1110 EXPERIMENT STATION EECOED. 



10 years was a period of deficient rainfall in this region. " There is practically 

 no difference -between the rainfall of the first 10 years and the last 10 

 j-ears. . . . An examination of the wind i-ecords in Kansas and Nebraska shows 

 that the last 15 years have not been quite so windy as the 15 years previous, and 

 this is esi)ecially true of the years 1904, 1905, and 1906. It is not safe to 

 assume, however, that a permanent decrease in the wind velocity has taken 

 place." 



Meteorological observations (Maine >^ta. Biih 137. pp. 299-301). — Observa- 

 tions iit Orono on pressure, temperature, precipitation, cloudiness, and wind 

 movement are summarized for each month of the year. The mean yearly pres- 

 sure was 29.88 in., the temperature 43.5° as compared with 42.2.3° for 38 years. 

 The precipitation was 39.11 in. as compared with 43.84 in. for 38 years, and the 

 number of cloudy days was 154. Monthly and annual sunmiaries of precipita- 

 tion at 2."> places are also given. 



Report of meteorologist, N. Helme (Rhode Ifihiiid Sta. Rpt. 1906, pp. 

 317-333). — Observations at Kingston on temperature, precipitation, prevailing 

 winds,, and general character of the weather are given for each month of the 

 .year ended .June 30, 190G. The mean temperature for that period was 48.4°, the 

 precipitation 53.57 in., and the number of clear days 175. 



The underflow of the South Platte Valley, C. S. Slichter and H. C. Wolff 

 (f. <S'. Gcol. Siirrcji. W(it( f-Siippli/ and IrrUi. Paper No. ISJ/. pp. -i2, ftps. 13). — 

 Investigations carried on mainly at Ogalalla, Nebr., but also to some extent at 

 North Platte, " to determine what resources, if any, existed in the underflow 

 waters of the valley and whether it was practicable to make use of such waters, 

 if they were found to exist iu suitable quantities, for purposes of irrigation," 

 are reported. 



The results indicate that there is an ample suppl.v of ground water at an 

 average depth of 40 to GO ft., in the South Platte Valley, for a large number of 

 small ])umping plants located in almost any part of the bottom lands. Sugges- 

 tions for the construction of such small pumping plants are given. 



Water resources of the Rio Grande Valley in New Mexico and their devel- 

 opment, W. T. Lee {V. S. (Scol. Surrcij. Wat('r->iiipplii mid /iri;/. Paper A'o. iSS, 

 l)p. ')9. pjs. 10, pjs. 2). — Observations during the field seasons of 1904 and 1905 

 over an area extending along the Rio Grande from the southern boundary of 

 New ^lexico northward to Santa Fe are reported. The data reported deal with 

 geography, geology, water supply, reservoir sites, and utilization of the water 

 supply. 



The general conclusion is reached that while the flood plain material of the 

 low lands along the river is saturated, it does not in general allow the water to 

 pass through freely enough for the successful use of shallow irrigation wells. 

 Deep wells may, however, be more successfully emplo.ved. The conditions in 

 many places are apparently favorable for the establishment of reservoirs to 

 store the large amount of flood water which passes down the Rio Grande at 

 certain seasons. 



Stream pollution by acid-iron wastes, II. Stabler ( V. H. Geo!. tSurrei/, 

 Water-Supply and Irrif/. Paper A'o. 186, pp. 36, pi. 1). — The investigations at 

 Slielb.v, Ohio, reported in this bulletin included "(1) the history of the pollution 

 and the attendant litigation, (2) the effect of acid-iron liquors upon sewage 

 purification processes, (3) the conditions along the stream, and (4) the disposal 

 of acid-iron wastes without discharge into water-course or sewerage system." 

 Lost acid used in pickling is the present cause of pollution, and it is suggested 

 that " by designing the plant so that this waste may be recovered as copperas, 

 stream pollution can be practically obviated and the economic value of the 

 plant greatly enhanced." 



