BUREAU OF PUBLIC ROADS. 481 



Accordingly a series of department bulletins covering the whole 

 subject of duty of water was begun during the past year. Five 

 reports are being prepared, each covering one of the major drainage 

 basins of the West. It is believed that the series can be completed 

 •during the fiscal year 1924. 



The collection of data in regard to the financing and operation 

 of irrigation districts was continued, and the manuscript for a 

 bulletin on Irrigation District Operation and Finance, which presents 

 in compact form the essential facts in regard to these districts, was 

 completed. 



The cost to the settler of establishing an irrigated farm — that is, 

 of clearing it of native vegetation, leveling and otherwise preparing 

 it for irrigation, constructing the necessary buildings, fences, and 

 other structures, providing a domestic water supply, etc. — has been 

 made the subject of special study for the past year or more. This 

 investigation now forms a part of a nation-wide study of the cost 

 of reclaiming desert, swamp, and cut-over land and is carried on in 

 -cooperation with the Bureau of Agricultural Economics. 



The control of a large irrigation enterprise calls for business 

 ability of the highest order. The completion of a canal system 

 marks the period where the comparatively simple problems of con- 

 struction end and the perplexing question of management begins. 

 The bureau's division of irrigation investigations has started the 

 collection of data regarding details of water delivery, methods and 

 devices for water measurement, and the forms and devices which 

 have been developed by canal companies to keep track of their busi- 

 ness, and will prepare for publication a report based on the study. 



Especial interest has developed lately in the possibilities of rais- 

 ing large quantities of water from streams, reservoirs, and lakes by 

 pumping. The division of irrigation investigations has in hand a 

 study of the efficiencies and other qualities of such large-scale pump- 

 ing installations, with a view to the introduction of improvements 

 in their design, manufacture, installation, and operation. 



The investigation of the flow of water in steel pipes was continued. 

 Field investigations were practically completed during the year, 

 and the preparation of the report was begun. 



An investigation of flow in flumes of all types used to convey 

 water for irrigation was begun. It is proposed to make a careful 

 study of each type of flume, the conditions which suit it, its purpose 

 and serviceability, and to follow this examination with an accurate 

 test of the carrying capacity under known conditions in order to de- 

 termine its hydraulic elements. A bulletin will be issued giving 

 the results of this investigation as soon as the field work has been 

 completed and the data have been prepared for publication. 



The bulletins on the flow of water in irrigation channels, in wood- 

 stave pipe, and in concrete pipe which have previously been issued 

 have been well accepted, and the formulas recommended therein are 

 now in common use in the design of irrigation structures. The 

 purpose of this work is to make available information enabling the 

 ■eno-ineer to design under known conditions conduits which are large 

 •enough (but no larger) to deliver the maximum quantity of water 



required. ..,.11.1,- -, 



An investigation of the principles involved in the design and 



construction of earthen dams and embankments intended for im- 



