1917] EUEAL ENGINEERING. 883 



Irrigation experiments in rice culture, P. van der Elst {Dept. Landb., Nijv. 

 en Handel [Dutch East Indies], Mcded. Proefstai. Rijst., No. 2 {1916), pp. 52, 

 pi. 1, figs. 6). — This is a description of the methods and purpose of irrigation 

 water measurement and distribution expei'iraents and of drainage of irrigsited 

 land experiments with special reference to rice lands. 



Irrigation experiments in rice culture, P. van deb Elst {Dept. Landb., Nijv. 

 en Handel [Dutch East Indies], Medcd. Proefstai. Rijst., No. S {1916), pp. 71, 

 pis. 4). — The details of irrigation and drainage experiments on rice soils in 

 several districts of Java are described. These included especially work on the 

 measurement and distribution of irrigation water. 



Organization, financing, and administration of drainage districts, H. S. 

 YoHE {U. S. Dept. Agr., Farmers' Bui. 815 {1917), pp. 37).— This publication is 

 intended to aid landowners, district officials, and others interested in forming 

 drainage districts for the purpose of reclaiming swamp and overflowed lands. 

 " It presents methods of organizing the interested property owners and prin- 

 ciples which should be considered in the administration and financing of drain- 

 ago districts. It is particularly applicable to drainage districts in the humid 

 regions of the United States." 



" Before promoting a drainage district consideration should be given to the 

 economic conditions prevailing in the section in question, the agricultural value 

 of the soil, and the demand for more agi-icultural land on the part of resident 

 landowners. The cost of draining the land as compared with the market prices 

 of other lands possessing equal agricultural value and not needing drainage 

 should be learned. The sentiment of the property owners toward drainage 

 should be ascertained. The success of the project requires the cooperation of 

 more than a bare majority. Unless funds sufficient to construct adequate im- 

 provements can be obtained, the undertaking of the project generally would not 

 be warranted. . . . 



" Since drainage districts come into being only through the law, it is highly 

 essential that the law be complied with in every detail. The need of retaining 

 a competent attorney is apparent at the very beginning, 



" The three principal reasons for forming a drainage district of wet lands 

 which it is desired to reclaim are (1) to provide a method of equitably dis- 

 tributing costs among the landowners and a means of collecting such taxes, 

 (2) to issue bonds to finance the district, (3) to obtain authority to condemn 

 whatever land may be needed for the general use of the district. Each of these 

 factors is vitally important to the promotion of the project. . . . 



" The drainage commissioners must insist on employing the best talent they 

 can afford to design and construct the improvements. So-called cheap engi- 

 neering and construction must be guarded against. Bids for construction which 

 on their face appear a great deal less than others should be scrutinized 

 closely. . . . The importance of employing reputable consulting engineers to 

 pass upon the plans before their final approval and adoption should not be 

 overlooked. In selecting officials to administer districts the landowners should 

 be guided by the same principles that govern the selection of directors for 

 successful commercial and industrial enterprises. ... In appointing engi- 

 neers, attorneys, and other assistants, in awarding contracts, and in selling 

 bonds the commissioners should so govern themselves as to win the confidence of 

 the landowners." 



Report of the water laboratory, H. E. Barnaed {Ind. Bd. Health, Ann. Rpt. 

 Chem. Div. Lab. Hyg., 10 {1915), pp. 87-94, figs. -*).— Of 1,520 samples of water 

 from private and public sources in Indiana analyzed during 1915, 63.5 per cent 

 were classed as good, 30.8 per cent as bad, and 5.7 per cent as doubtful. Of 



