420 



peterson. PROBLEM OF GULLYING 

 TABLE 2 



[Ch. 23 



Annual Precipitation at Selected Stations for the Years 1881-1884, 



Inclusive 



1 Maximum of record. 



2 Second maximum of record. 



3 Fifth highest of record. Excelled in 1854, 1855, 1856, and 1865. 

 Data from Climatic Summary and other records, U. S. Weather Bureau. 



furnish indications of extraordinary rainfall and consequent runoff. 

 Table 2 shows the precipitation at 19 stations in the Southwest for the 

 period 1881 to 1884, inclusive, compared with the long-term mean. 

 Eleven of the 19 stations had the maximum rainfall of record (the 

 records at most stations being continuous to the present time) during 

 one of the four years. 



Speculation about whether the valleys would have been cut by floods 

 generated during this record precipitation had there been no previous 

 grazing by imported livestock is of little value, because proof is im- 

 possible, but that serious floods and erosion did occur in certain locali- 



