Alabama.-A systematic survey of the ground-water resources of Alabama was undertaken in cooperation with the State Geological Survey. Field work was done in 11 counties by W. D. Johnston, jr., who prepared reports on these counties. Gaging stations were established on the Tuscumbia and Huntsville Springs. Arizona.-In connection with the supervision of investigational work and construction under permits and licenses of the Federal Power Commission, examination is in progress for the commission of several minor projects to develop power on the Colorado River and its tributaries. Arkansas. In cooperation with the Arkansas State Geological Survey, a study of the source and quantity of the ground-water supply used for irrigation of rice in the area about Stuttgart was undertaken by D. G. Thompson. California.-Water levels were measured in selected wells in southern California under the direction of F. C. Ebert. The record now covers a period of 25 years. Work was continued, with financial support by the East Bay Municipal Utility District, on an investigation of the ground water in the alluvial fan of the Mokelumne River, by H. T. Stearns, T. W. Robinson, and G. H. Taylor. A manuscript report giving the records of wells, ground-water levels, pumpage, and irrigation areas was released by filing it in the public library at Lodi. A manuscript report was prepared on the power classification of lands in the Cow and Clover Creek Basins, for office use. Colorado. A report on the upper Colorado River and its utilization, by Robert Follansbee, is in press as Water-Supply Paper 617. Idaho. The study of ground-water conditions in the Snake River Basin and their relation to large springs and stream flow was continued by H. T. Stearns, Lynn Crandall, W. G. Stewart, and J. L. Saunders. A paper on the Craters of the Moon National Monument, by Mr. Stearns, published as Bulletin 13 of the Idaho Bureau of Mines and Geology, was a by-product of the investigations in the Snake River Basin. It contains 57 pages, a sketch map, and 20 page plates consisting of views of the monument. A report on ground water for irrigation in the Raft River Valley, by Mr. Stearns, was released to the public in manuscript form. A brief examination and report were made by Messrs. Meinzer and Stearns on the Joy reservoir site, on the South Fork of the Boise River. The ground-water work in Idaho is conducted in cooperation with the Idaho Department of Reclamation and the Idaho Bureau of Mines and Geology. Illinois.-A. G. Fiedler attended the annual meeting of the Illinois State Association of Water-Well Drillers and presented a paper on cementing methods used in well construction. Iowa.-A. G. Fiedler cooperated with the State geologist of Iowa in the organization of a State well-drillers' association. Kansas. An examination of the prospects of obtaining a water supply from wells for the Haskell Institute, Lawrence, Kans., was made by W. N. White, and a report thereon was submitted to the Indian Service. Kentucky.-A brief examination of ground-water conditions in the vicinity of Madisonville, Ky., was made by W. D. Johnston, jr. Maryland.-An examination was made by S. S. Nye of the available supply of ground water at the District of Columbia training school at Laurel, Md. Michigan.-A. G. Fiedler cooperated with the State geologist of Michigan in the organization of a State well drillers' association. Minnesota.-A branch office was established in Minneapolis in charge of A. G. Fiedler, who undertook a thorough study of well-drilling methods in Minnesota and other States and cooperated with the several State associations of water-well drillers. An examination of the available sources of water supply for the White Earth Indian Agency and School was made by H. E. Simpson, who prepared a report on the subject that was transmitted to the Indian Service. Montana.-The study of ground-water levels in an area north of Flathead Lake, Mont., in relation to fluctations in the lake level was continued by A. H. Tuttle, and a preliminary report thereon was transmitted to the Federal Power Commission. Work was continued on the geology and ground-water resources of Big Horn County by W. T. Thom, jr., and G. M. Hall. Nebraska.-A. G. Fiedler cooperated with the Nebraska State Geological Survey in the organization of a State well drillers' association. New Jersey-A report entitled "Ground-Water Supplies of the Atlantic City Region," by D. G. Thompson, was published by the New Jersey Department of Conservation and Development as Bulletin 30. It contains 134 pages, 7 plates, and 23 text figures. Similar reports on the ground-water supplies in the vicinity of Asbury Park and in the Camden region were completed by Mr. Thompson and transmitted to the Department of Conservataion and Development for publication. A report on the ground-water supplies of the Passaic River Valley was also nearly completed. Measurements on numerous observation wells were continued by H. C. Barksdale, of the Department of Conservation and Development. Determinations of chloride are being made regularly on samples from several wells in and near Atlantic City. New Mexico.-Investigation of the ground-water resources of different parts of New Mexico was continued in cooperation with the State engineer. The following reports, prepared by the United States Geological Survey, were published in the eighth biennial report of the State engineer: Fiedler, A. G., and Nye, S. S., Ground-water investigation of the Roswell artesian basin, pp. 81-107, 5 plates. Fiedler, A. G., Report on a reconnaissance of the ground-water area of the Mimbres Valley, Luna County, pp. 159–171. Nye, S. S., Geology of the Cactus Flat reservoir site for the Hope Community, pp. 179-188, 1 plate. Bryan, Kirk, State of New Mexico Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District, Geology of the State Line dam site, pp. 253-258. The final report on the geology and ground-water resources of a part of Sandoval County, by B. C. Renick, was transmitted for publication as a watersupply paper. Preparation of the final report on the Roswell artesian basin was continued by Mr. Nye. An intensive investigation of the ground-water supply of the Mimbres Valley was undertaken by W. N. White. A more detailed study of the project for raising the Avalon dam of the Carlsbad irrigation project was undertaken by Mr. Bryan. Mr. Bryan also made a brief study of the feasibility of developing a water supply for irrigation from artesian wells at Tesuque Pueblo, and prepared a report thereon for the Indian Service. North Dakota.-An investigation of the available sources of water supply at the Standing Rock Indian Agency and School, at Fort Yates, N. Dak., was made by Prof. H. E. Simpson, and a report thereon was submitted to the Indian Service. A. G. Fiedler cooperated in the educational work of the State well drillers' association. Oregon.-Arrangements were made with the Director of the Oregon Agricultural Experiment Station for cooperation in the investigation of the groundwater resources of the State. An investigation of the ground water available for irrigation in the Willamette Valley was undertaken by A. M. Piper, who also made brief examinations of ground-water conditions in Baker and Harney Valleys and prepared a report on Baker Valley which was transmitted to the Oregon Agricultural Experiment Station. A report on the water-power resources of the Umpqua River and tributaries, by B. E. Jones and H. T. Stearns, was prepared and is in press as Water-Supply Paper 636-F. Pennsylvania.-The systematic survey of the ground-water resources of Pennsylvania was continued in cooperation with the State Topographic and Geologic Survey. A report by A. M. Piper on six counties in the southwestern part of the State, including the industrial district of Pittsburgh, was transmitted for publication by the State. A similar report by G. M. Hall on fifteen counties in the southeastern part of the State, including the industrial district of Philadelphia, was practically completed. Progress was made by R. M. Leggette on a survey of fourteen counties in the northwestern part of the State. South Carolina.-Work was continued by C. W. Cooke, of the geologic branch, on the ground-water conditions of the Coastal Plain of South Carolina. Tennessee.-Work was continued on the systematic survey of the groundwater resources of Tennessee in cooperation with the State geologist. A. M. Piper prepared a report on the springs in 12 counties in north-central Tennessee, which was released in manuscript form. He also made progress on his final report on this area. Eleven counties in the southwestern part of the State were surveyed by F. G. Wells, who gave special attention to the conditions at Memphis. Reports were prepared on the counties covered, and also a special report on the water supply of Memphis. Field work was started in the northwestern part of the State. Texas.-Progress was made by S. S. Nye on a report on the ground water in 12 counties in the Nueces area of the Texas Coastal Plain. An investigation of the Red Bluff reservoir site on the Pecos River was undertaken by Kirk Bryan, Utah. The report on the ground-water supply in the Escalante Valley, Utah, by W. N. White, was nearly completed. Some work was done by Ralf R. Woolley in revising his report on Green River and its utilization, which is in press as Water-Supply Paper 618. Examinations were made of the power value of lands in the Provo and Sevier River Basins and along Big Brush and Little Brush Creeks. Engineering advice and assistance were given to the Department of Justice in connection with a suit of the United States against the State of Utah involving the Colorado, Green, and San Juan Rivers. Virginia.-Investigation of the thermal and cold springs of Virginia was continued in cooperation with the State Commission on Conservation and Development. A report was practically completed for publication by the State, with descriptions of 566 springs and partial analyses of 425. Water-stage recorders were operated on the ebbing and flowing spring near Broadway and on the observation well in Arlington County. In cooperation with the State Commission on Conservation and Development a survey of the chemical character of surface water of the State was started April 1, 1929. Daily samples will be collected for a year at 16 gaging stations. Analyses will be made of 10-day composites. Washington.-Field work and the preparation of reports have been continued to the end of the year on river surveys and power investigations of streams draining the Olympic Range. Wisconsin.-A. G. Fiedler cooperated in the educational work of the State well drillers' association. Wyoming. An ebbing and flowing spring near Afton, Wyo., was examined by O. E. Meinzer and H. T. Stearns, and a water-stage recorder was installed over it. CONSERVATION BRANCH HERMAN STABLER, Chief ORGANIZATION AND PERSONNEL The work of the conservation branch, comprising the classification of public lands with respect to mineral, water-power, and agricultural value and the technical supervision of mineral and power development on such lands and of mineral development on Indian lands increased materially during the fiscal year 1929. It was directed through four administrative divisions, as follows: Mineral-classification division, J. D. Northrop, geologist, in charge. Agricultural division, J. F. Deeds, hydraulic engineer, in charge. Mineral-leasing division, H. I. Smith, chief mining supervisor, in charge. Personnel changes during the fiscal year include 15 separations (9 resignations, 2 deaths, and 4 transfers) and 17 additions. On June 30, 1929, the personnel of the branch, both office and field, numbered 141, consisting of 5 geologists, 8 hydraulic engineers, 9 mining engineers, 40 petroleum engineers, 8 agricultural classifiers, 1 chemist, 1 attorney, 15 accountants and draftsmen, and 54 clerical employees. FUNDS The funds appropriated or transferred for the work of the conservation branch in the fiscal year were as follows: Classification of lands... Supervision of leasing operations, public lands__ Supervision of naval-reserve operations__ Plugging abandoned wells. Federal Power Commission_ $191, 500 4. 000 594, 500 Diminished by the special appropriation for plugging abandoned wells, this aggregate is $5,292, or about 1 per cent, greater than the |