New-York tribune., 1891-05-01
IRRIGATION ~ ARIZONA IND NEW-MEX-
ICO.
SMALL AREAS UNDER CULTIVATE ION-WHAT
IRRIGATION COSTS-DIFFICULuEs
TO RE OVERCOME

SMALL AREAS UNDER CULTIvATION-wHAT
IRRIGATION COSTS-DIFTCULT1Es
TO BE OVERCOME.
Washington. April 80 (speciaD.-The superintendent
of the Census has issued advance proofs OF bulleh
on irrigation in New Mexico similar bulletin on II
rigation in Arizona was issued some time ago, ana
thus a partial basis OF comparison is furnished The
subject is one Of the greatest Importance ana interest
i'm view of the immense areas of land III the western
states and Territories which are not snscepuOle oi
cultivation without artificial irrigation the bulletins
Arizona and NewMexico sufficiently SHOW that the
problem is one surrounded with many dihcultee ASIDE
from the pecunary one and that the proportion OF the
arid lands which be reclaimed is probably con
,dcrbly smaller than some persons who have given te
matter attention have hitherto believed. Engineering
difficulties may be overcome by an adequate outlay Of
money but the difficulty caused by an insufficient and
unsteady supply Of running water IS more serious, ana
may turn out be nsuperable The present methods OF
irrigation in both Territories are crude inefficient ana
wastefu in large degree and yet it is already ap-
parent that any considerable extension OF the cnlt-
waited area must depend upon the storage of water IN
expensive reservoirs In large part of Arizona as well
as in New-MeXicO the streams which would be valu-
ale for irrigation rivers like the Colorado in Arizona
and the Rio Grandc in NewMexico. for great portion
f their course flow hundreds Of feet below che surface
Of the land which need artificial irrigation
The area of land under irrigation in both territories
is small Last year It was only G5,821 acres in Ar
yona or 65702 acres less than One-tenth Of one per
cent Of the entire area Of the Territory In New
Mexico crops were raised by irrigation on 01745 acres
or rife more than ODe-tenth OF one per cent o the
entire area of the Territory. In other words. about
one acre in 100 in Arizona. ana about one
in 1000 in New-Mexico were under irrigation.
When it is considered that threefOurths Of the land in
farms In both Territories requires artificial irrigation In
order 10 produce crops, the significance Of the fore
gong statement will be more correctly and fully appre
ciated.
I'm Arizona the average cost Of bringing the water
, TO the land-tle water hght7-was 81 OF per ;
I the average annual cost of the al s. per
acre in New w-Mexico these items amounted respect
lively TO S5 % and 81 "a per acre, The average selling
value Of the waterr1Chts, wherever they trans
ferahIe is SIS 80 per acre in Mexico and S12 So
i'm Arizona To prepare acre Of lard for cultivation
/ in Arizona costs - GO. In ew-MeXico the average
cost was S11 II per The total cost Of each
therefore including 81 % to the Government averaged
SIS 81 In New-Mcxico aod $40 02 in An-
zona. The estimated value Of irrigated farms,
intending Improvements, $50 9s in New
MexrcO and $iS GS in Arizona. In the latter Terri
tory the average value per Of products irrigated
land last year $l3 90 in NewMexico It
S12 So In Arizona the average size Of irrigated
farms, In acres 81: in New Mexico il
was 80. In Arizona the average size of
irrigated farms OF 160 acres and upward was 287
acres, in New Mexico it was 3I2 acres. In New
Mexico there three farms which eQualled or ex
ceeded $40 each fourteen which contained 800 to
GAO each forty-six which contained 100 to $50 acres
each and the size Of the 3O22 remaining farms
was twenty -four each. In other words per
cent of the farmers owned more than One-th of the
productive land. In Arizona there were seven farms
of $40 acres or upward fifteen Of 800 to $40 acres.
fifty of 100 800 and the size Of
the remaining 096 farms was forty three acres each
other words. than Onethird OF the productive
area in the hands OF per cent OF the farmers.
Under the present system or want OF system many
crops lost annually by the failure Of water at
critical time, owing TO the breaking OF dams and other
causes There are also loud complaints OF the heavy
assessments and other eXactiOns Of corporations which
have obtained control OF the water needed for irriea
tiOn. and litigation Is frequent and expensive. None
Of these burdens 10 be growing lighter, and they
heavy tax upon the farmers and serious obstacle
10 the prosperity of both Arizona and New Mexico.