RURAL ENGINEERING. 85 



bj various nielliotls. Tlie cost avorai^c^s al)oul $!(»(), iiulicatini; that clearlns of 

 tlieso lands is profitable only on verj' rich land or that located near cities. 



Seepage and drainage, II, E. T. Tannatt and 11. D. Kneale {Montana Sia. 

 Bui. 76, pp. 111-162, pis. IJf, figs. 2). — In continuation of the experimental 

 work reported in Part I of the investigations (E. S. K.. 1!), p. 28.5), this bulletin 

 gives the results of studies by the authors to determine the cause and amount 

 of seepage from irrigation canals, and the best methods of draining the lands 

 injured by the water. The results reported here were obtained chiefly from 

 two sources : First, from drainage i)lans and investigations made of a tract of 

 80 acres of seeped land near T'ozeman, Mont.; and, second, from the investiga- 

 tions of the Arnold drain which is about IC.'iOO ft. long and drains an area of 

 some 5,2SS acres near Billings, Mont. 



For the first of these, which is called the Lamme project, a topographical 

 survey and study of the subsoil conditions was made, the latter being deter- 

 mined with .the aid of 135 test wells, which were also used for observations of 

 the ground water level. The principal conclusions arrived at from the study of 

 this project were that the open ditch laid parallel to the floor of the ground 

 water and used for an intercepting drain is not satisfactory in clay soils under- 

 laid by gravel ; that the relief system is best adapted to these conditions, and 

 that the drains should be laid with reference to the surface of the gravel 

 subsoil. In alkali soils open-bottom box tile is preferred to closed tile because 

 of the danger of the joints being cemented, as was noted in Part I. 



The soil along the Arnold drain was a stiff clay with a gravel subsoil irregu- 

 lar in surface, and the ground water was under pressure, as indicated by test 

 wells which were driven through the clay along the line of the drain. The 

 investigation of this drain confirmed the conclusions noted in the Lamme 

 project. A summary of the conclusions reached from the study of this drain 

 is given, with practical suggestions i-elating to the location, grades, and ma- 

 terial for drains, and the relation of gravel to seepage. 



In studying seepage losses it was found difficult to secure accurate measure- 

 ments because of additions to the flow reaching the canal en route. Tabular 

 results of measurements in an irrigation canal 28 miles long are given showing 

 the total and percentage losses in sections of the canal. The total loss was 

 found to be 27 per cent of the amount entering the headgates ; 20.3 cu. ft. per 

 second were lost, and 3.5 cu. ft. per second entered the canal. 



McGee Creek drainag'e and levee district (Engin.. Rcc, 59 (1900), No. 8, pp. 

 .!.U, 2.LI ). — This is a paper read before the Illinois Society of Engineers and Sur- 

 veyors, in which A. H. Bell, the engineer of this district, describes the mechan- 

 ical equipment and other features of this district. About 12,0'00 acres of very 

 rich bottom land fronting 9 miles on the Illinois River are to be reclaimed by 

 levees and pumping. 



The pumping equipment consists of two horizontal return tubular boilers of 

 175 II. P. each, and two pumping units each including a 4-valve horizontal 

 simiile noncondensing engine with 20-in. stroke and IG-in. cylinder with a steam 

 consumption of 20 lbs. per I. H. P., and rated at 225 H. P. each, when running 

 at ISO revolutions per minute with a steam pressure of 125 lbs. The pumps 

 are of the centrifugal type with 36-in. suction and 32-in. discharge, are direct 

 connected to the engines, and are designed to deliver 28,500 gals, per minute at 

 125 revolutions i)er minute against a 9-ft. head, or at 200 revolutions per minute 

 against an IS-ft. head. The maximum suction lift is 10 ft. and the discharge 

 head 8 ft., making the total of IS ft, all including friction. The cost of the 

 entire district will be $180,000. 



Assesments on railroads in land drainage districts, .T. W. Dappert (Engin. 

 liir., .'>9 (190!)). \o. 7. pp. JIG. 111). — Assessing railroads for benefits derived 



