208 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



"(3) The average loss per mile from canals, excluding the Divide Ditch, amounts 

 to 5.T1» per cent of the volume carried per mile, or 1.08 second feet per acre of wetted 

 perimeter. The highest losses in terms of the volume carried occurred on the Divide 

 Ditch and I lighline Canal, amounting, respectively, to 50.2 per cent and 17.5 per 

 cent. 



" (4) It is probable that seepage has a greater influence in sustaining stream flow, 

 and consequently in increasing the acreage of land irrigated, than is commonly 

 known. As shown from results on Sand Creek and the Laramie River, the same 

 water is undoubtedly diverted and used many times in succession." 



Drainage conditions in Iowa, W. II. Stevenson, G. I. Christie, and L. E. 

 Ashbaugb i Iowa Sta. Bui. 78, pp. 237-263, figs. 4)- — This bulletin contains a discus- 

 sion of the neeil and advantages of drainage in Iowa, based on results of an extended 

 investigation of drainage conditions in the State, with notes and tables showing the 

 grades and sizes of drains to be used under different conditions, the cost of tilt- 

 drains, and forms of contracts and specifications for drainage. The order of pro- 

 cedure uniler the new State drainage law is also explained. 



It is stated that "over four million acres of Iowa land would be greatly benefited 

 by tile drainage. A very large percentage of this number was wholly unproductive 

 last year. The direct financial loss to the State last season through lack of adequate 

 drainage was approximately $20,000,000. The rapid rise in land values makes tile 

 drainage imperative; it also makes it a profitable investment. Under-draining bene- 

 fits rolling lands. It prevents the loss of the most valuable part of the soil through 

 washing and by removing the surplus ground water prevents seepage. . . . By 

 facilitating the cultivation and harvesting of otherwise broken fields drainage lessens 

 the cost of cr< »p pr< tduction. Rotation of crops is essential to successful farming. On 

 thousands of farms throughout the State well-planned, systematic drainage can 

 alone make this possible." 



Supplemental report on drainage in the Fresno district, California, C. G. 

 Elliott ( U. S. Dept. Agr., Office of Experiment Stations Circ. 57, pp. 5, fig. 1). — This 

 circular, which is supplementary to No. 50 of this Office (E. S. R., 15, p. 94), sum- 

 marizes the results of observations in a series of 7 wells which were sunk to a depth 

 of 8 ft. in the drained area for the purpose of studying the movement of the soil 

 water. The bearing of the results upon the efficiency of the drainage system pre- 

 viously described is discussed. 



Progress of road building in the Middle West, R. W. Richardson ( U. S. Dept. 

 Agr. Yearbook 1903, pp. 453-462, pis. 3). — The topics discussed in this article are 

 forces at work for highway improvement, the rural population and the roads, rea- 

 sons for lack of progress in road building. State and National aid, antiquated meth- 

 ods, road laws and conditions in several States, road material, road construction, and 

 educational work. 



Building sand-clay roads in southern States, W. L. Spoon ( U. S. Dept. Agr-. 

 Yearbook 1903, pp. 259-266, pis. 2, figs. 3). — Several examples of typical sand-clay 

 roads are described and the methods of constructing them are explained. It is 

 claimed that "the building of sand-clay roads has passed the experimental stage, 

 and it is no longer a question of doubtful procedure. 



"The important things to be borne in mind are thorough mixing to the saturation 

 point, and then properly shaping and rolling the road. This mixing is usually done 

 by the traveling public. This is the critical period in the construction of a sand-clay 

 road, because care must be taken to secure an even amount of puddling, so that all 

 the lumps of clay shall be broken and saturated with sand to a depth of 8 to 10 in. 

 If this can be done and the road is properly crowned as it dries, there can be no 

 doubt about the result being eminently satisfactory. 



"This mixing might be done by the use of plows and harrows when the clay is 

 wet, but it is customary to let teams and vehicles accomplish it. It is true that the 



