IKKIUATIUN INVESTIGATIONS. 479 



of rolativcly groat iiiiportanco. These were studied on a iiuiiiliei- of 

 streams in tlie Platte River draina^t^, Mr. Frank Adams having charge 

 of the measurements of the water diverted and tlie determination of 

 the acreage irrigated in the Cadie hi Poudre Valley, and Mr. Tait of 

 the measurements to determine the amount of seepage from tlitches 

 and fields which returns to the stream. This work had for its primary 

 object the study of the Platte Ki\ er as an interstate stream. This 

 phase of the work is discussed under another heading. 



NEBRASKA. 

 (). V. P. Stout, Professor of Civil Engineering, University of Nebraska, in charge. 



The work in Nebraska was divided into three parts: The study of 

 the Platte River as an interstate stream; experiments to determine the 

 quantities of water to apply to different crops to obtain the best 

 results, and the study of drainage and reclamation of alkali lands. 



The work on the Platte River included measurements of the canals 

 diverting water from both branches of the river from the west line of 

 the State to their confluence, and of those on the main stream. Gauge 

 rods were established in the principal canals near their heads, and 

 records of gauge heights throughout the season were kept for most of 

 the canals. Under some of the canals no irrigation was practiced on 

 account of the hea\y rainfall, and no records of gauge heights on such 

 canals were kept. 



Measurements of the flow of the ])ranches of the river and the main 

 stream were made in the season of lowest water. These with the meas- 

 urements of the canals will help to determine the influence of diver- 

 sions upon the fl<nv of the stream. The measurements on the North 

 I'latte extendinl from the Wvoming line to the iunction with the South 

 Platte. Those on the South Platte extended from the Colorado line to 

 Korty Station, about 4<' miles below the line, where the flow disap- 

 peared. Measurements on the main stream extended from the junc- 

 tion to Kearney. 



The work on the Platte included also the gathering of data as to the 

 acreage under the canals, the crops raised, yields, and prices, and the 

 general condition of agriculture in the region. 



All pre})arations w<»re made for measuring the water applied to 

 oats, alfalfa, corn, and potatoes, near Lexington, but the heavy rain- 

 fall of the season destroyed the value of the ex})eriments. 



The work in di-ainage and reclamation of alkali lands was largely 

 preliminary. A line of wells was put down for observing the rise and 

 fall of gn^und water, and surveys for drains on some badly swamped 

 tracts were made. Drains will be made and the observations con- 

 tinued another year. 



