IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 93 



stream instead of at right angles. On account of empty- 

 ing farther down stream, the river will then have a fall of 

 seven inches, instead of one, for the last mile. This, 

 together with the friction of the waters of the Missouri, it 

 is believed, will give considerable increase to the velocity 

 of the current. It is planned also to put flood gates in the 

 Floyd, by means of which the waters will be caused to rise 

 to the height of five feet and then be released automat- 

 ically. This will, no doubt, thoroughly wash out the 

 Floyd and put it in good sanitary condition. 



The Sterling Packing Company took two crops of ice 

 from the Floyd during the winter of 1900-1901. The 

 specimen for analysis was obtained at the Chambers street 

 bridge, November 13, 1901. 



Total solids 402 



Loss on ignition 90. 



Nitrogen as free ammonia 1.816 



Nitrogen as albuminoid ammonia 3.783 



Nitrogen as nitrates . . Trace 



Nitrogen as l itrites .125 



Chlorine 67 . 845 



Oxygen consuming power 5. 782 



The water was turbid, had a very strong odor, and its 

 stench increased when kept in a closed flask a short time. 

 When distilled it gave off the odor which accompanies the 

 scalding of hogs. It had a greasy appearance and even 

 felt greasy. The large amount of chlorine is probably due 

 to brine. Albuminoid ammonia continued to come off as 

 long as any water remained in the distilling flask. 



The Half Moon Lake, so called because of its shape, is a 

 detached portion of the Floyd river. It is located just east 

 of the packing house district. It is fed by springs, surface 

 water, and by the melting of the snow. It has no outlet, 

 except when high, when the excess of water flows off 

 through a culvert under the railway grade. The water is 

 always turbid, about fifteen feet deep in the center, and 

 there are two or three feet of fine mud in the bottom of the 

 lake. Organic decomposition is taking place as is evidenced 

 by the bubbles continually rising to the surface. The 



