New-York tribune., 1909-04-18
TO MEASURE SNOW
In THE ROCKIES
WEATHER BUREAU ESTAR-
LISHES STATIONS,
VIII GiUe Farmers Flood Earnings
and Estimate Water Supply
for Irrigation,
By Arthur Chapman.

That Uncle Sam is not disposed TO overlook an,
point when # comes 10 aiding the developers OF
the country is evidenced in the establishment ~
snow gaugtng stations at many points in the Rocky
Mountains. under the direction OF officials Of ths
United States Weather Bureau The amount OF
snow that falls in the Rocky Mountains determines
the amount Of water in many OF the principal
rivers of the country. and hence has a bearing on
the foods that devastate the Middle West I'm soma
spring seasons. The snowfall in the mountains has
much to do with determining the success or failure
OF the vast irrigation enterprises that have sprung
up In the West. The mountains act as vast reser-
voirs When the snow banks piled high in these
natural reservoirs the farmer who depends on frr
CATION knows that there is danger Of shortags
OF water in the coming summer But If the main
range shows few snow capped peaks and the gull
lies contain few white drifts then the farmer real
ICES that he must husband every drop OF water
II is for keeping accurate and dependable records
OF snowfall that the government is establishing
these snow gausing stations throughout the Rocky
Mountains Statistics Will be kept and comparisons
sippi Valley viii know whether the food danger fs
at maximum or minimum and the Western rancher
Will not have to guess at the amount OF water that
will be available for irrigation purposes. Then too.
in the Rocky Mountains are spring1ng up water
power enterprises that dwarf Niagar by Conparf-
son. Through the government estimates OF the
snowfall the promoters OF these enterprises will be
able to figure approximately the amount OF water
power that Will be available.
F. H. Brandenburg. one of the veterans Of the
Weather Bureau service who is in charge OF the
station at Denver, has established most Of the
snow gauging stations IN the mountains. He has
spent the greater part OF the winter at the task
More than thirty stations have been erected By
Mr.. Brandenburg IN Colorado alone
This has been exceptionally good season for
beginning the work of measuring the snowfall
said Mr.. Brandenburg. IF the amount of snow has
any bearing on the subject. The snowfall In the
al Ia baau he 6aa avfas IN
years. In some places in the mountains the drifts
are forty or fifty feet deep. and five feet level
Is common occurrence Some of the gaug-
ing stations have been established at tremendous
attitudes at Boreas Pass. La Veta Pass. etc,
but most Of them we'll below timber line
After thorough consideration OF the subject,
bin has been evolved by means Of which the
actual snowfall be determined This snow bin
Is five feet square and FIVE feet deep and is placed
stills. the top OF the box is feet above
ground BY means Of snow scale inside. the
amount Of snowfall is determined this work being
done by subordinates who always the
ground. The government Forest Service and the
water resources branch OF the Geological Survsy
are cooperating In the work OF measurement
Forest rangers take the measurements Of snowfall
on the forest reserves. scales being attached
TO trees at favorable points and being read a.
stated times by Forest Service employees.
The measuring stations are all numbered.
and as reports are sent IN they tabuated BY
the Weather Bureau. AS the snow disappears n
the open places and IN the forests and gulehes
conclusions are reached as 20 the amount Of
run-or The statistics will be available 10 the pub
Iic Of course and IT is believed this branch OF ths
Weather Bureau work will prove OF great benefit
Records Of the annual snowfall are even more III
portant than records OF rainfall In the Rocky
Mountain country for the reason that It rains
comparatively little in the semi-ard region where
as the SHOWS are generally frequent and heavy As
irrigation and water power enterprises multiply in
the West the Importance Of snow records viii In
crease Colorado is particularly important point
for the reason that so many OF the great streams
on either side Of the Divide have their headwaters
here and are fed by the SHOWS from the highest
peaks Of the main range.
One of the measuring stations has
been established at Steamboat Springs. in Routt
County where accurate estimates Of the snowfall
on the western side OF the Great Divide viii De
made. \ few weeks ago the telephone line out oI
Steamboat Springs would not work. Lineulen veTe
sent out on snowshoes and with provisions drawn
On sledges. The Hnen1en returned. stating that
they found the tops of the telephone poles forty
feet below the surface of the snow in many places
A temporary line was fixed by strtnstnS wire rTon
the tops OF the tallest trees. Jacksons Hole. IN
mediateIy south of Yellowstone National FarA' ms
had an unprecedented fall of snow this winter 80
deem have been the drifts in the mountains that
the elk Of which there are thousands IN tlls os
game paradise. were driven to the valleys oeeS,
Finally the state had to appropriate $1,000 70 LS0S
these elk.
v-ban the government has established snow
measuring stations along the entire crest OF tl7
continent from the Canada line to the Rio Graho.,
the results should prove most interesting as We
as valuable The nation will be able 70 deterInlns
I,s+ how great a resource II has in its SNOWMAN
each wear OF how great a menace IS threate1ns
the farmers In lower attitudes. where nooos AZ
common The food menace will be checked srau
ualIy as reservoirs constructed 10 ca'cn %.
rur-ofr from the Rocky Mountain SHOWS each SEA
so,, but then the snow gauging statistics VIII 70
valuable showing they will. how nucn VII VIZ y
added 10 the reservoirs through the winters Snow
fall.