U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY
                WATER-RESOURCES INVESTIGATIONS REPORT 93-4076

                         HYDRO-CLIMATIC DATA NETWORK
                                    (HCDN)
                        STREAMFLOW DATA SET, 1874-1988

                     [This is the \HCDR\1ST_READ.ME file]


         This directory (\HCDR) contains all the files used in the
      Hydro-Climatic Data Retrieval program.

         AIDE.PTH - This file specifies the placement of files that are
            produced each time HCDR is executed.  The drive
            specification and pathname contained in AIDE.PTH also
            indicate where the user's TERM.DAT file should be found, if
            the user has chosen to modify system defaults through the
            creation of a TERM.DAT file (see \DOCFILES\HCDR.DOC).

         HCDR.BAT - This is a sample batch file showing how to run
            HCDRPC outside of the GSMENU software.  It invokes the
            executable file (HCDRPC.EXE), setting the default maximum
            record length to 2048.

         HCDR.DAT - This is a binary, direct access file of station
            characteristics, used to expedite the process of searching
            for stations in the HCDN data base.

         HCDRPC.EXE - This is the PC version of the HCDR program.

         HCDRMSG.WDM - This is a binary, direct access file containing
            all text and screen specifications needed to produce the
            screens that make up the interface.

         TUTOR.LOG - This file contains the tutorial which is invoked by
            typing '@TUTOR.LOG' upon entering the HCDR program.

         WDM.PTH - This file specifies the location of the WDM files
            (\HCDR\WDM).

      This directory also contains one sub-directory.  It is:

         WDM - This sub-directory contains the Watershed Data Management
            files of the annual (ANNUAL.WDM), monthly (MONTHLY.WDM), and
            daily (DAILY.WDM) hydrologic data.  WDM files are binary,
            direct access files which allow for efficient storage and
            fast retrieval of the data.