816 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



Floods of the Mississippi River, P. Morrill ( U. S. Bept. Agr., 

 Weather Bureau Doc. 143, pp. 79, pis. 61, Jigs. 3).— This paper discusses 

 the floods of the Mississippi in general, but gives especial attention to 

 the flood which occurred during the spring of 1897. 



"The effort has been made to briefly cover the entire regimen of the river, both in 

 its normal condition and in flood. The physical characteristics of the Mississippi 

 basin and river have been reviewed, and the best data available as to area of water- 

 sheds, dimensions, and slope of the main stream and its tributaries are given, largely 

 in tabular form, convenient for reference. The records of the Weather Bureau 

 have been used to determine the normal precipitation for each month and for the 

 year. . . . The resultant downfall of water over the various subdivisions of the 

 grand basin has been computed, and is presented in tables. Normal river stages at 

 various stations have been computed, and are here published for the first time, so far 

 as known. The chart of normal hydrographs drawn from these data is instructive, 

 Bhowing at a glance the annual rise and fall of the Mississippi and its chief feeders. 

 Other facts as to the extreme stages of the rivers, the volume of discharge, and 

 similar matters have been collected from many sources, and are presented in con- 

 venient form. 



"Having treated of the normal conditions of water supply and drainage throughout 

 the basin, the subject of floods is next considered at some length. The floods occur- 

 ring during the past 26 years are made the chief subject of study, inasmuch as only 

 during that time are complete and reliable gauge readings available. Six notable 

 flood years are embraced in this period, and for these 6 floods hydrographs have been 

 drawn for several typical stations. The downfall of water from which each flood 

 arose has been computed, and the results are given in tabular form. Corresponding 

 charts of actual precipitation and of the departure from the normal precipitation 

 have also been constructed for each flood, and accompany the report. Through our 

 own observers, and from the investigations of the engineer officers in charge of levee 

 work, a map of the region inundated this year has been prepared, and forms an 

 interesting accompaniment to the paper." 



The highest kite ascensions at Blue Hill, S. P. Fergusson ( U. S. 

 Bept. Agr., Weather Bureau Boc. 145, pp.4). — "On September 19, 1897, 

 the kite meteorograph was raised to a height of 2,821 meters (9,255 ft.) 

 above the summitof the Hill, or 3,013 meters (9,885 ft.) above sea level. 

 The highest kite was 40 meters (131 ft.) above the meteorograph, or 

 3,052 meters (10,016 ft.) above sea level. The height reached by the 

 meteorograph was 510 ft. higher than that reached on October 8, 1896." 1 



Meteorological observations {Canada Expt. Farms Epts. 1896, pp. 61, 297, 375, 

 421-423, 459). — Notes on the weather and monthly summaries of observations on 

 temperature and precipitation during 1896 at the experimental farms in the different 

 provinces of Canada. 



Meteorological report for 1895, J. C. Rane ( West Virginia Sta. Bpt. 1895, pp. 

 50-53). — Monthly summary of observations on temperature, precipitation, direction 

 of wind, etc., for the period from June, 1894, to April, 1895. 



Meteorological observations, L. H. Merrill {Maine Sta. Bpt. 1896, p. 127). — 

 This is a summary of observations on temperature, atmospheric pressure, precipi- 

 tation, and cloudiness during the 6 months ending December 31, 1896. The maxi- 

 mum pressure during this period was 30.6 in., the minimum 29.6 in.., the mean 30.11 in. 

 The highest temperature was 74° F., the lowest 22°, the mean 48°. 



JSee also Monthly Weather Review, 25 (1897), No. 9, p. 392. 



