158 
IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCE 
ten days since March 1st, 1910. The disappearance of snow was com- 
plete. The ground was but slightly frozen and practically all the water 
was absorbed. Another important fact the ground had been draining and 
the rivers had held at a reasonably high stage all winter. There was no 
trouble or danger at all from flood following the thaw of snow in March. 
These several phenomena present a very suggestive promise of what the 
result will be when the tile drainage is complete. 
The peat marshes and the lakes may very safely be kept as reservoirs 
to help control the crest of floods, and it appears that the executive coun- 
cil has wisely been governed to deny many petitions which have come 
before it urging the drainage of meandered lakes. 
