THE WATER-SUPPLY PROBLEM 



465 



the improvement and preservation of naviga- 

 ble waters. The state governments can greatly 

 assist in this work, within their respective 

 territories. 



A reliable census of water resources is 

 greatly needed. The Geological Survey has 

 accomplished much in measuring and record- 

 ing the flow of streams, but the work done 

 is small as compared with that which remains 

 to be done. Obviously in order that records 

 of this character shall constitute a uniform 

 and safe basis for the very large capital in- 

 vestment which must be made in the future. 

 in order that our water power resources shall 

 be properly utilized and our fuel supplies con- 

 served, they should be made under the im- 

 mediate direction of the National Govern- 

 ment. 



The National Government can render great 

 assistance also in the research work which 

 it has undertaken into the better utilization 

 of our fuels. Excellent results have been ob- 

 tained by the able corps of engineers engaged 

 on this w'ork, but when we consider that we 

 are now utilizing but five or ten per cent, of 



the heat value in fuels it is evident that much 

 remains to be done. 



Power and transportation are the two great 

 physical bases upon which modern industrial 

 development rests. Without power our meth- 

 ods of transportation must revert to a level 

 with those existing in China. Up to the pres- 

 ent time, while Nation and state have regu- 

 lated, and in some degree aided, in the de- 

 velopment of transportation, the power re- 

 sources of the country have been utilized or 

 wasted by the private individual and the cor- 

 poration with little hindrance, and still less 

 assistance from the constituted authorities. 

 Next to individual enterprise the most essen- 

 tial factor in the development of our national 

 resources is wise governmental regulation so 

 applied as to insure the vigorous working of 

 individual initiative and at the same time pre- 

 vent the waste by individuals of that which is 

 vital to our national welfare and to secure in 

 the utilization of our natural resources the 

 highest practicable degree of economy which 

 scientific knowledge and engineering skill can 

 attain. 



THE WATER-SUPPLY PROBLEM 



Its Solution Found in the Increasing Use of Hydraulic Rams and 



Similar Engines 



ELEVATING and conveying water 

 most economically, efficiently, and 

 under all weather conditions, 

 have, from ages back, been the study 

 of those whose purpose is to solve the 

 problems of supplying man's commodi- 

 ties. One of the most perplexing prob- 

 lems of those isolated from public 

 water, wells, springs, or natural reser- 

 voirs, is how and by what simple and 

 practical manner they may obtain an 

 efficient water supply suitable for all 

 necessary requirements. 



Irrigation has within recent years, 

 turned arid prairies into fertile fields. 

 The enterprising, hard-working farmer 

 need no longer depend on the mercy of 



the weather to bring rain to his crops. 

 He can, by his own ingenuity, supply 

 his fields with water. It is possible for 

 him to irrigate his lands not only by 

 natural gravity, with streams from 

 reservoirs, but, also, by elevating the 

 water to fields above the source of sup- 

 ply. This can be accomplished with 

 hydraulic rams, which are made in 

 sizes sufficiently large to supply the or- 

 dinary demand in such cases. Among 

 the pumps extensively used for these 

 purposes are the Rife Automatic Hy- 

 draulic Rams, as well as other similar 

 engines, all of which are being used for 

 lifting water above the source of sup- 

 ply. Such a ram is a modern develop- 



