136 abstracts: engineering 



The water-supply papers listed above are parts of a series giving the 

 results of measurements of flow of streams in the basins indicated in 

 the titles. Numbers 382 and 387 contain appendixes giving lists of 

 stream-gaging stations and publications relating to the water resources 

 of the basins. B. D. W. 



ENGINEERING — The measurement of silt-laden streams. R. C. 



Pierce. U. S. Geological Survey Water-Supply Paper 400-C. 



Pp. 39-51, with diagrams. 1916. 

 San Juan River, in Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah, carries an un- 

 usually heavy load of silt, especially during the torrential floods that 

 often occur. The formation of "sand waves" is an interesting phe- 

 nomenon connected with the heavy silt burden of this stream. Flood 

 measurements are very difficult and sometimes impossible because 

 of the heavy silt load and the accompanying conditions, such as 

 high velocities, trash and drift, shifting channel, and rapid variations 

 in stage. By the use of a stay line and a 60-pound torpedo-shaped 

 weighl to hold the current meter in position, with a windlass built into 

 one end of the gage car for handling the meter and weight, it was found 

 possible to obtain measurements during all except the very worst con- 

 ditions. In spite of the difficulties a good record of the stream flow was 

 obtained. R- C. P. 



ENGINEERING.— Surface waters of Massachusetts. C. H. Pierce 

 and II. J. Dean. U. S. Geological Survey Water-Supply Paper 

 415. Pp. 433, with 12 plates. 1916. ' . 



This volume contains the results of stream-flow investigations in 

 Massachusetts, and a compilation of the available records. The data 

 are arranged on the basis of the climatic year ending September 30, 

 thai being the division of the year now generally used by the Geologi- 

 cal Survey fchroughoul its work of water-resources investigations. The 

 report contains an introduction by N. C. Grover, briefly sketching the 

 uses and development of the water resources of Massachusetts, which 

 have at all times played an important part in the industrial and com- 

 mercial development of the Commonwealth. An article on Topogra- 

 phy by Arthur Keith outlines the geology of Massachusetts with special 

 reference to the various drainage basins, and gives in non-technical 

 language the geologic history of the river systems. The tables of dis- 

 charge, showing the flow of the rivers as measured at the gaging sta- 

 tions, are followed by a gazetteer of streams, which lists and describes 

 all the streams, lakes, and ponds shown on the topographic maps of 



