In 1947, at the age of nine I was instructed to help my older brothers “drain the corn rows.” Aware then that water was precious in Nebraska, I obeyed; but the question stayed with me. . . My first paying job at the age of 12 was a two week assignment of weeding 250 seedling pines. . . for $1.00 (total pay). I didn’t know then that I would become an earnest advocate for trees. Fast forward through the years of study and work, and this advance postscript to my book comes to mind. . . This book proposes to reduce the occurrence of El Nino to about once in 15 years. I believe it is possible to all but eliminate late season devastating hurricanes. With those two beliefs, I endeavor to impel the diligent into this book. I believe I followed faithfully where scholars led, and only drew necessary and fitting conclusions. . . And finally, the belief that “we should successfully harness the mighty geothermal power of Yellowstone before the tragedy of eruption.” With this understanding of farm, family, and the future necessity of clean water, JOHN E. HORNER has endeavored to acknowledge some of the current problems with our lack of respect for clean and bountiful water, and offer solutions to the present and future water crisis.

Billed in early issues as "a practical journal of industrial progress", this monthly covers a broad range of topics in engineering, manufacturing, mechanics, architecture, building, etc. Later issues say it is "devoted to the advancement and diffusion of practical knowledge."