Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1920-12-14
DESIRES CONTINUANCE OF THE
TOPOGRAPHIC AND HYDRO.
METRIC SURVEYS
CONTINUE GAGING STATIONS
Irrigation Enterprises Demand Quad
rangles; Oil Drillers Want
Strata Information.

The State Board of Geological
survey will present bill to the state
legislature at the coming session ask
ing for the continuance of the usual
appropriation of $4,000 for topo-
graphic and hydrometric surveys.
according to announcement made to-
day, as result of the board meeting
held last week.
The chief demands for topographic
maps are in those areas where large
irrigation enterprises are being seri-
ously considered. Certain Quadran-
giles should be mapped according to
the bill which are embraced within
the Columbia Basin Irrigation pro-
Jest and in those localities where
projects are being fostered by the
state reclamation board. More work
should be done in the districts
covered by the Kittitas irrigation pro.
ject and In those portions Of Yakima
and Benton counties where the Fed
eral government has plans for large
increases in the irrigated areas.
ThSprssent saging stations should
be continued according to the board
because the records become increas-
ingly valuable with each additional
years measurements. New stations
should be established, especially on
the rivers that drain the Olympics.
and on all the streams that can be
used for irrigation. The new Fed
eral leasing law. applying to hydro
electric sites. has produced much
interest in the run-oh Of those
streams with larger water power pos
sibilities. Gaging stations on sucn
streams are absolutely necessary
according to the board. The board
state they should be ready to accept
cooperation with power companies
and responsible individuals who
desire measurements on the streams
whenever the information secured is
of value to the state.
Dealing with the $4,000 appro-
priation. the bill says:
1.-THE continuance Of the usual
appropriation Of $4,000 for geolog-
ical surveys to be divided into three
parts similar to the present appr0-
priations is recon u ended. Because
Of the greatly Increased costs Of
travel. subsistence and printing, but
little more than half as much work
will now be done under this appro-
priation as was true five years ago.
"There is a definite demand for
reports on the geology and mineral
resources of certain areas. usually
county units which comes naturally
as the result of the work in Stevens
county. In some states the. county
is the unit of area and the state sur
veys publish their results according
to counties.
It is probably that their will be
much drilling for oil within the near
future and bulletins should be pre-
pared describing the geology of those
arecs where there is a fighting chance
to secure this valuable product and
to point out those localities where
the occurrence Of oil is impossible. In
this contention 1t is suggested that
the board of Geological Survey spon-
sor a bill for the legislature requir-
ing all drillers to file with the State
Geologist a log of all wells drilled
by them, for the use of all citizens
who desire information regarding the
strata that lies beneath the surface
This is in line with the practice else.
where.
1.-THE completion of the geological
map Of the state is strongly urged
Such maps have been prepared TO,
the majority of states, and the de.
mand for a map of Washington has
become urgent and insistent. In the
next biennium 1t will be possible tc
secure enough boundaries Of the geo
logical formations to make such 9
map in board outlines at least, fairly
complete. It will doubtless be wiss