OFFICE OF PUBLIC ROADS AND RURAL ENGINEERING. 343 



Forty-two preliminary examinations were made of proposed drain- 

 age districts, and recommendations made for further procedure. 



Along the line of research work the collection of data on run-off 

 and the cost of operation of pumping plants in southern Louisiana 

 was continued. The subjects of the drainage of muck soils and of the 

 shrinkage of muck soils after draining were investigated. Studies 

 were made of the run-off from agricultural land, principally in Ten- 

 nessee, Louisiana, Missouri, Iowa, and Idaho. The hydraulic plant 

 at the Arlington Farm, Virginia, was completed and experiments 

 begun for the determination of coefficients of flow in clay and cement 

 drain tile. ' Considerable time was devoted to a study of the question 

 of organization and financing of drainage districts. Progress was 

 made in the compiling, by States, statistics of the swamps and over- 

 flowed areas of the United States. 



RURAL ENGINEERING. 



E. B. McCormick, Chief. 



This division was officially organized July 1, 1915, and the work 

 during the fiscal year has been conducted under the three following 

 classifications : 



FARM DOMESTIC WATER SUPPLY AND SEWAGE DISPOSAL. 



Requests for detailed information regarding the pumping, stor- 

 ing, and distributing of water, the development and protection of 

 sources of water supply, and the installation of sanitary methods 

 of sewage and garbage disposal have been numerous and have re- 

 ceived close attention. 



Plans for water-supply systems of the following types have been 

 prepared : 



Springs with a hydraulic ram pumping water to an elevated underground 

 concrete reservoir, with distribution piping to house and barns. 



Flowing well with a hydraulic ram pumping water to a reinforced concrete 

 standpipe. from which the overflow passes through a cooling tank and chamber. 



Plans for sanitary utilities and for sewage disposal plants of the 

 following types have been prepared : 



Sanitary privies and closets, including plumbing systems and cesspools. 

 Septic tank with subsurface distribution of the effluent for both level land 

 and hillside conditions. 



Septic tank and treatment of effluent in a sprinkling filter. 



When desirable from the viewpoint of subsequent operation of the 

 plant and the further dissemination of information, the work has 

 included the supervision of the construction, as well as the prepara- 

 tion of the plans. 



Surveys have been made and the grades of sewers established and 

 staked for the animal husbandry farm of the Bureau of Animal In- 

 dustry at Beltsville, Md. 



CONSTRUCTION OF FARM BUILDINGS. 



Designs have been prepared for the following structures, blue- 

 prints of which are supplied upon request : 



Southern farmhouse, prepared as the result of investigations in the South 

 regarding the present housing conditions in the rural districts. One thousand 

 copies of these plans have been sent upon request to prospective builders. 



Farmstead layout, prepared as the result of investigations in the field. 



Hay shed, open-center construction and trussed frame, which leaves center 

 free of braces. 



Corn crib of 2,000 bushels capacity ; the principal features are thorough ven- 

 tilation, rat-proofing, and substantial construction. 



