1010] EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 785 



RURAL ENGINEERING. 



Rural water supplies and their purification, A. C. HOUSTON (London: John 

 Bale, Sons d Daniclsson, Ltd., 1018, pp. XV+136, pis. .',, figs. tS). — This book 

 supplements a previous one on studies in water supply (E. S. R., 33, p. 287). 

 It deals with the subject largely from the standpoint of the waterworks engi- 

 neer, proceeding on the assumption that "there is no question thai many rural 

 districts might make far more use of rain water for domestic purposes than is 

 now the case." A large amount of space (the first three chapters) is devoted 

 to rain water as a source of domestic supply, but wells, springs, rivers, brooks, 

 and lakes, as sources of water, are also discussed. The chief methods of 

 sterilizing and purifying waters are dealt with in detail, and miscellaneous 

 information which may be useful to the nontechnical reader is given. 



Bibliography and index of the publications of the United States Geological 

 Survey relating to ground water, O. E. Meinzeb (U. S. Geol. Survey, Water- 

 Supply Paper Jf21 (1918), pp. 169, map 1). — This bibliography includes all pub- 

 lications prepared in whole or in part by the U. S. Geological Survey that treat 

 any phase of the subject of ground water and methods of measuring the flow of 

 water. Brief abstracts and a locality index map are included. 



Ground water in the Animas, Playas, Hachita, and San Luis Basins, 

 N. Mex., A. T. Schwennesen (U. S. Geol. Survey, Water-Supply Paper J t 22 

 (1918), pp. 152, pis. 7, figs. 17, maps 2). — This report, prepared in cooperation 

 with the New Mexico Experiment Station, deals with the ground water of an 

 arid area of about 3,600 square miles in southwestern New Mexico, about one- 

 third of which is mountains and the remainder smooth and nearly level plains. 

 The soils are residual, wind deposited, and alluvial types. 



"The region contains no permanent streams, and practically its only certain 

 source of water Is underground. The rock formations yield little or no water 

 except at a few small mountain springs, which are valuable as watering places. 

 Water occurs, however, in the gravelly bods of valley fill — generally in the main 

 body of the fill, but in Upper Animas Valley in gravel recently deposited in the 

 trough excavated by Animas Creek out of the main body of fill. ... In about 10 

 per cent of the area investigated, or approximately 370 square miles, water may 

 be found at a depth of 100 ft. or less. This area includes approximately 194 

 square miles in which the depth to water is 50 ft. or less. . . . The largest areas 

 in which the ground water stands less than 50 ft. from the surface are in Animas 

 and Playas Valleys. In Animas Valley there are two shallow-water tracts — one 

 in the depressed central part of the lower valley and another smaller one in the 

 Animas Creek trough of the upper valley. In Playas Valley a large tract in 

 which the depth to water is less than 50 ft. occupies the central parts of the 

 upper and lower valleys and a small tract of shallow perched water is found in 

 the Pot Hook Basin. Small shallow-water tracts are also found in the Hachita, 

 Lordsburg, and San Lius Valleys." 



Analyses of the water and soils, by R. F. Hare, are also included. 



Surface water supply of Pacific slope basins in California, 1915 (U. S. 

 Geol. Survey, Water-Supply Paper 411 (1918), pp. 8/,5 + XXXYI, pis. 8).— This 

 report, prepared in cooperation with the State of California, presents the results 

 of measurements of flow made on streams in Pacific slope basins in California 

 during the year ended September 30, 1915, and includes the usual lists of gauging 

 stations and publications relating to water resources. 



Practical information on the measurement of irrigation water, O. W. 

 Israei.sen (Utah Sta. Circ. 36 (1919), pp. 8-29, figs. 11). — This is a compilation 

 from State and Government publications on water measurement for the use of 

 120653°— 19 7 



