The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-05-12
RICHEST loans
L0ST|N THER|VE
Cause Of Rapid Decrease iii Fer
tility in Drainage Area
Of tile James.
ANALYSIS OF WATER MADE
Government Report Complete and
Forwarded to Geological Sur
vcy-Wl1at 1t Contains.

The United states Geological Survey
has recently completed an investigation
of the mineral character of the water
Of James River at Richmond, where
for a year 1t has maintained a station
al which samples OF the river water
were collected daily and shipped to the
Laboratory OF the survey at Washing
ton. AT the laboratory the samples for
each ten consecutive days were COM
bined. and portion OF the mixture
was subjected to a complete mineral
analysts. Each such analysis there
fore. represents the average condition
Of the stream for a ten-day period
Results Of Analyses.
The results OF these analyses are
most interesting. 1t is found, for ex-
ample, that James River carries past
Richmond every year 100000 tons Of
mineral matter, 100000 tons being held
in suspension as silt and the remainder
being composed OF dissolved matter.
Expressed in pounds per day for each
acre OF land drained by the river at
this point. the suspended matter
amounts to GAS pound and the dis
solved matter to OBS pound, making a
total OF 1.43 pounds.
1t appears, therefore. that the enor-
nous total. IL spread over the entire
VI NouIu tOI III nun Ol
matter thinner than the lfghtest sheet
OF paper. Nevertheless the loss to
farms III the area is very decided. The
suspended matter in the stream Is
derived almost entirely from soil under
cultivation, and represents a loss OF
the finest and richest loans OF the
area. Probably each acre planted to
crops In the James drainage area loses
annually from half a ton TO ton of
its best soil. This results in rapid
decrease in fertility and increased bills
for fertilizers used to restore It.
Conhidcrnble Variation.
The dissolved mineral matter in the
river IS made UP as follows: Silica. IS
per cent; iron. o. per cent; calcium,
lis per cent; magnesium. 3.9 per cent;
sodium and potassium. 80 per cent.
These metals are held in solution by
the carbonate radicle. 36.2 per cent;
the sulphate radiclc. 80 per cent; and
chlorine. 10 per cent. The total
amounts to about so parts OF solids to
each million parts of water.
The average OF the analyses shows a
water which. after sedimentation or
filtration to remove SILT is OF high
quality for most Industrial purposes.
The suspended matter Is fine and
rather difficult to remove. though IN
this respect James River affords much
better water than streams farther
south. The water Is classed among
the soft waters OF the country, but will
form some hard scale in boilers.
Unfortunately the equality OF the
water Is subject to considerable varia-
ton. In suspended matter the varia-
tion between maximum and minimum
Ia six times the average amount pres
emit, end In dissolved matter the ex-
treme variation Is IL times the average
content OF the water.
Important Work.
The sampling station at Richmond
is but one Of many that have been
maintained by the survey on impor-
tant rivers during the last two years
in it's work of determining the value
OF the water resources OF tho country.
The series OF analyses that have been
obtained as the result of this work
furnish data concerning the chemical
and mechanical denudation OF the
country by means OF the streams. as
we'll as much informat ton OF value Il,
determining the adaptability OF the
waters for domestic or industrial pur-
poses. A report on the subject is III
preparation and will be published by
the survey during this summer.