METEOROLOGY WATER. 17 



225, pp. .>6\ plf). J2, fiffs. ')). — This roport doals with jifoyraphy, gooloy;y, and 

 water resources of this region, with some account of the exploration and devel- 

 opment of tlie Colorado Desert, particularly of the Indio region, cost of recla- 

 mation and development, and soils and crops. 



It is estimated that in this region there is a storage area of 400 square 

 miles containing saturated sand to an average depth of 1,000 ft. The amount 

 of underground water utilized in the year 1005 is estimated to have been 100 

 second-feet for the irrigating season, equivalent to 20 to 25 second-feet for the 

 year. The level of the ground water had been materially lowered before 1905, 

 but was restored by the exceptional rainfall of 1904-5, amounting to S.58 in. 

 as compared with an average of 2.65 in. It is shown that there is a gradual 

 drift of the ground water toward the Salton Sink, and it is believed that the 

 partial filling of this sink has had a tendency to conserve the water by retard- 

 ing this flow and lessening evaporation. 



The first successful hydraulic well was put down at Indio in April, 1900. 

 Since that date development has been continuous and there are now from 350 

 to 400 deei) wells scattered over the Indio region. Of this number, 250 to 300 

 are artesian. About 90 jiumping plants have been installed. It is estimated 

 that more than .$100,000 is invested in artesian wells in the valley and that 

 pumping ]ilaiits to an additional value of .$75,000 have been installed. This, 

 with cost of reservoirs, pipe lines, etc., brings the total investment in works 

 for development and distribution of water up to ,$200,000. With the water 

 so obtained between 4.000 and 5,000 acres have been reclaimed and are suc- 

 cessfully irrigated. The most important crops grown in the region are melons, 

 barley, and alfalfa. A nuniiter of other crops are also grown in small areas. 



Underground water resources in southern California, W. C. Mendenhall 

 (Rpt. State Engiu. Cal, J907-S, pp. I.'i2-l.'i6). — This article contains a brief 

 summary of a previous report of the U. S. Geological Survey on this subject 

 (E. S. R., 20, p. 813), and also a short progress report by the geologist in 

 charge of underground water investigations in this region setting forth the 

 character of the investigations which are now being carried on. 



Analyses of Salton Sea water, A. E. Vinson and W. H. Ross (Arizona Sta. 

 Rpt. jnos, pp. 36k!-3(15). — -Analyses made at different times during the formation 

 of this sea are reported. The results indicate that since the Colorado River 

 was turned into its proper channel the composition of the water has remained 

 practica liy unchanged. 



The mineral constituents of the Ottawa River water, 1907, F. T. Shtttt 

 and A. (}. Spencer (/'/or. and Trans. Roy. Soc. Canada, 3. ser., 2 (190S-9), Sect. 

 in, pp. 17.')-J80). — Analyses of samples taken at extreme low water and at 

 flood show "that the mineral matter of this water is composed mainly of the 

 carbonates of the alkaline earths with some silica and small (luantities of the 

 alkalis, iron, alumina, and manganese." 



Amount and composition of drainage waters collected during the year 

 1907-8, B. C. Burt (Rpt. Caivnpore [India] Agr. Sta., 1908, pp. 18-21 ; abs. 

 in Jour. Chcm. Soc. [London], 96 (1909), No. 557, II, p. 261).— This is a brief 

 statement of the results of a continuation of observations with 3 and G-ft. drain 

 gages previously referred to (E. S. R., 20, j). 711). With bare soils and an 

 annual rainfall of 17.15 in. the percolation in the two .3-ft. gages was 5.92 and 

 G.76 in.*, resi»ectively, and with the O-ft. gages .3.(54 and 4.S4 in., respectively. 

 The drainage water contained nitrates corresponding to 32.49 and 37.15 lbs. per 

 acre, resi)ectively, in case of the 3-ft. gages and 9.05 and 13.83 lbs. per acre, 

 respectively, in case of the 0-ft. gages. 



