Systematic stream measurement work was probably first undertaken in Utah when the United States Geological Survey in 1888 began collecting records of flow of certain streams in the West in connection with special studies relating to irrigation in the arid sections. Since 1895 Congress has made small appropriations “for gaging the streams and determining the water supply of the United States.” These appropriations have permitted of federal allotments in each State only sufficient to carry on a limited amount of investigation and in recent years many private and State organizations have co-operated wither by furnishing data or by making appropriations to assist in collecting data. This co-operation has more than doubled the extent of the work carried out by the Surface Water division of the Geological Survey.