be available
For many years the survey has been
studying the difference in the flow OF
rivers in various basins i'll the coun-
try. At present it is engaged in put
ting the information gained by its
study into shape for the use OF the
national conservation commission, to
gether with other information which
ics oil fhn In,
ventory if the country's natural re-
sources that the commission is pre-
pairing.
The survey has been unable to px,
tend its observations to many region,
where the information would be Of
Importance because it lacks funds.
The cooperation of the railroads would
permit the survey to cover many other
regions.
The expense to the railroads under
this arrangement would be trif'ing,
the survey authorities say because
the roads could designate men already
on their pay-rolls, such as draw ten
ders, tank men, or water station en-
gineers TO take the daily readings
On the other hand, if the survey could
be relieved Of the cost OF daily super
vision of the cages, it would be able
TO carry on the more technical parts
of the undertaking
The information which the railroads
will obtain if this plan is put into OPP
GRAFTON is of immense value to them,
The surveys figures on floods have
always been accepted by he courts
as prima facie evidence. If the belief
of the railroad authorities is well
founded, their cooperation with the
survey enabling it to extend its oper-
! ations to their fields will result in big
. savings to them.
| The idea Of cooperation as TO foods
, originated with the engineering de-
partments Of the railroads themselves.
Representatives Of these departments
, if a number of roads held a conference
with representatives of the survey, in
, Chicago last June, and at that time
, the survey agreed to interview the
proper railroad authorities concerning
a basis Of coopeation.
The survey has further suggested to
the railroads that they supply it With
all information they may have on
hand concerning the character Of 'Ie
various drainage areas above tor
bridges. Some of the roads have col
lected, at great expense, q large
amount of valuable Information, which
could be made o. high value to all the
railroads If it were gathered togethe"
and compiled. This material would
also contribute largely to the general
study Of the water resources of the
country which the Survey has been
carrying out for a number of years
and upon which it is particularly busy
just now in the compilation of all avail
able information along these lines for
the use CT the conservation commits