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of Connecticut- 



ABSTRACT OF FIFTH BIENNIAL REPORT. 



During the past two years no new work has been undertaken 

 excepting an investigation of the water resources of the State, 

 carried on in cooperation with the United States Geological 

 Survey. It seemed desirable for many reasons to enter upon 

 that investigation at the present time. The United States 

 Geological Survey was ready to cooperate in such investigation, 

 appropriating from the United States Treasury an amount 

 equal to that which was appropriated from the State Treasury. 

 In the two years ending June 30, 19 13, four thousand dollars 

 ($4,000) will have been expended on that work; two thousand 

 dollars from the State of Connecticut, and two thousand 

 dollars from the United States. It has seemed specially desir- 

 able to prosecute that investigation at present, since, in recent 

 years, most of the large towns in Connecticut have been 

 threatened with water famine. The necessary consumption of 

 water for domestic and manufacturing purposes is rapidly in- 

 creasing. The available supply of coal tends to exhaustion, 

 and the diminished supply must mean in the near future a con- 

 siderable increase in cost. It is evident, then, that in the near 

 future our manufacturing industries must be forced to depend 

 more largely upon water power. It is believed, also, that 

 irrigation is destined to play a large part in the future develop- 

 ment of the agriculture of the State of Connecticut. The 

 average rainfall in Connecticut is, indeed, sufficient for agricul- 

 tural use; but our farmers often suffer heavy losses from 

 occasional drouth, and these losses might be averted by 

 judicious provision for irrigation. In view of the growing 

 demands upon our water supply there is evident need of a 

 thorough study of that supply. This must include the gaging 

 of the streams for a few years, the construction of profiles of 

 the streams, and also the study of the distribution of under- 

 ground water. 



The Commissioners of the State Survey, accordingly, directed 

 the Superintendent to enter into a contract with the Director 

 of the United States Geological Survey for the conduct of a 

 cooperative investigation of our water resources. By the 

 terms of the contract, that investigation is carried on under the 

 auspices of the United States Geological Survey. The work 

 has been placed under the charge of Professor Herbert E. 

 Gregory, of Yale University. 



While it has been deemed best temporarily to concentrate 

 attention upon the water investigation, it should not be for- 

 gotten that the scope of the Survey is far more extensive. 

 The Act of 1903 establishing the Survey proposes two subjects 



