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incurs large debts, usually in the form of bonds, to push forward some project not sufficiently matured. The eagerness to attain results leads the people to disregard or pass lightly over the warnings of the engineers or their requests to be given sufficient time to thoroughly work up all of the preliminary information. The public applauds the sentiment of building the structure first and making the plans afterwards, forgetting that the structure is to last an indefinite time, and that a slight error at the outset, due to lack of knowledge, may subject the community to enormous and useless expendi- tures of money or result in loss of property and life. This is not an imaginary condition, for at the present time several cities or counties of the West are in the position in which the city of Austin was at the time of the adoption of the water-power project. They are urging immediate construction in order to reap the benefit during this time of drought, and are inclined to treat with disdain any intimation that their knowledge of the water supply, of the amount of silt brought down by the stream, and of the character of the foundation of the dam is too vague to justify the incurrence of an enormous debt.

It is for these reasons that this paper is offered for publication. It will serve to answer many of the inquiries made from various parts of the country and to emphasize the importance and practical application of the work of this division of the United States Geological Survey.

Very respectfully,

F. H. NEWELL, Hydrographer in Charge.
Hon. CHARLES D. WALCOTT, Director United States Geological Survey.