Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1916-01-21
SNOWFl ALL HEAVY
IN MOUNTAINS ALL
OVER THE STATE
Subsoil, However, Contains
Less Than Usual Amount
of Water-Reports From
Forest Rangers.

While the snowfall thus far this
winter has been heavy. the average in
November and December, being the
greatest on record. the snowfall rec
ord issued by the weather bureau
shows that the summer and early fall
of 1915 were very dry and therefore
the subsoil probably contains less than
the average quantity of water.
The report contains the signed state
ment of forest rangers on various re-
serves showing the amount of snowfall
in their territory. The report Is as
follows:
The snow began to accumulate carly
in the season, the average snowfall on
November having been the greatest on
record for that month. The average in
December was also the greatest on
record, so that except over small areas
in the extreme southern portion of the
state the snow supply at the close of
the month was unusually large. In
number of cases the snowfall thus far
this season Is greater than the total
fall of the winter of 19141915. The
temperature was variable. Consider
able amounts of rain fell and periods
lowed by period OF extreme cold at
the close OF the month. which tended
to render the snow compact. Such
density measurements as were made
indicated a water content of 20 per
cent The wind movement was great
er than usual resulting In some drift
ing. There were few slides.
In considering the snow supply with
reference to the waterfowl for the
coming season, 1t should be remem-
bered that the summer and early fall
Of 1915 were unusually dry so that
the subsoil probably contains less than
the usual quantity of water.
The following reports have been re-
ceived from forest supervisors:
Upper Snake River Drainage.
Oakley-The snowfall so far this
year is below the average Of former
years, but probably equals the entire
snowfall for last winter
st. Anthony-The snowfall on the
Targhee national forest to Dec 81 was
above normal The average depth at
that date was 4S inches. The first
"a inches are we'll packed
Bear River Drainage.
Montpelier-The snow in the noun
tains ranges from to 4 feet deep and
is quite loose and low in water con-
tent. This is less than in an average
year, yet considerably above the
amount one year ago.
Lost River Region.
| Mackay,-The snow at the close OF
December was about normal. The
wind has left the snow In solid drifts,
which would run high in water con-
| tent.
Wood River Drainage.
Hailey.-At the end of Dece nber
there was more snow than for the
entire season of 191s-ls16. Measure
ments. in inches. are as follows: Ga
lena Summit. 50: Galena, ~; Rus
sian John, 81; Fleming SawmilL IS;
Vienna Mine, 81.
payette Rlver Drainage.
Emmett.-From 1000 to 5000 fest al
titude the average depth of snow is
As inches; above 5000 feet the depth
varies from AZ to 96 inches. The snow
is hard and possesses a high moisture
content
Weiser River Drainage.
weiser-The snowfall on the weiser
national forest has. l believe. been
above normal The depth ranges from
2 to feet, which is more than we
had at any time last winter.
Salmon River Drainage.
Challs.-The snowfall to Jan. has
been considerably in excess OF that
reported for the same period for a
number OF years. The snow is fairly
we'll packed and the water content
appears to be large.