588 EXPERIMENT STATION EECOKD. 



ing of a region has a directly favorable influence on its water supplies and 

 quotes data to substantiate bis conclusion. 



Hypochlorite treatment of water supplies, H. A. Whittakek (Pui. Health 

 Rpts. [U. S.], SO (1915), No. 9, pp. 608-618, pi. 1, figs. 8).— A small portable 

 plant for the hypochlorite treatment of polluted water supplies is described 

 and illustrated which consists of one mixing and two storage barrels, a mixing 

 apparatus, a solution controlling device, and the necessary valves and connec- 

 tions. 



Water and sewage, H. C. Mtjllee et al. (Ber. Agr. Chem. Kontroll u. Vers. 

 Stat. Pflanzenkrank. Prov. Sachsen, 1913, pp. 15-20; al)s. in Wasser u. Al)wasser, 



9 (1914), No. 2, pp. S9-41). — Chemical and biological studies of public and pri- 

 vate water supplies and soils and crops injured by sewage from industrial 

 works showed that in country communities ditch water could not be used in 

 ■place of ground water on account of the turbidity and color caused by brown 

 coal particles. The water for artificial rain irrigation, it is stated, should be 

 as nearly like actual rain water as possible. 



Out of 27 samples of drinking water only 13 were unobjectionable, and of 

 the remaining samples 7 were grossly polluted, 2 were doubtful, and 5 were 

 highly impregnated with mineral matter. Three samples of water used for 

 stock were too highly polluted for safe use. Out of 10 samples of dairy water 

 supplies only four were unobjectionable. 



Mixing sewage containing salts with ground water samples caused a marked 

 deterioration in the quality of the latter in 3 out of 11 cases. Analyses of 

 samples of brook and pond waters receiving the drainage from potash works 

 showed the contamination to increase with the depth of the water, thus indi- 

 cating that the safe dilution of such drainage is not always a certainty. 



Water from brown coal ditches showed a high salt content, as did also brook 

 water receiving such drainage. The contamination of brook water by the sew- 

 age from a dairy and a brewery was evidenced by the development of typical 

 sewage organisms. 



Plastic colloidal clay was found to be unsatisfactory for sewage purification 

 purposes. 



Report of the state highway commission of Minnesota for 1914 (Rpt. 

 Highway Com. Minn., 1914, pp. 235, pi. 1, figs. 38). — This report includes the 

 history of the Minnesota state road laws, a description of the Koochiching 

 County fire breaks, and tabulated reports of road and bridge operations for 

 each county. 



Concrete roads versus macadam, E. H. McAi^isteb ( Univ. Oreg. Bui., n. ser., 



10 (1913), No. 5, pp. 16, fig. 1). — It is concluded that concrete is considerably 

 superior to macadam for Oregon highways which must withstand modern 

 trafiic. Tests also indicate the value of blends of puzzolanic material and 

 cement. 



The design of concrete highway bridges with special reference to stand- 

 ardization (Engin. and Contract., 43 (1915), No. 12, pp. 268-270. figs. 5).— This 

 is a discussion by O. B. McCullough of the various factors influencing the design 

 of concrete highway bridges, particularly standard types. Specific data and 

 diagrams are given showing the effect of stream behavior, loadings, tempera- 

 ture stresses, etc., and illustrating some standard types of the Iowa Highway 

 Commission. 



The economic design of culverts for various depths of fi^lls, P. K. Sheidler 

 (Engin. and Contract., ^3 (1915), No. 13, pp. 288-290, figs. 7).— This article dis- 

 cusses the economic length of road culverts and gives comparative costs of cul- 

 verts constructed with long and short barrels. 



