311 

 DIMSIOX OF HYDROGRAPHY. 



Ocober 3, 1913. 



Board of Commissioners of Agriculture and Forestry. 



Gentlemen : — The following- report of operations of the Divi- 

 sion of Hydrography for the month of September. 1913. is sub- 

 mitted : 



DROUGHT. 



Data received from all islands except Hawaii show practically 

 all streams to have the lowest discharge recorded since the in- 

 auguration of the hydrographic work. On Oahu the city water 

 supply has reached a low point that will necessitate further re- 

 strictions in the use of water unless considerable rainfall occurs 

 within the next few days. All streams on Oahu are at minimum 

 discharges except in the case of the Waiahole stream, the dis- 

 charge of which has been steadily increased by the underground 

 water developed by the Waiahole ttinnel. The north and south 

 branches of the Kaukonahua, which supply Schofield Barracks 

 and the Wahiawa Water Company's reservoir respectively, have 

 dropped below all known or estimated records. A measure- 

 ment of the south fork on September 24 showed a discharge of 

 but .74 of a million gallons per day, while on October 1 the north 

 fork discharge totaled .96 million gallons per day. 



On Maui the ditches of both East and West Maui are below all 

 known records, while on Kauai the same condition occurs in a 

 lesser percentage of ditches. Insufficient rainfall data have been 

 received to make a comparison of the rainfall and run-otf at 

 this time. 



METHODS OF IXNESTIGATIOX. 



There are two methods, or plans, of procedure under which 

 the hydrographic investigation of this Territory may be carried 

 forward with the funds available. One method consists in cov- 

 ering a large amount of territory with a meager or limited 

 amount of work and equipment. The second method is to con- 

 centrate eciuipment and operations at those localities in which the 

 work seems most immediately needed and, as soon as the neces- 

 sary equipment has been established and the investigation put in 

 as nearly a self-operating basis as possible, then to take up the 

 work at other localities in the order of its importance in relation 

 to the utilization, operation and development of water usage. 



Previous to August. 1912, the first-named method was adopted 

 by the engineers in charge of this work. An effort was made to 

 obtain at least a little information of a general nature relative to 

 all perennial streams, ditches, pumping plants, rainfall, etc.. on 



