BUREAU OF PUBLIC ROADS. 389 



The cooperative agreements of previous years covering extension 

 work in Alabama, Georgia, and North Carolina, have been continued, 

 and a new similar agreement with the University of Tennessee has 

 been made, but by no jneans has the work been confined to those 

 States. 



Drainage surveys and plans have been prepared during the year 

 for 226 farms in 18 States, comprising probably 12,000 acres. Field 

 examinations and special recommendations were made for probably 

 two dozen other farm owners. 



Drainage surveys and plans have been made for Ottawa Lake Out- 

 let Drain in Monroe County, Mich., 23,900 acres; for Meadow River 

 in Greenbrier County, W. Va., 6,000 acres; and for Kettle Creek in 

 Wilkes County, Ga., 1,150 acres. Preliminary investigations and re- 

 ports were made for 20 other overflow districts, comprising approxi- 

 mately 215,500 acres. 



A survey and plan of drainage were made for 5,100 acres in Zekiah 

 Swamp in Charles County, Md. Inspections were made of six other 

 swamp-land districts in the southeastern States, with general recom- 

 mendations regarding the drainage of the 26,000 acres involved. 



A preliminary investigation and report were made upon drainage 

 for 1,100 acres of tide lands in New Jersey. 



An important work has been performed for the Capital Issues 

 Committee by investigating drainage districts that have requested 

 the committee's approval of proposed bond issues. Twenty such re- 

 quests have been referred to the office by the committee and have been 

 investigated, affecting almost 7,000,000 acres and involving about 

 $14,700,000. 



An investigation and report upon the situation with regard to 

 drain tile available in the central and southern States w^as made. 



Some research studies have been continued; to have discontinued 

 such work entirely would have sacrificed considerable value. How- 

 ever, as more than half the ^drainage staff are in active military 

 service, reports upon most, of the investigations have been delayed, 

 although the data for them have been collected. 



Comprehensive studies have been made of the results secured from 

 the drainage ditches that have been constructed in Oklahoma, North 

 Carolina, and other States, with note of the features that affect the 

 value of the works. Department Bulletin 652 was issued, "The Wet 

 Lands of Southern Louisiana and Their Drainage," a revision of 

 Department Bulletin 71. In cooperation with the Michigan Geologi- 

 cal and Biological Survey, an examination has been begun to learn 

 the amount of drainage undertaken in that State, its cost and re- 

 sults, and the legislation necessary to afford the most practicable 

 means of reclaiming the land still needing drainage. A map has 

 been prepared showing the drainage districts organized in Louisiana, 

 and indicating the progress in developing those districts. Accurate 

 data have been compiled relative to silting and erosion in natural 

 and artificial waterways in many districts, bearing upon the problems 

 of ditch maintenance. 



Considerable data have been gathered in several central and south- 

 ern States relative to rates of run-off that determine the economical 



