The Greenville times., 1910-09-09
Water Supply Investigations.

Government is carrying on through the
Geological Survey, is the investigation
Of the surface water supply of the
country. The department reports that
records of stream flow have been OBJ
tanned at about 400 different points in
the United States, and in addition the
surface water supply of small areas in
Seward Peninsula and the YuOkn-Tana-
ma region, Alaska, has been investiga-
ted. During 1907 and 1908 regular
gauging stations were maintained by
the Geological Survey and cooperating
organi .ations at about 74O points in
the United States, and in addition nu-
merous miscellaneous measurements
were made. Data were also obtained
in reg rd to precipitation, evaporation,
storag~ reservoirs, river profles, AMI
water power in many sections of the
country. The Survey indicates the
importance of this work by giving some
information as to its purpose, as fol
lows:
Nav: Cation-The Federal Government
has 60 ended more than $780, 100000
for thc Improvement Of inland naviga-
ton, "a prospective expenditures will
approximate several times this amount.
Tt is ~bvious that the determination Of
stream Tow is necessary to the intel
Fgent solution of the many problems in
volved
Irri ion-The United States is now
expend;rg $40 100000 on federal irri-
cation systems, and this amount is far
exceeded by the private expenditures
of this nature in the arid West. The
integrity Of any irrigation system is
based absolutely on the amount of wa
ter avail BILE.
Dom G ic Water supply-The highest
use of ,~qter is that of domestic supply,
and whiln the federal interest in this
aspect OF the matter is less direct than
in the aspects already named this use
of watC~ nevertheless has so broad a
=
welfare that the Federal Government
is ultimately and intimately concerned.
Water -ower-The time is rapidly
approaching when the development of
the watt power of the country will
be an &C nomic necessity. Industry
will cea~~ its growth if cheap power is
not available, and in that event the
United St"tcs as a Nation will cease to
progress Water power is the only
avenue row open. When the electric
transmission of power was accomplish
ed the relation of our water powers to
national economy changed entirely. In
asmuch a the amount of water power
that mav be made available is depend
ent on the flow of rivers, the investiga
tion of flow becomes a prerequisite in
the iulicious management of this
source Of energy.
Drainage of swamp and overfowed
than 100000 acres of
the richest land in the country are
now practically worthless, or of preca
rious value, by reason of overflow and |
swamp conditions When this land Is
drained it becomes exceedingly ~produc
five and it's value increases many fold. |
Such reclamation would add TO the ma
tional assets at least $700,000,000 The |
studv of run off is the first considera- |
I'm " connection with drainage pro-
! -ote
Tlcod prevention.-The damage from |
z oas i'm the United States exceeds |
Zoo 900 600 annually, and in the year
1908 the aggregate damage based on
reliable data, approximated $250000,-
900. Sneh an annual tax on the prop |
orty of great regions should be reduced |
in the orderly progress of government. |
1t goes without saying that any eonsid-
Grafton of flood prevention must be bas
I'd IN thorough knowledge of stream
low. both in the contributing areas
which furnish the water and along the |
Great lowland rivers
For the pupose of uniformity in the
presentation of reports a general plan
has been agreed on by the Reclamation |