WEATHER BUREAU. 275 



59 per cent, were flooded. The losses will exceed $75,000,000, and 

 may possibly reach $100,000,000, of which much the greater portion 

 represents the loss of the season's crops. In its forecasts of the flood 

 stages and in its warnings of impending danger to the people of the 

 threatened districts the Weather Bureau maintained the high plane 

 of accuracy that has characterized its work during all the great floods 

 of the Mississippi River since that of 1892. The forecasts and warn- 

 ings were prompt, conservative, and accurate, and through them 

 many lives were saved. As to the value of property saved through 

 the warnings, it is difficult to arrive at a correct estimate, but from 

 such reports as were obtainable it appears that $10,000,000 is a rea- 

 sonable figure, and later reports may increase this amount. The firet 

 warning for the flood was issued on March 20, the last on June 8, 

 and at the beginning of April it was announced that the floods would 

 be the greatest in the history of the lower Mississippi Valley. The 

 forecast for the river at New Orleans was issued nearly five weeks 

 in advance of the occurrence of the crest stage, and its absolute accu- 

 racy was a triumph of forecasting skill. The press of the country 

 has paid ample tribute to the work of the Weather Bureau in con- 

 nection with the flood. 



A report on the Mississippi flood, now in course of preparation, 

 will be prepared jointly by the Department of Agriculture, the War 

 Department, and the Interior Department. Each department con- 

 cerned will deal only with such features as come within its particular 

 province, and the combined report will be submitted to the President 

 of the United States. 



Although overshadowed by the lower Mississippi calamity, floods 

 were of frequent occurrence elsewhere, except during November and 

 December, and were forecast with the usual timeliness and accuracy. 

 The river and flood service work in the Wisconsin Valley in October, 

 in southern Michigan in April and May, and in the southern rivers 

 generally during the spring months is deserving of special mention. 



Persistent effort has been made to secure accurate data regarding 

 the loss from floods. It is naturally impossible to obtain exact figures, 

 and estimates are at timics difficult to obtain. The total flood losses re- 

 ported during the year were about $86,000,000, of which, however, only 

 about $11,000,000 were incurred outside the lower Mississippi Valley. 

 These figures are far from complete, and it is reasonably certain that 

 if losses along small streams were reported and more detailed state- 

 ments were obtained from the lower Mississippi Valley the total 

 would be brought up to at least $100,000,000, as against a total of 

 less than $8,000,000 for the year ended June 30, 1011. The total 

 value of property saved through the Weather Bureau flood warnings 

 was estimated at $19,000,000. 



MOUNTAIN SNOWFALL WORK. 



The measurement of the amount of snowfall in the mountain 

 regions of the West was continued during the year. On .June 30 

 there were 271 paid stations and 1 cooperative station in operation. 

 During the year 1 cooperative and 7 paid stations were established 

 and 17 paid stations were closed. 



The measurement of mountain snowfall in winter is made for the 

 purpose of determining the amount of water that is likely to be 



