RURAL ENtflNEERING. 483 



information regarding dimensions and other quantities was obtainable. Witli 

 the turbine pump an extensive series of tests was made at various speeds from 

 700 to 2,000 r. p. m." 



Method of computing run-off in draining irrigated lands, H. C. Milleb 

 {Engin. and Contract., U (1915), No. 8, pp. 150, 151).— The autlior's metliod 

 consists in calculating the average maximum rise of tlie water table in the 

 lowlands where drainage is required on the basis of data secured by a series 

 of borings at regular intervals, made usually in the spring. This average rise 

 multiplied by the average porosity coefficient of the soil gives the depth on the 

 surface to be removed by drainage. 



Construction of drainage system for Pioneer Irrigation District, Idaho, F. T. 

 Crowe (West. Engin., 6 {1015), No. 4, pp. 160-162, figs. 3). — Heavy irrigation, 

 both on the higher lands and in the area comprising 34,000 acres of irrigable 

 land, caused the ground water in this region to rise, flooding the lower lands, 

 and the alkali to rise in the remaining area. The soil is a heavy loam 

 underlaid with from 7 to 12 ft. of either clay or hardpan. As a remedy a system 

 of about 50 miles of drainage ditches, varying in depth from 7 to 14 ft. and in 

 bottom width from 5 to 10 ft, was constructed with dragline excavators at 

 an average cost for the entii-e project of 8 cts. per cubic yard. Measurements 

 of flow in the various drains indicate that the flow is decreasing with the 

 gradual lowering of the ground-water level. 



Conduits for water, G. J. Heney {Jour. Electricity, S5 {1915), No. 7, pp. 101- 

 113. figs. Jf). — Theoretical considerations and tables of data for the design of 

 metal pipe lines are given. 



Surface water supply of the North Atlantic coast basins for 1913 {U. S. 

 Geol. Siirvcu, Water-SuppIy Paper 351 {1915), pp. 1S9, pis. 2).— This report, pre- 

 pared in cooperation with the States of Maine, Vermont, Massachusetts, and 

 New York, contains the results of measurements of flow made on streams in 

 the North Atlantic coast basins in 1913. 



The artesian water supply of Australia {Engineer [London], No. 3029 

 {1914), p. 63; abs. in Wasser u. Ahwasser, 8 {19U), No. 8, pp. 47i, 472).— This 

 report of the Interstate Conference on Artesian Water deals mainly with the 

 Great Australian Basin, an area of 570,000 square miles. 



The artesian water supply is said to be principally used for watering stock. 

 With regard to the Great Basin it was decided " that the water was almost 

 wholly, if not entirely, derived from rainfall which percolated through the 

 porous beds under the influence of hydraulic conditions." It is believed " that 

 if agriculture on a large scale were permitted with bore water in what are now 

 pastoral districts the demand would become so great that in a short period the 

 flow would be depleted to such an extent that sufficient water would not be 

 available for pastoral purposes." 



Other points, including corrosion of well casings and decrease of flow of 

 wells, are dealt with but with no finality. 



Characters of mechanically-fi.ltered water, S. Del^pine {Surveyor, 45 {1914), 

 No. 1171, pp. 1060-1064). — Tests of two pressure mechanical filters show that 

 treatment by coagulants and mechanical filtration of soft moorland water is 

 satisfactory when reliable plants are used. 



Influence of the algaa of submerged sand filters on the chemical composi- 

 tion of water, L. Gizolme {Compt. Rend. Acad. Sci. IParis], 161 {1915), No. 11, 

 pp. 313-316, fig. 1). — It was found that the reduction of the alkalinity of water 

 caused by filtration is a function of the development and activity of the chloro- 

 phyll algae in the filter, and also of the time of day, the age of the filter, the 

 season of the year, the atmospheric conditions, and the speed of filtration. 



