884 EXPERIMENT STATION EECORD. 



Reclamation of the swamp and overflowed lands of North Carolina, J. H. 

 Pratt (2V. C. Oeol. and Econ. Survey Press Bui. 13^ {1914), PP- 6). — In dis- 

 cussing drainage conditions in the State data are given showing that there are 

 46 districts in the swamp areas and 34 districts in the overflowed areas which 

 will reclaim an aggregate of 942,121 acres. It is stated that thorough drainage 

 pays and is one of the most profitable investments in the State. 



Preventing erosion in Piedmont drainage districts (.Y. C. Ge(jl. and Econ. 

 Htirrri/ Press Bui. ISS {l!)l/f). pp. F)). — Brief instructions for preventing erosion 

 are given. 



Topographic surveys for drainage districts, J. S. Bowman iProc. Iowa 

 Engin. Soc, 26 (1914), pp. 96-100). — The author discusses the process of 

 topographic surveying for drainage districts, emphasizing as essential features 

 the completeness of data for the design and its reasonable cost. 



Cost of excavating drainage ditches with steam and electric machines 

 (Engin. Rec, 70 (1914), A'c 26. pp. 704. 70.5). — Comparisons are made of drag- 

 line and suction dredges operated on the North Side Minidoka Project of the 

 U. S. Reclamation Service, in which work both steam and electric machines 

 were used. " While the latter were much higher in first cost, the operating ex- 

 pense has been so much lower than with steam machines that this handicap 

 has not merely been overcome, but a substantial saving recorded as against the 

 performance of the steam machines." Detailed cost data are given. 



Subsoiling demonstration with explosives, D. Turner (Ann. Sci. Bui. Rf/y. 

 Agr. Col. Cirencester, No. 4-5 (1912-13), pp. 79-81). — Subsoiliug with explosives 

 in a heavy calcareous loam produced no increase in the crop of potatoes the 

 following season. This result is attributed to the wet condition of the soil 

 during blasting and to the use of too heavy charges of explosive. 



Location and construction of highways in mountain country, F. W. Harris 

 (Engin. News, 72 (1914), No. 25. pp. 1199-1201. figs. 5).— This article deals 

 with pioneer road construction and improvement when the problem is to get as 

 many miles of good passable highway as possible for a fixed appropriation, with 

 particular reference to far western conditions. The author argues against the 

 5 per cent maximum grade and points out many of what he considers to be its 

 fallacies for such highways. The successful use of a drag-line scraper on such 

 works is described. 



Bituminous macadam roads in Rhode Island, I. W. Patterson (Municipal 

 Engin., 47 (1914), No. 6, pp. 437-441). — The results obtained with a number of 

 test sections of road laid in 1909 led to the conclusion that " upon the whole, 

 the cold-mixing method of constructing bituminous macadam as practiced in 

 Rhode Island appears to be an economical pavement for motor vehicle traffic. 

 It does not appear to the writer as suitable for heavy horse-drawn traffic or for 

 a heavy mixed traffic." 



Standard small culverts recommended by the Illinois Highway Commis- 

 sion (Engin. and Contract., 42 (1914), ^'>- 25. p. 572. figs. 5). — Drawings and 

 tables of quantities for concrete culverts used by the Illinois State Highway 

 Commission are given. 



Steel bridge standards of the Iowa Highway Commission, E. F. Kelley 

 (Engin. Rec, 70 (1914), No. 24, pp. 631, 632, figs. 5).— The types of structure 

 adopted by the commission are : I-beam spans with 16, IS, and 20 ft. roadways 

 for spans from 16 to 32 ft., inclusive ; pony trusses with 16 and IS ft. roadways 

 for spans from 35 to 100 ft., inclusive ; and through trusses with 16 and 18 ft. 

 roadways for spans from 100 to 150 ft. Expansion is provided by sliding or 

 rocker shoes. 



Experiments on road dust prevention, W. A. Thain (Ann. Sci. Bui. Roy. 

 Agr. Col. Cirencester, No. 4-5 (1912-13). pp. 102-104) .—Tests of granular cal- 



