Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1909-11-10
Surface Water supply.


flow of streams collected by the Unit
ed States geological survey in the last
fifteen years has appeared success
lively in its annual reports, bulletins,
and water supply papers, but the char
acter of the work and the territory
covered by the different publications
has varied greatly in the course of
the natural process of evolution and
change in governmental requirements.
In order to obtain uniformity in the
presentation of reports, the geological
survey, the reclamation service, the
forest service, and the weather bureau
have agreed to consider the area of
the United States as divided into
twelve parts whose boundaries COIN
eide with certain natural drainage
lines. In accordance with this diyis-
ion the reports of the surveys investf-
cations of surface water supply In
1907 and 1908 will appear as twelve
water supply papers. The first two
will pertain to the Atlantic coast and
eastern Gulf of Mexico, the line be-
tween the north and south Atlantic
drainage areas being drawn, for con-
venience, between York and James
rivers. The third and fourth of the
series will discuss the Ohio and st.
Lawrence river basins; the fifth will
cover the upper Mississippi and Hud-
son Bay drainage basins, the sixth the
Missouri, the seventh the lower Miss
issippi, the eighth the western gulf
of Mexico, the ninth Colorado river.
the tenth the great basin, the eleventh
California, and the twelfth the north
Pacific coast and Columbia river
drainages. The second of this series
Water Supply Pap 7 242, which des-
cribes the drainage of the south At
lantic coast and eastern gulf of Mex
leo, is now ready for distrib, tion. The
others are in preparation.
In its stream-measurement work the
Survey endeavors to approach the
highest degree of precision allowed by
the rational and judicious expenditure
of time and the small amount or
money available. 1t is believed that
the streaw-fiow data presented in the
Survey publications arc on the whole
sufficiently accurate for all practical
purposes. Many Of the records are,
however, of insufficient length, owing
to reduced appropriations and the ne
cessity of abandoning stations, and
such records should be used with
greatest caution.
The reports now in course of prep
aration include an introduction which
defines the terms and explains the
methods used by the survey. The
basin of each river studied is
briefly described, and a somewhat de-
tailed description given of each sta
ton at which measurements are
made.
The stream-fiow data collected by
the Survey supply information essen
tial in navigation, irrigation, domestic
water supply, water power swamp
md overflow drainage, all flood proven
ton, the needs of all these interests
being urgent.
The federal government has al
'eady expended more than s250,000,-
300 for the improvement of inland
navigation, and prospective expendi-
lures will aggregate several times this
amount. 1t is obvious that determin-
atoms of stream flow are necessary to
he solution of the many problems in
Folved.
The government is expanding $42,-
100000 on federal irrigation systems,
md fhic amount &c fo- ayooola5 -
on private systems in the
vest, AS the value of any irrigation
'ystem is based absolutely on the
amount of water available, the import
Ince of the stream-fow Investigations
o the redemption of the arid lands is
evident
The reclamation of overflow and
swamp lands in the United States
would add at least 100000, 900 to the
rational assets, for more than 10000
100 acres Of such land, now practic-
lily worthless, might be made exceed
ngly productive and valuable. Of
irst consideration in connection with
my drainage project is The study of
'un-off, for the drainage of a large
lrea into any particular channel may
'ause that channel to become so
Forged with water that overflow con-
litions are brought about in places
lot previously subject to inundatior,
nd the drainage may therefore re-
ult merely in an exchange of lsad
'aIues.
Floods in the United States in 1908
aused damage approaching S250,00O,-
90 and the average annual tax levied
" floods exceeds 800. 900, 0G0. Such a
ak on the resources OF a great re-
ion should, of course be reduced by
he orderly progress Of government,
nd 1t goes without saying that any
consideration Of food prevention
aust be based on a thorough knowl-
dge Of stream flow, both in the con-
areas which furnish the wa
sr and along the great lowland rivers.