X. RAINFALL NOTES, NOVA SCOTIA. % F. \V. W. DOAXE, 

 M. Can. Soc. C. R, City Engineer, Halifax, N. S. 



(Read May 13th, 190 1.) 



If officials in charge of water works, water power and sewer 

 systems are inclined to profit by knowledge acquired in the 

 school of experience, the lessons presented to them during the 

 year just closed have been severe and extraordinary ones. The 

 long drought of 1900 will be remembered and referred to by 

 meteorologists and others for many years to come. One of the 

 severest ever recorded, occurred between the months of May and 

 November. This condition was far-reaching, and extended 

 throughout the whole of New England and New Brunswick, 

 but does not seem to have reached Nova Scotia. The scarcity of 

 water in public supplies as a result of the unusually dry season, 

 was one of the most unpleasant features of the year. Water 

 supplies, heretofore considered inexhaustible, failed. The fields 

 and forests became thoroughly wilted and parched. The rural 

 population suffered not only frpm the failure of wells, but more 

 from the failure of their crops ; and added to this, was the 

 devastation and damage caused by numerous forest fires which 

 covered large areas of country. 



There were many superintendents of water works who, in the 

 spring, contemplated with satisfaction the overflowing reservoirs 

 and the abundant sources of supply which fed them, and who 

 thouo-ht, no matter how much their fellow citizens consumed and 



P5 * 



wasted, nature had provided, and would continue to provide, 

 sufficient water for all purposes. Before the summer had far 

 advanced, the fast receding water lines on the reservoir embank- 

 ments and the steady decrease of the " meadow stream and 

 mountain torrent " warned them of the approaching short supply, 



(399) 



