230 Bulletm of Laboratories of Denison University [Voi. xi 
which is a moderately coarse white sandstone apparently of Cre- 
taceous age, exhibits rounded grains of quartz mixed with similar 
grains of orthoclase having the twinning and other optical charac- 
ters well preserved. Some of the feldspars have undergone saus- 
surritic disintegration while others are quite clear. The abun- 
dant cement is a reddish brown (ferrugineous) material but 
seems only to impart a yellowish cast to the hand sample. Oc- 
casionally the feldspars preserve the rectangular contours of the 
cleavage fragments. 
Rio Grande and Rio Puerco Flood Plains. 
The flood plains of the Rio Grande and Rio Puerco con- 
tain many thousands of acres capable of cultivation. This land 
is of inexhaustable fertility and is adapted to the production of 
a fine variety of fruits and vegetables. It is especially adapted 
to the raising of alfalfa and grain. When the new irrigation 
now in process of construction shall be complete it is estimated 
that it will bring over 20,000 acres under irrigation between 
Algadones and Albuquerque and the same system will be ex- 
tended southward to Isleta. An organization has been affected 
for the establishment of a reservoir system in the Rio Puerco 
valley. The great difficulty here will be the enormous amount 
silt which would tend rapidly to fill and so destroy any reservoir 
system. The land is remarkably fertile and the presence of 
lignite and probable existence of oil will ultimately make this a 
prosperous region. 
For the following notes on building materials and practice 
we are indebted to architect C. E. Cristy. 
Building Materials. 
The materials used for building in Albuquerque consist of 
wood, stone, brick and adobe. 
Dimension lumber is brought from the saw mills about Al- 
buquerque and also from Glorieta and in special cases Oregon 
pine is brought in. Some of the finishing lumber comes from 
Chicago, some from Arizona and some from California. Most 
of the sash and doors come from Chicago. California redwood 
shingles are entensively used. 
