1 4 4 FORESTRY AND IRRIGATION March 



overflow the extensive areas of its such of the arid or semi-arid regions as 



borders and delta lands. These high appear to present conditions favorable 



waters are rich in fertilizing sediments, for artesian water, with a view to their 



are exceptionally free from alkaline ultimate development for agricultural 



salts, and come at an opportune time purposes. 



for irrigation. Mr. Forbes maintains that T < ,. T , ^r t 



when the Colorado is understood and Investigations on the North Platte 

 utilized as successfully as the greater Kiver > Wyo m < n - 



and better-known Egyptian stream, it Preliminary to the commencement of 



will be recognized as the American actual construction of systems of irri- 



Nile the creator of a new country for gation under the Reclamation Act of 



the irrigator, the mother of an occi- 1902, a thorough knowledge is being 



dental Egypt. acquired by the Geological Survey of 



those streams in Wyoming which seem 



Search for Underground W a ters. to aff ord the g rea test natural advantages 



A new division, to be known as the for impounding large bodies of water 

 division of hydrology, has recently where it may be available for the irri- 

 "been organized in the hydrographic gation of agricultural tracts. A recon- 

 branch of the Geological Survey. The naissance survey has just been corn- 

 work of this division will include the pleted by A. J. Parshall, Resident 

 gathering and filing of well records of Hydrographer of the Survey for Wyo- 

 all kinds, the study of artesian and ming, extending more than 400 miles 

 other problems relating to underground along the North Platte River from a 

 waters, and the investigation of the point where it breaks through the 

 stratigraphy of the water-bearing and mountains near the southern boundary 

 associated rocks. In addition to the of the state. The survey also included 

 gathering of statistics relating to the many of its tributaries, 

 flow, cost, etc., of the wells, it is hoped The information thus gained will be 

 in the future to give especial attention of great value in determining the plans 

 to the geologic features which govern that will finally be adopted in conserv- 

 or which are related in any way to the ing and applying the flood waters of a 

 supply of water. stream now going to waste and capable 



The division will be subdivided into of reclaiming more land than is at 



two sections, the eastern and the west- present being irrigated in the state, 



ern, the first embracing the Gulf and D D r TVT 



Mississippi River states and the states Declamation Possibilities ot Nevada 

 to the east, and the second embracing Deserts. 



the remaining (" reclamation ") states Under the direction of Mr. Iy. H. 



and territories, or those having public Taylor, resident hydrographer of the 



lands. The charge of each section has Geological Survey at Reno, Nevada, 



been assigned to a geologist, the west- 13 new stream-gaging stations have 



ern section to Mr. N. H. Barton, and been established in Nevada and eastern 



the eastern to Mr. M. L. Fuller. The California. Three of these are on 



office details are in charge of Mr. Fuller. Walker River and branches, one on 



The sections will be further subdi- Carson River, six on Truckee River 



yided so that each state or group of ad- and tributaries, and four on the Hum- 



jacent states shall constitute a district boldt and its tributaries. The run-off 



in which the work of collecting data data from these and the other eight 



and of investigating the problems re- gaging stations on these streams, when 



lating to underground water will be in they cover a period sufficiently long to 



charge of a geologist employed for the include the two extremes of run-off, 



purpose. will be of great value in determining 



In the western section it is expected the irrigation possibilities and designing 



that the study of the geologic structure the works on each. A dozen rain gages 



will be followed by the sinking of wells are to be located at characteristic places 



by the Survey, the aim being to test in this section. These, with the eleven 



