The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1914-07-25
GUAGlNG THE STREAMS
Apparatus Installed in Vermont BY
Geological Survey

Geological Survey
In keeping with the policy of the
United States Geological survey an
automatic water guage register has
been installed in the Winooski river
near Green Mount cemetery The
work was completed recenting, hay.
ing been done by c. S. Degolycr. an
engineer of the Geological survey, as
sisted by Raymond Cotton of this
city.
The plan of the survey is to install
| these registers in all parts of The
United States to keep track of the
damage done by the cutting of trees
and the improvement brought about
by reforestation plans.
The flow of water is also register
cd and the government is thereby
aware if there are any streams in
this country that have enough force
to promote water power industries
The plant will be in charge of Ray
mond Cotton.
The arrangements made to regis
te' the rising or towering of the
water are very simple. On the shore
about 10 feet from the river bank. a
large well is dug to a depth of about
Is feet, and made so that its outer
side is very near the edge Of the
stream.
This well is entirely inlaid with
boarding to prevent its caving in or
being made deeper by the impact OF
the water. A permanent ladder is
made so as to extend to the bottom
of the well so that the entire space
dug into the ground may be inspect
ed without much trouble
This well is connected with the
liver by an intake pipe which ex-
tends out into the river about 10 feet
This pipe naturally allows a free flow
ing of the water from the river to the
well. and keeps the water in the well
at the same height rs that in the riv-
err
a float is kept on the waite. in the
we'll and it is attached to the regis
tering apparatus placed on top of the
well. This float naturally rises and
falls with the water, and on this rests
the success OF the registering plan.
This float is connected with the reg
istering apparatus by a long double
wire cable.
This wire is about an inch wide
and is so connected that with the
rise and fall of the water Il turns a
small wheel. which in turn moves a
cylindrical recorder.
4 pensil carriage is mounted on
two screws and is held in a clamp
which moves vertically in a cylinder
projecting from the upper side Of the
base of a carriage. This carriage Is
moved forward so much space every
hour by the control of a clock. The
pencil is so set that the weight of
clamp presses il down against a crap
hical paper making a distinct line.
This graphical paper is placed on
the recording cylinder and each
space is taken for a certain unit of
measure. II is necessary to change
it once a week.
Thus the rising and falling Of the
water Of the Winooski is registered
for every moment of the year. and as
reports OF the changes are sent once
week the geological survey are &C
quainted with all the facts concern
ing dry seasons as well as the floods.
and they are kept informed as TO
whether the cutting OF the forests Of
this state has done much harm and
to the need Of restoration.
The whole apparatus Is sheltered by
a small compact chamber built on
top Of the well and which holds the
registering devices
This is The second gauge Of this
type TO be placed in Vermont. the 9th
er having been located in Morrisville.
a few weeks ago.-Montpelier Jour
nal