I 



EURAL ENGINEEKINQ. 289 



Construction of concrete pipe lines, B. A. Etcheverby (Jour. Electricity, 

 SI (1918), No. 6, pp. 128, 129, fig. i).— This article gives data on making, haul- 

 ing, trenching for, and laying cement pipe, including tables of cost of this work 

 on several private irrigation projects. 



Large clam shell dredges; levee building methods and standards in 

 California, F. H. Tibbktts (Enf/in. Neics, 10 {1913), No. 10, pp. 456-^)9, figs. 

 8). — This article describes dredging machinery developed to meet conditions 

 in land reclamation in California. Cross sections of levees are given and 

 methods of flood control of the Sacramento River described. 



A study of the comparative economy and convenience of steam operated 

 and electrically operated pumping plants for drainage {Engin. and Contract., 

 JiO {1913), No. 14, pp. 371-374).— An abstract of a paper read before the fourth 

 meeting of the Association of Drainage and Levee Districts of Illinois, which 

 contains an argument for the use of electric power for operating drainage 

 pumping plants and assembles and states considerable comparative data on 

 pumping costs and efficiencies. 



It is concluded, since the total cost of steam pumping in well-designed plants 

 closely approximates $1.25 per acre per year, that with electrical energy at 4 

 cts. per kilowatt hour the total cost of electric pumping does not exceed that 

 of steam pumping, and has many advantages over other kinds of power from 

 the standpoint of actual economy, efficiency, and convenience in operation. 



Ground water movements, drainage methods, and open channel drainage, 

 L. SCHMEER {Engin. and Contract., 40 {1913), No. 13, pp. 349-353, figs. 9).— 

 This is a study of open ditch land drainage in which the movement of water in 

 various soils is considered and hydraulic formulas derived for estimating the 

 probable flow from water-bearing soils into ditches, tunnels, infiltration gal- 

 leries, or wells. Considerable data are given for designing drainage channels 

 to meet various conditions of topography, rainfall, run-off, and soil porosity, 

 and reference is made to various. drainage areas. 



Land drainage in Louisiana, A. M. Shaw {Engin. News, 70 {1913), No. 

 7, pp. 300-303, figs. 6). — This article describes the reclamation of timber 

 swamps and prairies which are some distance back from the river, levee con- 

 struction on trembling prairies, types of dredging plants, including dipper, 

 orange peel, and hydraulic dredges, and the use of power plows for excavating 

 drainage ditches. 



The drainage of Lower Egypt, W. Willcocks and M. V. Mosseri {Cairo, 

 1912, pp. 11, pi. 1). — It is stated in this pamphlet that the effective drainage of 

 Lower Egypt is impossible without pumping and that this pumping can best 

 be done by the Government. Pumping drainage projects in this locality are 

 described with cost data of operation. 



Drainage and purification of the soil, R. Gagey {Bui. Dir. Gen. Agr. Com. 

 et Colon. Tunis, 17 {1913), No. 67, pp. 46-93, figs. 47).— This article deals with 

 various methods of disposing of excess surface and underground water as 

 practiced in Tunis, describes several typical drainage and land improvement 

 projects in that country, and notes briefly the local drainage laws. 



Text-book on highway engineering, A. H. Blanchard and H. B. Drowne 

 {New York and London, 1913, pp. XIII +762, pis. 4, figs. 283).— The authors 

 have attempted in this work to give sufficient details to acquaint the student 

 thoroughly with the principles and practice of modern highway engineering, 

 and in addition to make it sufficiently broad in its scope and content with ref- 

 erence to materials, construction, maintenance, specifications, and cost data to 

 serve as a comprehensive reference book upon the subject of highway engineer- 

 ing for the experienced engineer. The subject matter is presented under the 



